25/3/2017
'Dark Raven'So I've been working on designs featuring my most favourite totem again - the raven. I'm always inspired by the ravens and crows who reside in the grounds of Broughton Castle and they've been the catalysts for a lot of my raven pieces. My latest pendant is no exception. I wanted this piece to be called 'Dark Raven' so I wanted a really strong design, lots of deep but colourful stones and as dark a patina as I could get. I worked on giving the wings a sense of movement - in as much as you can get flat silver sheet to suggest some anyway :) I hope I achieved a sense of wind blowing through feathers as he soars high in the sky.... I chose my stones carefully. I wanted deep colours but also a good range that reflects the beautiful range you see in a raven's plumage. A raven can appear totally black, but in close up the glossy iridescence of their plumage actually shows hints of purple, blue and even red. I sometimes wish the mottled colours after soldering and before pickling could be a permanent patina... All finished and I think he looks pretty resplendent in his gemstone finery...... befitting Broughton Castle l hope :) Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. If you are interested in this piece, he is available you can find more info on him HERE |