I now have two leather pieces I’m working on at the same time, Jericho and ‘Unammed’ . I spend a fair amount of time making the forming blocks for unnamed, I know it’s worth the effort now to avoid permanent flaws later. Dents and creases in the leather annoy me and detract. Natural scars are great but I want the leather to be exquisite and the other materials next to it are raw, crude and basic.
The natural leather takes on these beautiful honeyed sepia tones when it’s undyed. The trick is to find it in the leather with just oils and waxes.
I end up with a crazy clamp system as I decide I want the leather as even as possible.
With Jericho I measure up and then insert plastic to protect the opposite side for the cut I’m about to make. The cut is important so I sharpen the knife first. Want the join to be as close to seamless as possible. It’s becoming the language of the work. a contrast between refined and crude….The cut is good and cutting the two over each other works well for a flush fit.
There’s an ideal plasticity to wet leather which I feel I’ve just missed, but it’s unavoidable as I can’t be in the studio everyday. Using neats foot oil once it’s properly dry should help smooth things out.
Moving on to the wood I realised it needed to do more, scorching it seems like a natural response. I did some tests and sealed it with danish oil. I need the leather to contrast and not get grubby and it seems like the danish oil does the trick. I like the idea of caring for the fencing panels lthe same way I would a high end wood like oak or mahogany.
I frequently refer back to my drawings for reference position and placement of details.
I want to sand it back, scorch it but also leave the honest state that it exists in now. It seems odd but as I san the wood I have a care for it almost an affection, I wonder if it’s the soul qualities it has..
I scorch the final pieces and pray a little a I do so. I’m meshing intent into the piece, welcoming the Spirit.
I take the wood inside to sand and oil as I do so I feel a sense of excitement rise., the work is taking on character - a key thing that happens when a piecemeal like it’s working out.