I am now very sick of writing and for that I am sorry! I have just finished the essay and thought what shall I do now; I know some more writing and update my blog!
Anyway here goes I will try and fill in all the gaps from the last entry.
The latest cast that I made of the dancer was made, but with the added mistake of casting the hand wrong, the legs wrong, the body in a different place to the waist, the structure or even position no longer lines up with the other sculpture that it is partner to. So with lots of extra plaster and loads of clay on the inside hopefully something can be salvaged! The cast is cut up into many sections and is being prepped before the making.
The cast that I have made for my body is coming along nice now! I started by cutting the face off and wanted to try something new, this was to use cigarette butts within the resin so make the sculpture with. This looked good but was not even close to the effect that I had in my head. This not working now left me with a body and no face. I have since sculpted a face to fit on, fingers crossed it fits!
Now the internship at Butley Mill Studio, This is going amazingly and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I have been to my first pour of the bronze, which was very dramatic. I have also been given homework, as if I didn’t have enough to do. I have to make a wax sculpture for assessment by Lawrence, this is nerve racking in itself. Even if I decide that this is not the route that I would like to take in my own practice, the stimulating conversation alone is so beneficial that I could not get this at uni.
Anyway I need to get back to making and again will try and be more prolific about keeping this blog up-to-date, so until next time…
Wow what a week!
I can’t believe how busy thing have gotten! Not only is it the creating but also now I have to deal with the writing! With the essay deadline forever looming I am finding it harder to concentrate on what is important to me.
Anyway the reason that I started this blog is to keep a digital record of my Professional Practice module, so here goes.
Monday was the first day of my internship with the sculptor ‘Lawrence Edwards’. Not expecting what was in store for me, I eagerly turned up promptly a 9.30 awaiting my instructions. The studio had poured bronze on the Sunday before me coming, so my jobs that lay in wait were the pressure washing of the plaster-to take the bronze casting from inside out for Lawrence to then work on. It was a cold day and even with waterproofs on I was soaked through (mainly on my feet!) through my boots so soaked socks were what I wore the rest of the day. I done this even after lunch until I was allowed in the dry once every piece had been finished. Once in the studio Lawrence entrusted me with a hammer and chisel to knock away at the bleeds on the sculptures, this is the most nerve racking experience that I have gone through to date, but felt very fortunate to be allowed to knock them about! To finish the day I was give the skip filling duties, more in relation to manual labour associated with a building site. The skip was to be filled with the unwanted crag (plaster that had been fired) as there is too much on site.
So the Tuesday morning came and I ached in places that I didn’t know would ache!
That day I returned to DanceEast to re-evaluate the space and decide what else to do with it. I took measurements and am casting on Friday, so hopefully I will have decided what to make by the time I need to start!
The previous dance sculpture is very very near completion, and is only needing some sanding and then a coating of lacquer.
With the e-mail now sent to the council I have made another cast, of which I am quite positive about, and feel that it will be a piece with some clout, that I will be prepared to put out there (please see image).
So to summarise, new casting to do on Friday, work on casting of me for council, work a day next week at Lawrence’s (day is not decided yet!), do essay or at least start, and lastly try and catch up with my contextual folder.
So until next time.
The days have progressed and so has my project.
It is probably best if I start with the work itself. I have since gel coating the cast, covered the sculpture in a layer of fiberglass and resin. For some reason the outcome has come out the opposite of planned. It has lost the smooth glossy appeal, and turned into a rugged/sharp/rough monster. Originally I had planned to remove the plaster from the inside of the dancer but today after much personal debate, I have decided to now sand and file the fiberglass as smooth as possible, then coating that with resin or gel coat with an added pigment (most probably red). This in turn should return it back to a smooth and glossy object. The plaster will remain inside and work as reinforcement to the outer.
The next bit of news that I have is that following on from my chat with Lawrence Edwards, I called him and we spoke on the phone. We then arranged to meet for an informal chat/interview. I was given the tour of the studio (which was lively and exciting) and at the end of our discussion, was offered to start on Monday, yes this Monday! I couldn’t have asked for anything better, and can’t wait to start.
I have also managed to get a name for the lady who deals with the arranging of art within the county councils building, and apparently they could quite possibly be interested in having something displayed within it. So now I need to go back to my sketchbook and start coming up with some ideas that I feel would work there.
As for the rest, with the finish insight in regards to my dance sculpture, I am now dubious about the initial thoughts that only one sculpture for DanceEast would be enough. My biggest worry is that the one sculpture on its own will be lost in the area, and the impact that I desire will be missed. So I need to reevaluate the situation and possibly make another to go along side it, not forgetting the composition and pose that the first has already become. If something was made to go alongside it, it could possibly detract rather than enhance the previous.
So undoubtedly at least the consideration of something new needs to be thought about, even if it is just a matter of keeping myself busy!
