World Jade Symposium – Abundance

Posted on Nov 25, 2014

$375 | Getting Started | The Tools | Pendant Creation | Finished Pendant | Sculpture Creation | Finished Sculpture ABUNDANCE by Kerry Jo Montoya, © 2014 Wyoming Nephrite Jade On Balsa Wood Pedestal 5” x 3.5” This is my sculpture entry into the World Jade Symposium 2014. When my first child was born there was a new love birthed that I’d never before experienced.  That love was deeper and more powerful than anything previously known.  It wasn’t until that point that I fully understood the Father’s sacrifice.  This sculpture is my visualization of that moment. I did not mount this piece as it is intended to be held. She fits perfectly in the hand to create a visual and tactile experience that only Jade can bring. Price: $375.00 USD. More Views Thanks so much for reading!  You can revisit any of the previous pages from the links below. Getting Started | The Tools | Pendant Creation | Finished Pendant | Sculpture Creation | Finished...

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World Jade Symposium – Sculpture Creation

Posted on Nov 25, 2014

Getting Started | The Tools | Pendant Creation | Finished Pendant | Sculpture Creation | Finished Sculpture When I moved to a larger scale object I ran into more tool limitations. While I CAN do objects of this size with the tools I have it would be a lot faster and easier if I could have the bits available with 14″ & 18″ shanks. Until I get those, this is pretty much the limit of size for me. Here is the beginning piece of rough. It’s Nephrite Jade from Wyoming. I did not need to slab this as it was formed in a seam and so was already naturally ‘slabbed’. I followed the same process and you saw on my pendant creation page. However as I finished this piece I realized how sweet it was to hold. So I ground out a nice concave surface on the back to help accommodate that. Here you can see my preform along with my initial sketch. After this I just kept refining until I was ready for the final polish.  Click below on Finished Sculpture to continue. Getting Started | The Tools | Pendant Creation | Finished Pendant | Sculpture Creation | Finished...

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World Jade Symposium – Mercy Flows – Bronze Award!

Posted on Nov 25, 2014

$395| Getting Started | The Tools | Pendant Creation | Finished Pendant | Sculpture Creation | Finished Sculpture Finally!  It’s finished!  I’m happy to announce that this entry won a Bronze Award at the 2014 World Jade Symposium! MERCY FLOWS by Kerry Jo Montoya, © 2014 My sin was paid With mighty throes Encased in jade His mercy flows Cross Pendant with .925 Sterling Silver Wrap & 16” Chain Wyoming Nephrite Jade, 72mm x 47 mm Lightning Ridge Black Opal 1.5 ct A few years ago I had a batch of potch & color from Lightning Ridge Australia.  While cutting into the parcel I discovered a very unique streak of opal that you see here in this piece.  I immediate knew what I wanted to do but did not yet have the skills to properly set it.  So I tuck away the gemstone for a later date. Happily the World Jade Symposium presented me with the perfect opportunity to create a very unique & beautiful setting creating a perfect duo of excellence. Price: $395.00 USD More Views     Click below on Sculpture Creation to continue. Getting Started | The Tools | Pendant Creation | Finished Pendant | Sculpture Creation | Finished Sculpture...

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World Jade Symposium – Pendant Creation

Posted on Nov 25, 2014

Getting Started | The Tools | Pendant Creation | Finished Pendant | Sculpture Creation | Finished Sculpture I started with a slab of Wyoming Nephrite Jade and a black opal from Lightning Ridge, Australia.  I’d cut this opal a long time ago but at that point I didn’t have the setting skills required to use it.  I recognized this as a very special stone so I tucked it away for later use. Here’s the initial layout Here you see the pre-cut along side the planning sketch. And here is the initial preform. After this I proceed with the final revisions and grinding.  Click below on Finished Pendant to continue. Getting Started | The Tools | Pendant Creation | Finished Pendant | Sculpture Creation | Finished...

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World Jade Symposium – The Tools

Posted on Nov 25, 2014

Getting Started | The Tools | Pendant Creation | Finished Pendant | Sculpture Creation | Finished Sculpture As I began working on my jade I quickly discovered that my lack of tools was fast becoming a hindrance.  Bits only reach so far and provide even cutting an inch was beyond it’s limits.  Getting mass removal of material was going to take years it seemed.  So I began my search for tools.  Now, if money were no object this task would have been MUCH easier.  LoL  So I searched high & low, started down many paths only to find dead ends, but finally, FINALLY, I managed some success. I found a 14″ Lortone Drop Saw.  This baby cuts the larger pieces into slabs.  AND as a side benefit you feel mighty cool running one of these.  Something about a 14″ blade dropping onto something is a rush!  This machine uses oil as a coolant. Next on the list is a cabbing machine.  You can see this in action in the video toward the bottom.  This is an old Sears Craftools Cabbing Machine with attached trim saw.  The trim saw for for working on smaller cuts after a piece is slabbed.  Then this machine has two grinding wheels and bull wheel at the end for polishing.  I hooked up an aquarium pump to the tubing for a constant drizzle of water to keep the wheels cool. After playing with this I realized that I wanted something a bit more aggressive then the silicon carbide wheels that came with it.  And I wanted something shaped a bit differently to help with carving instead of just making cabs.  So I picked up some convex diamond carving wheels along with some various diamond bits. Eventually I want 1 or 2 more machines.  I’d like a 2 wheel machine that has easier access to swapping out wheels as there are misc. other wheels in various grits that I’d like to have. Then I also want a full 6 wheel cabbing machine for actually making & polishing cabs. Finally I added this little beauty.  This is an NSK Z500 Micromotor.  This is actually a dental tool.  It offers far more precision and less vibration on the hand. However, I found that this only take bits with a 3/32″ shank with is very limited.  While I’m glad I have this and really do appreciate it, I do want to add either a Foredom or a fixed point carver that will take 1/4″ & 1/8″ shanks as well, mostly for the bigger surfaces.  Then I’ll leave this for the detail work. I made a short video of this in action.  Next post will be my actual entries. Click below on Pendant Creation to continue. Getting Started | The Tools | Pendant Creation | Finished Pendant | Sculpture Creation | Finished Sculpture...

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