Thursday, 4/29

Took the grass skirt off this week. Decided that no matter how well I got it rendered, the shape and placement was always going to suggest wings. Not what I had in mind at all. Going to experiment with a buffalo-type hide instead.

I got these images from the sculpture in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. One of those beautifully rendered, totally forgettable sculptures that dot the urban landscape, and which I have come to respect, if not love.

I think the textures are particularly well done on this one, and not having a buffalo handy, I decided to use these for reference.





So, got home early from work today. Had 30 minutes in the studio. Being a sculptor with two kids and a full time job means you gotta be quick. Ask Darla.



Going back to the tinfoil. Makes it look insulated.





More tomorrow.

Monday, 4/26

I’m thinking about changing the helmet.

Interestingly, the helmet was a large part of the original inspiration for this piece. I've been taking my kids to the Philadelphia Museum of Art - my 5 yr old son and I are big fans of the armor collection - and it wasn’t long before I wanted to find a way to incorporate some of those forms (and this helmet in particular) into my own work.

Unfortunately, I’m finding that the form isn’t nearly as compelling without it’s metallic surface. This could also be a function of being the nature of relief – the flattened teardrop shape of the horizontal cross-section get’s lost in profile. Now I’m thinking that I may need to use a more complex form to substitute for the dynamic, reflective surface of the metal.I remembered seeing this image in one of my son’s books of Knights. We’ll see if it’s an improvement.

Friday, 4/23

I like working in clay. I like that it has different states, and that you can use those
different states in different ways - moving it around quickly when soft, carving and burnishing it
when hard. Plus, I don't like the feel or the finish of plasticine.

That said, clay does have it's disadvantages. Mostly, it dries out. I'm getting into the
studio once a week, and it's clearly not enough. Starting to get some cracking along
the legs, particularly where the armature is close to the surface (as seen being
repaired in that nice Achilles' heal image).

As this has become something of a self portrait, I've decided to include my (mirror image)
Leatherman and wallet. Between them and the jeans, it feels almost as representative as a
portrait. Still not sure about the grass cape.

Friday 4/16

Full day in the studio. More refining means the
progress is slower.

Still trying to figure out about the
grass cape. Right now it looks like feathers more than
grass. Trying to figure out how to do it w/o modeling
every single blade.

Friday, 4/9

Half day in studio. Trying out the grass cape.
Hard to tell if it's going to work. The tin foil is
there in case I decide to go backward -
all the clay won't be stuck to his back.

Reference Images

Going to try adding a grass cape tomorrow.

This image is from "Crow Boy",
by Taro Yashima, a kids book I love,
but my kids don't.

Sunday, 4/4

Despite (because of?) the helmet, this is
feeling more and more like a self-portrait.

Saturday, 4/3, (part 2)

Clay is (literally) thrown at the outline until the form is filled out, then roughed out with the blade from an old Japanese pull saw and a putty knife.

Saturday, 4/3 (part 1)

Finally getting started on a larger relief project...

The "canvas" is 7 x 5, gridded off into 1' sections,
and the rough form sketched up with chalk.

Start of project / Reference images 1

A few reference images, and the Super Sculpey maquette.