On the Wings of Forever – Opal Carving #IOJDAA
$1200 – Entry for the 2015 International Opal Jewellery Design Awards in Australia – IOJDAA
On the Wings of Forever
by Kerry Jo Montoya
Coober Pedy opalized shell carving
Size: 9 ct and 27x22x3.5 mm
Brightness: B5
Bodytone: Light based
Available for sale: https://www.etsy.com/listing/244332933/on-the-wings-of-forever-green-opal
One side has a carving of a wing while the other has abstract, flowing lines.
On the Wings of Forever
On the Wings of Forever
On the Wings of Forever
A Rose by the Sea – Opal Carving #IOJDAA
$1200 – Entry for the 2015 International Opal Jewellery Design Awards in Australia – IOJDAA
A Rose by the Sea
by Kerry Jo Montoya
Coober Pedy opalized shell carving
Size: 21.6 ct and 28x22x9 mm
Brightness: B4
Bodytone: N7, semi-black
Available on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/244329867/a-rose-by-the-sea-opal-carving-semi
The front is a rose and I kept the back side as an homage to the shell. This gorgeous gemstone kept me completely mesmerized while carving.
A Rose by the Sea – front
A Rose by the Sea – back
A Rose by the Sea – backlit
A Rose by the Sea
A Rose by the Sea
TRINITY – Lightning Ridge Black Opal Carving
$1200 TRINITY – Lightning Ridge Black Opal Carving
Trinity – Lightning Ridge Black Opal Carving
20 ct – 33x29x10 mm
Body tone: N3 – The potch is a solid LR Black at N3.
Brightness: B2 to B4 – The drop is B2, the triangle is B4, and the spirit wind is B3. I rate the drop at a B2 as it’s harder to see out of the light whereas the other two areas aren’t. But if you’re judging the brightness under the light the drop would have a higher brightness rating.
This opal carving comes in a black suspension display box and will show it’s true colors under a display light.
The triangle focal point represents the trinity. It’s a bright flash that rolls from blue to teal.
1) The host rock that encases it all represents the Father.
2) The drop at the top represents the blood & tears of the Son. It’s a multicolored pinfire with all colors in it.
3) The glowing blue wave that folds from front to the back represents the wind of the Spirit.
From a technical point of view, I was tickled pink to find one stone with three opals in it, each with their own patterns. It truly was three in one. Please enjoy the video below for the best representation of this gemstone opal carving.
World Jade Symposium – Abundance
$375 |
ABUNDANCE – Jade Sculpture by Kerry Jo Montoya
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 Sculpture
World Jade Symposium – Sculpture Creation
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 Sculpture
World Jade Symposium – Mercy Flows – Bronze Award!
$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
MERCY FLOWS – Carved Jade Pendant by Kerry Jo Montoya
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
World Jade Symposium – Pendant Creation
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 Sculpture
World Jade Symposium – The Tools
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
Sweet Story about Jade
I was at my local Gemstone & Mineral Society meeting tonight and because of the my carving entries into the World Jade Symposium I had a lot of people talking to me about jade. One woman showed me a beautiful two sided flat carving of white nephrite jade.
When she was a young woman she would cool it and would let her babies teeth on it. She carries it everywhere as now in her later years both of her adult children have passed. It has become her token memento to keep their memories close at hand.
Later in life she had the piece appraised and found out that it was from the Han Dynasty! And yet, despite its financial value, the discovery only brings a keen twist of interest. To her, it’s value as a memento makes it priceless. Simply a beautiful touching story.
World Jade Symposium – Getting Started
Getting Started | The Tools | Pendant Creation | Finished Pendant | Sculpture Creation | Finished Sculpture
Vancouver, BC Nov 21-23.
This is my journey. It was a LOT harder than I expected and I spent WAY too many hours and too much $$ on this. LOL But I am a artistically driven fool so… 😉
I ran by my local lapidary shop and found a nice supply of some old nephrite jade from Wyoming, US. The owners father collected these a long time ago. Even the stickers were yellow with age. I lost track of time browsing through the treasure trove there but luckily I was able to find a few pieces that I deemed worthy before they kicked me out. 😀
The next day I grabbed a few of the smaller pieces, started up my Dremel flexshaft and got to work testing out the material. Let me tell you, I really like working in jade! I’m a very tactile and jade fills my senses. It’s visually beautiful. It has a luxurious feel to it. AND it has a very delightful chime sound when clicked. I was hooked.
Then I set them and posted them to Etsy.
Next I wanted to try my hand at carving so I made this wing. (Also on Etsy)
I love my wing. It worked great and let me know that I really COULD do this! BUT, once I pushed my attempts further I run into the limitations of my tools. The problems I ran into was that the Dremel creates a lot of chatter on the stone making it difficult. It also has less torque than is recommended for lapidary work creating unrealistic time requirements for me. But most importantly was that it seriously limited me on size. I mean, think about it. The largest cutting disk I could find was 2″. That means I’ve only one an inch before my cut is stopped by the mandrel. It just wasn’t going to work.
So I began my search for tools. Click below on The Tools to continue.
Getting Started | The Tools | Pendant Creation | Finished Pendant | Sculpture Creation | Finished Sculpture