#steampunk art

Silver wing heart - my latest winged mechanical heart with gears, gauges and glow in the dark grill.  Lots of tiny details.  Can be worn as a pendant, unique fob or just displayed.  I can create a display box if required.  

Available in my Etsy shop

I’m trying to get as many items finished in time for Christmas. Here is a basic little solar system made with resin and glass that would be a unique gift for someone interested in all things celestial.  It’s only an inch wide and half an inch deep.  The planets “hover” suspended in water clear resin above the fine copper clock hairspring.  I dusted some holographic glitter on the black background - it’s very subtle with colour flashes only visible while moving the piece around in the light.  I love sparkle but I didn’t want it to look like a cheap christmas bauble or snow globe. 

All the planets are in order and relative size within reason.  The planets are also in different metallic colours - silver, copper and gold. Saturn has her ring. It’s mounted on a vintage brass gear.  I have it on a fine brass and black ball necklace that also sparkles with movement.  If you are buying the piece for a man it can be put on a black rubber or leather cord.  It should be worn high on the body/neckline.  

It’s understated yet very unique and sure to evoke comments and break the ice at gatherings at this time of year.  It is available in my Etsy store.

Tritium Powered Assassin Bug

No, not really “powered” by tritium but that would be fantastic.  It’s just a fantasy mechanical winged insect with a tritium rod in the abdomen.It’s hanging from a stick pin so it can attached to clothing.  The legs are vintage watch stems attached to brass rods.  Nearly every connection is nuts and bolts - tiny nuts and bolts.  The centre piece is brass with a square top screw securing the glass vial to the body and head.It’s estimated the green tritium will glow continuously for 10 to 12 years.  It doesn’t need “charging” from a light source like regular glow in the dark.  

It’s 1 ½ inches long, just over 1 inch wide and stands ½ an inch high.  It’s US$185 shipping included.  If you are interested in buying it - drop me a line with your paypal email address and I’ll invoice you.  

Steampunk clockwork “brain” pendant necklace.   Mech head 1, 2 and 3.

These look really simple but like anything with resin - it wasn’t simple. Lots of trial and error, testing different resins, a pile of rejects but I really like the final piece. The face has a zen quality to me - it reminds me of the automata dolls from the 19th century or the robot in Metropolis. The brain being represented as a clock work mechanism is an old trope but I really wanted to attempt it using epoxy resin. It’s opened up a thousand ideas that I’ll be exploring more.

There was a “happy accident” early on. Due to the original being a clay model. the mold produced a frosted appearance and texture even using crystal clear resin - that was great, I love the frosted look, but how to reveal the gears and mechanics - that took awhile to work out. The gears are laid layer by layer with a 16 to 24 hour drying time between each pour. With 5 layers the gear and cog “brain” has depth and complexity. 

Due to the curve of the forehead there is some distortion/refraction when viewed from the front. As you can see in the photos, when viewed from the back the gears don’t distort. I didn’t use any trick lighting in photos - the shape tends to capture light. There is the occasional air bubble - something I’ve got to learn to live with when working with resin without spending a fortune of a vacuum chamber. 

The gears are all vintage or antique from an array of watches and pocket watches. The head is 1.5 inches high, 1.1 inches wide and 0.5 deep. I’ve put it on a really long necklace, Gatsby length - 38 inches long. Due to the length I haven’t included a clasp as it’s not really needed. The chain is black with faceted cut brass cable link - it really sparkles as it moves. If you would like to wear it higher - I’m happy to alter the chain to any length you want. I can also put it on a different chain or cord.

Framed Flying Heart

Here is one of my signature steampunk pieces - the mechanical flying heart. Although I make many of these, each one is unique with different features, layout and parts. I love working in miniature - the more complex - the better. 

This piece is extremely intricate - 100+ parts some less than 1mm. The green glow under the grill/screen is from glow in the dark powder mixed with resin - I mix my own so it’s a strong glow.  I recommend using a UV torch to “charge” it if wearing it at an event. 

Nothing is glued on - it’s all deep pinned, soldered, using cold connection methods or screwed. It is robust enough the be worn without fear of anything falling off.  I don’t cast or fabricate preferring to use existing items from a variety of sources.  Some parts are antique, vintage, NOS or new.

Dimensions:
The pendant is 3 inches wide (75mm) and 1 ½ inches long (36mm) and 1 inch (24mm) deep. The chain is gold tone brass faceted cut cable link, 22 inches long with a gold tone lobster claw clasp.

The frame:
I decided to include a glass frame and dock when clients expressed their desire to be able to have the piece visible when not being worn. So I bought a commercial shadow box, painted it “distressed” gold, attached black felt and brass brackets. The heart can be accessed easily out of the back and attached to the chain with two push clasps and rings. The two clasp points keep the heart from flipping around when being worn. 

It takes the piece to another level, especially if given as a gift. As a desk ornament or part of your home decor, my little biomechanical winged heart is sure to be commented on and desired.

The frame is square - 5 X 5 inches (125mm) and 1.6 inches (40mm) deep. The back panel is secured with four rotating clips and also has a “D” ring for wall hanging. The heart just rests on the two brass prongs.

Build time: 40 hours.

Available in my Etsy shop $455

Mercury Drone

There is a local art competition coming up in August and I have an idea - three or four “flying” insects mounted on posts mid flight and presented in a diorama under a glass dome. The insects will all be straight out of my imagination and the grass and flowers will also be biomech steampunk. So I’m working on my insects at the moment. The legs and head are the sticking points. I want the legs to look like pistons or micro hydraulics - but they get too big so I’m starting from wire/pins and work from there. Fortunately I’m never short on ideas to attempt.

The main feature on this guy are the great silver tone mechanical clock parts I’ve used as over wings. I wanted a lot more mech on his thorax but there are tiny details in there. He comes with his very own glass and brass display case with a mirrored base to see “under the hood”. He would be a great low maintenance pet for the office desk or a quirky ornament that will catch everyone by surprise. The drop of mercury in his abdomen does move around the sealed glass nodule.

I like to imagine him as a drone used in spycraft espionage sending back images of the secret base, blueprints or a compromised official. He could also take a nefarious payload or just plug himself in to an unattended server port causing havoc.  

So if you like my insect creations keep an eye on my new items as I lead up to the main competition piece. I also had the idea of replicating the framed specimen insect collections that the Victorian era loved so much. Join me for the journey!

Effluvium ~ Acrylic painting by Didier Graffet

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“This is a 20,000 leagues inspired nautical bathroom I designed featuring some dimensional porthole art.”Jenny Kirby on Steampunk Tendencies

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Sharing Enlightenment by artist Farid Ghanbari @RenderBurger

Handmade Sterling Silver Teapot and Cup Ring

Available here : Etsy