Repousse from Firenze

On June 4 I drove the first of 5 trips to Newberg, OR to attend my first Repousse (fr. push forward) class with il maestro Fabrizio Acquafresca. 

  Fabrizio and wife who we never met at airport

   These are the tools that he had sent ahead:
Tar board we heated with flame until soft enough to embed metal
Selection of 20 tools handmade by il maestro available for $500
Chasing hammer

 

The image was first traced onto the metal then pressed into the soft tar (which smelled like tar). After indenting within the traced image, we melted the tar with flame to pull metal out.  Next came the really toxic part:  Burning off the tar, cleaning the metal and reinserting into the tar to finish outlining.

Working with silver was very interesting but very expensive

       The last project included a small piece for Fabrizio to demonstrateThe last project included a small piece for Fabrizio to demonstrate each step that I would then emulate-ha!

 

 

 

 

 

 

He was very strict in how to hold the tools "the Italian way"

 Final project of cherry blossom cuff

 

   I seem to be always frowning, maybe hoping he won't hit my finger.

Great photo of my water bottle.