Casting The Sculpture

Here are some picture of the casting process for this sculpture. First we removed the plaster outer mold. Then carefully separated the silicone mold, making sure that is didn't rip.

This picture shows the two mold pieces resting on the plaster pieces. I removed any clay that was stuck in the deeper creases of her hair.






















So after a few layers of resin we filled the rest of the mold with expandable foam, and boy did it expand! Pretty crazy stuff!






















Here is the cast of the sculpture. So now I need to figure out how I am going to finish her. Not sure what I want to do yet so for now she sits in my room in a box, kind of sad for her after all that work. So I better figure out something soon.

Molding the sculpture

So this sculpture is out of klean clay, a oil base none sulfur clay. It is pretty soft, much different from the polymer clay that I am used to sculpting with. So the above picture shows the finished sculpture. I was not completely thrilled with this sculpture. It was the first time I have sculpted hair and also the first time I have worked with this clay.
























First layer of silicone for making the mold. I didn't know what color the silicone was before I purchased it. But since with sculpture was of my 4 year old grand daughter and her favorite color in pink. I was pleasantly surprised.

More layers of silicone, and the dividing area of the mold is built up.
Last but not least is the plaster layer.
This is a very time consuming and messing process. Very fun to learn!!

Leigh Bust

So I finished up the sculpture keeping her white. I painted her and then buffed places for a nice sheen. I also gave she some metal hoop earrings, the young lady that was the model for the sculpture thought that was fitting for her personality. She got accepted into the Eccles Art Centers Annual Black and White show. This picture was taken at the show, it's a bit wonky because all I have is my Iphone to take pictures. Maybe one day I will get a better camera. It was fun to have a piece of my art in an actual art show. Makes me feel like someday I might be an artist.

Finishing Up the Live Model Sculpture

To finish this sculpture I needed to hollow it out and prepare it to be fired in a kiln.

The face on a cushion after being cut off. And the rest of the head hollowed out.























And finally it is fired!

Live Model Class

This is the sculpture I am working on in the live model class. This has been a fun class because it has had so many new things that I have not tried before. One is working with WED clay, a water base clay that we will fire in a kiln. Second is working from a live model, this has been very challenging but also very exciting. Third, is that I have never tried to capture an ethnic look, so this has also been a challenge.

I think one of the next times I am in class I will take a picture of the model with my sculpture, I will post and see if you think I am capturing her likeness.

Updates to Sculpting Class

A few more updates to the sculpture in the class that I am taking. The top picture so me trying to add hair
The hair has been more of a challenge then I had initially thought it would be. The teacher explains it in shapes and ribbons. Easy to say but not so easy to implement.

The bottom couple of picture show more progress on the hair, I think it is getting a bit better.

The bottom picture of the latest updates. I think I am getting close to finishing this sculpture. Then I will need to start the molding and casting process.

Two Steps Forward...One Step Back

Here are a few updated from the previous week at my sculpting class!

Last night was my sculpting class again. I enjoy this class, but there are some things that make it difficult and frustrating.
One is the drive, it is a 30 or so min drive to the class, then you add onto that, that I am 30-35 minutes in the opposite direction at my job and that amounts to a lot of driving.
Second is that it is only 2 hours, but he lets you come and work when you can so I try to go early and get a bit more time on my sculpt. Some of the students that live close can come on other days and work. Makes me wish I lived closer.
Third, the class is not a structured class… meaning that you are pretty much on your own and the teacher moves around and helps where needed. This is good in some ways and not so good in others. I think I crave more structure then what is given in the class, but I also don’t want to be held back when someone new arrives so I don’t really see how this will change, except maybe my attitude about it.
There is a bright side note to this issue. Starting the middle of Oct. he (the teacher) will start a 6 week live model class, so that will be a structured class where we will be sculpting a bust from looking at a live model. I think this sounds difficult, interesting and fun. So I think I will sign up to participate. And on a side note, to this side note, the model will be an African American woman so I can see if I can capture the nuances of this nationality… that should be fun and challenging!

Some more updates, and a reference shot to give you an idea how big she is.

So my evil sculpting nemesis, symmetry raised its ugly head at me last night in class… Aughhh!!! I think I will never shake this!! One of the struggles of sculpting this way is that I am used to holding the small doll head and being able to move is around in my hand to see all the angles that you need to make sure you are as symmetrical as possible. Not that I always succeed even with the small doll head. With a head this size and it bolted to a wooden block, standing on a sculpting stand, you area bit more limited at being able to pick it up and look at it in all the different angles. Sure you and see the profiles, bend down and look up at it etc. So the instructor came by to look at my sculpture and commented that one eye was set back a bit from the other. Really??? Stink! Now that he pointed that out I had no choice but to fix it!! Two steps forward...One step back

She still needs lots of adjusting, I'm not sure about her hair. It will just have to wait til next week.