Wednesday, 3 October 2012

A busy 'ol autumn in Lesley's world of glass engraving

 
 
This is what I spend many many hours doing and I don't often mention it!! Vector drawings for sandblasting. Corel Draw X6 (64bit) and my Wacom Intuos 4. I had photographed my clients tiny signet ring with the crest seal, then flipped it (as it was mirror image) and after artwork was complete, flipped it back and engraved it underneath a paperweight.
 
I mentioned in a previous post that I was engraving a self portrait
The styalised image of my face was stage sandblasted into the back.
The hand engraving of the oak details are back and front
 
"Lesley Pyke - Self Portrait.  Deep in thought - The Autumn Years." I am surrounded by the strength of oak which is largely my partner, Brian.
My two precious sons, Shane and Gavin, forever in my mind and represented by the two acorns. The crystal is Dartington, I carved it from a large vase.
 
My little Georgian Garden (above) is presently for sale on eBay. It is a special little piece.
 
Remember this photo.....an old, heavy crystal bowl, unknown origin, badly scratched and looking so sad, now has a new lease of life...a whole new image, a brand new story! "On The Edge"
 
 
 
The Cambridge Glass Fair was held a couple of weeks ago and I have to say was not as successful as usual for me, the numbers were down in general, largely due to the very threatening weather reports (we only had drizzle!!) and of course the new venue, Linton Village College. This venue was superb, once you got the hang of it, I think we were spread out into 6 different areas, with some long passages inbetween, so visitors got a little confused. I need to make some changes to my stand to show up a little more next time as I was probably the furthest point from the single entrance. We all had a big learning curve with this new venue and I am sure it will be more successful next time. Hats off to Paul and Christina for a massive job well done under such difficult circumstances (with Chilford Hall having burnt down not long before).
Pictured above is my stand.

I zoomed around with my camera to catch some setting up activity and to see where everyone was. I loved the airiness and lightness of the rooms.


 A wonderful mixture of old and contemporary glass and crystal throughout the fair.

Above are the lovely Georgian reproduction works of Georgian Glassmakers. (who made my "Georgian Garden" presently on eBay and also "Georgian Dragon" (presently on the Guild of Glass Engravers exhibition)



Two famous brothers in the glass world, Vic and Ian Bamforth, Wonderful, talented glassmakers!

Always a privilege to be amoungst so many lovers of glass, wish I had more time to devote to creating more art glass for this event.
 
 
 
 
Lastly....I am presently working on a set of 3 perfume bottles for a client with little ladybirds doing their thing...and a very high profile presentation due for the end of the year in South America and on the cards is a new and very exciting collaboration with 2 American artists for a fabulous and amazing commission....watch this space...
 
CLICK HERE to go to my main website Lesley Pyke Limited - Glass Engraving