foldforming

fold formed bowls and vessels

B.J. Severtson — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 11:22:07 -0600

I'll try to answer some fold forming questions. The process is one where I spend most of my time. What is fold forming? Well to begin with just look at the words fold and forming..gee you could do that with a sheet of paper..people have, they called the process origami..those same cultures also did origami with metal, mostly foils. They folded they formed..origami with metal ignores the properties of the metal and treats the resistance of the metal as an obstacle to be overcome. What if we used the characteristics or properties of metal in the process? When we do that, we are doing what today is known as "fold forming"

Folded form in a 1915 copper bowl

Gene Olson — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 21:55:59 -0600

A couple years ago I saw this bowl and took some notes, not nearly enough notes.

another day at the butterfly farm

B.J. Severtson — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:35:04 -0500

Well you've come back, glad to see you. There was a Monarch on the milkweed yesterday, beautiful thing. I think she laid some eggs. Can't see them yet but I'm pretty sure they are there. Seeing is such a confusing think. Our eyes take a picture, It's a very complex and detailed picture. Then our mind scans the picture for important information. It keeps the baseball that's coming at your head from hitting you instead of visualizing the cheerleader, also in your field of vision. The problem with scanning the things in front of us is that we miss some very interesting stuff. We can trick our minds into experiencing more and not just scanning. Drawing demands that we process more info than scanning gives us. Staring does the same thing. Zoom in zoom out. A good piece of sculpture demands that your hands touch it. Touch helps us see. Listen to yourself hammer on a piece of metal, Listening helps us see. I'm pretty sure what I've written, but I'm never sure what you've read. I enjoy that confusion. Yes I do write on two levels at the same time, enjoy. While we are at it let's stop the search for the right answer. and begin enjoying this journey. Oh Ok Then. hang on here we go.

Where can I learn about fold forming?

B.J. Severtson — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:35:37 -0500

Where can I learn about fold forming?
Well you started here. How about staying here a little longer? Many of us here do some fold forming, with a wide variety of results, viva la difference. There is much to learn. Hang on here we go!Over the years I've referred to myself as Artist, Jeweler, metal-smith, craftsman, and goldsmith. I've earned those titles. But always found them to be a bit pretentious, Real conversation killers and not very accurate. There needed to be a better term. I found A name for my career field quite by accident. I am a butterfly farmer. It's a difficult career choice to get ones head around. But basically I take something the rest of the world doesn't even see: an egg on the backside of a leaf, a caterpillar, or a piece of copper and I watch it change. When it becomes something cool, beautiful I release it. It's very hard work. but I've found it very freeing. Should you decide that you too are a butterfly farmer then here is my suggestion. Rush (it's the last time you ever have to rush) out and buy a spray bottle that will make a mist. fill with water. Use this to spray your forehead, arms, upper body before anyone sees you working. It helps. Ah you laugh. That's good It's easier to see and learn when we stop taking this stuff and ourselves so seriously. Promise me right now that you'll never tell any one how much fun this is. It's work. Remember that. It's important, you know? For your first lesson you will need A sketch book, If you can't afford that, find a paper bag. The weight of the paper is important. Some Chinese take out food delivered to you in one of those paper containers. The biggest sheet of copper you can buy. Not a foil but just thick enough that you can still bend it with your fingers with a little effort. a pair of scissors and a tin snips are also handy to have. Has the take out food arrived yet? Ok in the mean time we can get started. Make your self a stack of papers about 4" sort of square. Fold one of the sheets in half, open it up easily lay it on the table in front of you and stare at it until you see that it's not flat anymore. Make two folds on another sheet parallel is good, open it up. Bring two edges together. Observe that from flat (bad) and straight (bad)you have made curves good. Take a break..Eat the Chinese food if you must. I don't care I want you to see the paper container that the stuff came in. If yours came in a styrofoam thing that's vacuum forming and will not be covered in this class. Reorder until you get a box thing. Stare at the empty box thing pick it up let your mind digest it. Make one out of paper. It's a 3D solid it's a cold construction, it's origami. Origami is not where we are going. Make yourself some copper rectangles squares circles ect. 3" sort of. Fold one in half. A hammer is a good thing, a mallet good..open it up..That's origani not where we are going Yet. Take one of your pcs of copper Long rectangle is best. fold it in half lengthwise. Hammer the folded edge. don't straighten it out you want it to curve.

fold formed vessels and bowls four b

B.J. Severtson — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:40:04 -0500

folds line and T, T fold gathers wall to close up vase.

fold formed vessels and bowls one

B.J. Severtson — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:24:38 -0500

a six line fold

Rapid Formed Collection

B.J. Severtson — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 13:39:34 -0500

now you see 'ems

B.J. Severtson — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 15:11:57 -0500

Techniques, flower foldforming. hummingbirds raising. all hammerwork, they begin as hyperbolic paraboloids each of the three elements began as a flat square sheet of copper 22 gauge. The copper wires may get forged before I show it to anyone else.

now you see em's

B.J. Severtson — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 14:55:48 -0500

"now you see em's" is about several fleeting moments, all at once. Flowers aren't always flowers, birds might turn into flowers, A twist of metal becomes essence of something else. Images appear and disappear It's as close to magic as a childs vision of a garden.