Implosions (Basic)
Basic Implosions
This technique begins with a maria on the end of either a solid rod or a tube.
The desired effect is to draw a design on the face of the maria and make it appear to "shrink" down to a smaller size. Additionally, the design can be made to drag as it shrinks leaving trails of color in 3-dimensions in the shape of flower petals.
1) Draw a pattern on the face of the maria: For this example, begin by placing two colored dots on the face of the maria toward opposing outer edges. This will help to demonstrate the movement during the implosion
2) Sink the dots into the face of the maria: Heat the face of the maria, keeping it rotating to heat evenly. Soften the entire maria, but do not melt the dots so that they become flat on the surface. When the maria is soft, touch the dots to the face of a graphite pad/paddle for a second to cool them, then gently press them into the face. This may need to be repeated 2-3 times until the face of the maria is flat.
3) Elbow up and heat the face of the maria: Keep rotating to maintain shape and heat the entire face evenly. With the elbow up slightly, the maria will begin to "fatten up" under the forces of gravity and surface tension. Let is fatten slightly, then move on to the next step.
4) Re-flatten the maria & implode: Touch the face of the maria to the marver, pausing for a second to let the face cool slightly holding the dots in place. Before the entire maria cools, press the maria back into shape. Pressing harder will cause the tops of the dots to expand outward
The implosion occurs while heating with the elbow up, as the face of the maria begins to take on the round shape under its own surface tension. Varying the amount that it is allowed to fatten up in step 3, the pressure applied in step 4, and the number of times this sequence is repeated, the resulting implosions can be drastically different, though the motion is fundamentally the same.
For example, allowing the maria to fatten and implode all at once flattening gently only once at the end will cause the result to take on the 3-dimensional "mushroom cloud" or "head of broccoli" shape. In contrast, flattening often and increasing pressure will cause the result to take on the much flatter shape of a daisy.
