Hanging out with Bob Burkett

Bob is amazing. Check out these tools he forged yesterday. They are made out of stainless steel rods that have been torched until molten, then manipulated with a hammer and vice grips. I tried the technique out and I felt really strong, like I should forge something every day.

This is a mouse head that my friend Laura made while also hanging out with Bob. He has that effect on most creative types. You can't be in the same room without picking up a tool and melting some wax. I thought she did a good job on her tiny little mouse charm.

My friend J'aime made this little cutie out of all the techniques she learned that day. I love how its head plume is also the bail. I made an octopus to match his sweet fish (I'm thinking of a charm bracelet) and Greg started a poison dart frog. Hopefully he'll finish it tonight so I can show pictures of it. Bob is a great teacher and I'm so happy he isn't stingy with the info, which is sadly the case with so many instructors. If your interested in taking a class on wax work from Bob, email us and we'll try and put a class together.

We've had a lot of company come through the last couple of weeks and I've enjoyed being around other artists. Its nice to share ideas and show off projects without having to explain why, or try to justify its purpose, since artists understand why one makes art in the first place. I find it completely relaxing to have a group of friends gathered around a table making things, music playing, good wine, tasty food.....what could be better? Of course, a beachfront view would improve the situation, but for now, I'm content with mountains filling my windows.