Shell Steps

Step 1- Cut a sheet of 1mm aluminium to 17x 12cm (I started with a longer piece but it proved to difficult to achieve the required detail of curve changes).
Step 2- Lay the sheet over the tree trunk carved bowl and using the larger end of the tear drop mallet, beat the metal down into the mold creating small bends such as the ones shown below.


Step 3- Place the metal on a flat, solid and clean surface. Take a flat ended mallet and beat the ridges formed around the edges of the metal, back down flat, causing the metal to shrink.

Step 4- Repeat, flattening small bends around all sides to create a shallow bowl shape.

Step 5- Using the template and a permanent marker, draw a line as shown, indicating where the valley needs to be formed.

Step 6- Align this line over a curved bar dolly and using a tapered mallet, lightly tap the metal area immediately overhanging the dolly causing the metal to slowly bend upwards over the dolly, creating the valley.

Step 7- At this point align a vertical side of the metal with one of the vertical lines on the template and mark to help locate the metals correct location on the template. Ensure the metal is placed in this location each time to maintain accuracy
Step 8- Use a mallet to hit on the back of the valley causing the valleys longitudinal curve to grow.

Step 9- Use a tapered mallet or ball pein hammer and the edge of a block of wood to slowly flatten out the larger side and deepen the valley. See video below

Step 10- Use the same technique but in the stump bowl to maintain the longitudinal curving of the metal.

Step 11- Keep repeating the previous 3 steps along with squeezing the valley together to make it deeper. Keep returning to the template to check what needs adjusting and make subtle adjustments accordingly utilizing these 4 techniques.

Step 12- Bend the top and bottom edges around and bend the top 2 corners down a bit to match the template.

Step 13- Finish by planishing with a planishing hammer against a curved dolly and clean the surface with steel wool.