I made this piece back in 2006, it was a one day workshop on cuttlefish bone casting. You cut the cuttlefish bone in half length wise. Then in one side carve out your design. Well I wondered why not carve designs on both sides that don’t necessarily line up. I love how it turned out. Hopefully I can try this technique out more when the studio is all set up!Cuttlefish Bone Casting
I made this piece back in 2006, it was a one day workshop on cuttlefish bone casting. You cut the cuttlefish bone in half length wise. Then in one side carve out your design. Well I wondered why not carve designs on both sides that don’t necessarily line up. I love how it turned out. Hopefully I can try this technique out more when the studio is all set up!
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Taueret 09.14.09 at 9:15 pm
oh man that is gorgeous!! I have never wanted to try casting… til now! agggh!
Michael Sabo 09.15.09 at 12:44 am
Wow, that is an impressive effort, vaery nice lines.
Helen Hill 09.15.09 at 6:31 am
That’s beautiful Valerie! I also often wondered why only one side was carved into. I’d love to have a go at this sometime too. Thanks for posting - it gives me encouragement to give it a try.
Fiona 09.18.09 at 9:34 am
That is lovely!
RS 09.22.09 at 10:26 am
I can only hope that the “source” of your bones are those washed up on the beach. Have you ever SEEN a cuttlefish? They are one of the most beautiful creatures on earth, and likely the smartest after a dolphin. I had one (about 3 feet long) that got to know me (in Australia, near Townsville’s great barrier reef) They are fluorescent and “light up”, in a multitude of colors they can control, and copy the design and color of the area they are moving over.. They are positively like a christmas tree when they are happy, and can recognize people they know, even if you hide your features and change wetsuits to fool them. The particular fellow I knew would reach out and touch my face when I came to visit, while remaining shy with strangers I brought. We would bring things (like checkerboards) for him to “copy”, and he got to like the game, and could even imitate stripes like a tiger. An amazing creature. I only hope the demand isn’t causing these wonderful animals to be hunted.
valerieaheck 09.22.09 at 11:23 am
That is a good point, I don’t know how the cuttlefish bones are sourced. I buy them at the pet store (I have a pet bird and they’re good for him to chew on for calcium). Thank you for your comments, I must go do some reasearch!
Aulë 11.26.09 at 12:53 pm
Tufa rock makes an adequate substitute for cuttlebone. You can get it at Indian Jewelry Supply.