The stylized Leaf Slug Sculpture is a project, which I built using straight flat metal fabrication, repoussé, sand casting, glass cutting and gem cutting processes.
The colourful gemstones and painted resin of the bushy leaflike appendages showcase the luminous colourful beauty found in our oceans.
I start this sculpture as a concept, a thought creation. From there, I mold my vision into physical shape. The basic idea of a vague sort of serpentine shape. I build the body by adding more and more shell shapes.
I start with 1mm brass sheeting cut out as shown to form a conical shape.
These are soldered together from the inside.
They are cut progressively smaller so that it causes the body to taper.
I repoussé the bottom of the body with 1 mm copper sheeting.
I made threaded cap screws in which I bezel set 5 mm natural multi-colour gemstones.
First I make the two front “feelers” out of clay, and then sand cast it and then finish it off.
Two tourmaline as eyes are set in silver and affixed to the head together with the rhinophores.
The facial features are set pavé in silver with green and red zirconia.
The 'leaves' were cut out of 1 mm brass sheeting and then a copper border was soldered on each one.
The same was done for the 'legs'.
The leaves are coloured with a metallic pigment mixed with a two component poly urethane resin.
The bushy leaflike appendages, the feet the rhinophores as well as the natural peridot, garnet, aquamarine, blue topaz, citrine, and, amethyst bezel set gemstones are screwed to the slug body.
The rear is a yellow glow resin cast dome held I place with a tourmline gemstone set in silver.
