[TheForge] Explaining stuff like- School Science Fair Project

[Phlip]

Rafter Lazy C wrote:

> Frankly guys, I have to apologize.  I never even thought of spam when I got
> this from my best friend.  He passed it along with the same good will
> feelings as I did.  I guess I was a dope.  i  think I'll live, tho.

Not a problem, guy ;-) I'm just sorry I was so short on my first posting- I'd
just gotten back from a great smithing meeting (more later) and I had a sick
roommate and friends on their way over for supper. I responded between getting
home, running to the store, and trying to make sure supper was ready at some
reasonable time.

> On to smithing.  I am thinking of trying a bit of repousse (hopefully before
> the summer is over).  What books would be good for me to read, so that I
> could learn about the different types of designs that work together?  What
> makes something "baroque"?  Or other types of stuff?  Any suggestions?

Well, the best thing to do is start with basic art books at the library, if you
want to know what various descriptive terms like "baroque" mean. That word is
applied to furniture and architechture as well as to repousse designs. The
dictionary definition is:

1.also Baroque Of, relating to, or characteristic of a style in art and
architecture developed in Europe from the early 17th to
     mid-18th century, emphasizing dramatic, often strained effect and typified
by bold, curving forms, elaborate ornamentation, and
     overall balance of disparate parts.
   2.also Baroque Music. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a style of
composition that flourished in Europe from about 1600 to
     1750, marked by expressive dissonance and elaborate ornamentation.
   3.Extravagant, complex, or bizarre, especially in ornamentation: �the
baroque, encoded language of post-structural legal and
     literary theory� (Wendy Kaminer).
   4.Irregular in shape: baroque pearls.

Basicly, it's a fussy, overly ornate (in my opinion) style, very complex, with
lotsa curlicues, and almost no empty space. It works, for some people, just like
feather boas, sequins and too much make-up work for people like the Gabors, but
it's not my choice ;-) Worth studying as an artistic style, but I file it under
Things To Avoid.

One of the most fascinating examples of repousse work that I've ever seen, was
in a display of African Art at OU's library, when I was doing some research on
tropical diseases. There was a beautiful serving tray there, done by some
tribesfolk, in a Celtic knotwork design, on brass. They had it mis-labeled as a
"Traditional African Design" (they named the tribe, but I don't remember it
now), but it was beautifully done.

That might be something to look at- Celtic knotwork. I don't have my books with
me, but I have quite a few I use as inspiration for my leatherwork. Maybe run a
websearch, and see what you find?

Here's a few urls:

http://www.abbott.demon.co.uk/knots.html
http://www.craytech.com/drew/knotwork/knotwork.html
http://www.entrelacs.net/en.index.html
http://www.scot.demon.co.uk/scotfaq/2_2.html

One nice thing about the style is that it's very complex, if you like rhat, but
it's a style that you can mix a couple of different elements with, and still
have it appear coherent.

Hope this helps.

Phlip