Life Sculpture

I am taking a life sculpture class with live models. We work in clay. Next, we will make a plaster mold. I am planning to make the sculpture in cement so I can put it in the back yard.
This was much more difficult than I expected because the instructor insisted the sculpture be life size and as realistic as possible. I like the result but could have worked on it more if there had not been a deadline. Even looking at the photos now I see things I could have improved. However, I was pleased because the model liked it and asked to photograph it for her portfolio. This is really fun and I am learning a lot: eyes are difficult, the mouth is difficult, the nose is difficult and don't even ask about the cheeks. Oh well.... next we do the torso of a male model. Moe fun.

Our Lady

Bronze and stained glass. I made this sculpture last semester but it did not fill correctly on the edge. This semester I made an extra piece to be welded into the missing edge and I made the candle holder. My instructor welded the missing edge and the candle holder. The sculpture has a black patina that I polished off in some areas.

This sculpture is a relief. A flat piece of wax [called a slab] is used and I carved into it. Sometimes, I place small pieces of wax on top of the slab where I need extra depth: for example the angel's head and wings. This piece involved two slabs.: the slab for the back and the slab which contains the image of "Our Lady." I then created a 1/4 inch channel between the two slabs where I would later insert the stained glass. The stained glass containns, red, orange and yellow pieces of glass. The bottom layer around the image contains opaque glass the top layer contains translucent glass [so the bottom layer would be visible.] I also made the candle holders out of the same glass.

If this piece had been ready, I would have entered it into the student show. Alas, it was not ready. If I still have it next year and it is not mounted here at home, it will go into the show unless I come up with something I like better.

I don't know where/to whom this piece belongs. I was inspired to make this without having a real home for it. I envision it being hung outside under a patio, eave or weather protected in some way. It needs to be in a dignifiied respectful location where it is by itself; I don't see it as garden art. It is quite heavy and will need to be carefully mounted directly into a stud if hung on a wall. I am considering options. She will wait until her perfect home is found.

Feng Shui Turtle

Feng Shui Turtle: Bronze 11 x 8 x 3 1/2

This is another piece that I first made last semester and it was ruined in the bad pour. The first version had no edge around part of the rim of the turtle shell. It could not be repaired in my opinion [my teacher urged otherwise.] It was cut up and the bronze was reused in this version. I like this version better.

My cousin, Savrina, is THE feng shui expert. She asked for a turtle with dots be made. The dots in each of the sections of the turtle were placed in the particular section purposefully and are significant as representing the Pa Kua: the 8 root trigrams of the I Ching. The image of a turtle with the dots is an important feng shui image. You will notice that in addition to the dots in each section, I added an symbol/image. Each of these images is of something positive or lucky in feng shui symbolism: yin/yan [side section near tail] represents balance, three legged toad [above the turtle's head] brings wealth, the double circle [on the top section] and the double diamond [on a side section near the tail] deflect bad energy, the bat [on the tail section] is a precious animal and represents good luck, the fish [on a middle side section] achieves good luck, there is the double happiness sign on a middle side section and the longevity sign on a side section near the head, the symbol to the left of the frog is also "auspicious" and attracts prosperity and luck .

Savrina has not seen this yet. I will post her comments unless she posts them herself.

A mother's lap

Alabaster mama. Bronze baby.
Oh no, not another mama/baby. Oh, yes, but this one is different. The trick here was creating a baby that would stay on her/his mama's lap. I was worried I would need to use velcro or double sided tape so the baby would not keep falling off. However, no need. The baby when placed carefully, is perfectly balanced and does not fall off his/her mama's lap. Success.

This sculpture is in honor of a certain mama
Whose babies are prone to plenty of drama
and certainly trauma
If they are not in her arms or her lap.
They are no longer dissolved
and all is resolved.
As long as she wraps them around her.

So mama beware
They require only your care
because nobody else can compare
To the one they want most.

So when you are accosted
and even exhausted
By two full throated wee ones
Keep in mind that for all of mankind
The arms and the lap of a mother
can turn whines into smiles like no other.
Especially that young sister and brother.

Dad's Turtle

Another turtle!!! This one is for my Dad by request. It is bronze with black and blue patina.
I made a turtle for my Dad last semester. [Fall 2007] However, the actual pour was horrible. We had a perfect storm of calamities that left the molds only partially filled. It is the first time where virtually all the molds had major defects. My Dad's turtle only filled on the sides and the entire middle was missing. There was no way to salvage the piece. So, I cut up that turtle and started over. This turtle is made from the recycled bronze from the first turtle. I actually like this turtle better. It is smaller and the shape is better. I also like the designs on the shell. Music symbols and a guitar are on the shell behind the head My Dad loves to sing and play his guitar in the church choir. Above the tail is a flaming heart with a cross inside. It is my version of the Sacred Heart. My Dad has a great love for the church. So, besides the New Mexico themed designs on the turtle shell, there are a few designs very personalized just for my Dad.

Santa Fe Basket Weavers wins an award

I entered the above in the student show. It won an Award of Merit by the college Arts Council: $100 and a certificate. Pretty cool. I only entered the one thing because of the disaster with last semester's pour [virtually all of the 20 some projects failed...it was a bad day for everyone.] So I entered this just to have something in the show and I did not expect to win anything. There were 280 entries and about 20 awards. So, this is amazing. To have a jury of arts profs, community members and professionals think my work was good enough to get an award two years in a row is powerful encouragement. I also listed this piece for sale. No bites yet but the show just opened two days ago.