cranky contraptions

I think I’ve finally finished modelling the life size horizontal man……

This is the clay

I wasn’t going to cast him in bronze as is, he was going to be developed into another sculpture, but I rather like him, and the supports, I may be tempted.

From the top of a ladder

Its a very strange experience modelling a horizontal figure..

It feels like a patient..

Here he is with wet cloths.. I’ll have to do stuff based on this one day.

Studio’s like a morgue at the moment…

You may have noticed another laying figure in the background.. I loved the experience modelling the large figure so much and really benifited from the chance to see the subject from different angles. So I decided to make a new armature contraption…

Or rather ask my friend and colleague Tobias Ford to make it for me whilst I was away. Thanks Tobias.

Basically it rotates! So I can model a figure vertically and horizontally, much like modelling a wax maquette in my hand.. here’s how it developed!!

Welding the steel armature to support the clay.

Here it is rotated onto its back.

Then I added the clay

This is the reconstituted clay I use, full of crap and organic growth ..like marsh mud.

I think I’ll develop an idea around polythene arms some time.

I didn’t like the way the arms were going.. so decided to change them ..

Annoying protrusions have to go..

I Know you can’t tell the difference.. but I can… this figure is what I call a

‘SAMPLE MAN’

I’lll get a mould made of him when he’s finished and use and abuse him to make and develop new ideas.

I’ve based him on a Greek Kouros figures.Long time favourites.. though I think i’m going to have to put one foot in front of the other for the next one..maybe even a smile.

I love the hands, i’m trying to put them on my figure, they create a wonderful resolution to the arm, ending a line is always so hard and they puntuate the sculpture, slight reduction in scale emphasisig the thighs. I think i’ll beef up my thighs and calves tomorrow! I love the way the fore arms echo the calves in this one. Maybe i’ll do that too..

I lo 0006man-kouros2

God there’s alot to love.. i’ll have to try harder!

Meanwhile other news…. The second life size fragmented figure is reaching a point where we can begin the exhaustive casting process, not sure how we’re going to do it yet.. one step at a time.. very exciting.

The first leaf figure (working title) is nearing the end of the casting process.. I splashed a bit of patina on it to get a feel for how it will look.

If you look back in previous blogs you’ll be able to trace its dramatic history..

Sian O’Keeffe made me a mould of this sculpture whilst I was away. It was alot of work!

Working title ‘Cloak and Dagger’

We’ve just put made the waxes and put them together. A major job..

Now we’ve got to cast all the sticks individually and weld them on at the end.

I was chuffed.. The heads I placed on the beach at Cley on sea, as part of ‘Cley Contemporary’ were apparantly quite popular. People adorned them and made little environments around them. I’m not used to audience participation. I was really surprised to get all sixteen back.