Workshop Clock Challenge

Workshop Clock Challenge - Part One

I wasn’t really looking for a challenge. I like to support charity shops and happened across a clock which gave me an idea. I saw an opportunity to inspire my students by showing them examples of different enamelling techniques in an interesting way. It seemed to me that creating a real statement piece could introduce a talking point which might open up people’s imagination to the numerous possibilities of this fantastically varied craft. The clock in the shop was constructed largely from wire with circular cups attached indicating the numbers which I could imagine holding colourful enamelled elements. Unfortunately, on examining the clock the wires were rusty, so the condition was not good enough to be adapted for my purposes. However the spark had been lit & I decided to create a clock for the rear wall of my workshop from scratch using solely recycled materials and objects. In order to make it a challenge, I imposed the constraint that the project would be made entirely of re-purposed items/media already in my possession, or bought in charity shops and from their ‘Amazon Donations' bins (with the exception enamels & sundry minor parts). The original clock in the charity shop was just the starting point and the final design will be very different from the sketch based on it shown above...

These posts will continue by showing the making of the clock from the very start. They will begin with finding materials, go on to working out a design based on them & finding a way to assemble such dissimilar parts into a functioning clock. Alongside these considerations, the overall look of the clock is equally important and a large sculptural piece needs to have great visual impact. This is where the decorative techniques and colours of enamelling can be used very effectively. I aim to have the clock finished and on display in my Studio at the start of Worcestershire Open Studios - Art Week 22nd -31st August 2026. Come at visit us at Venue 24. More information at worcestershireopenstudios.org