Saturday 26 November 2011

Large scale try-out




Here are a few images of my largest sculpture that I've tried making. I feel like there isn't enough detail within the sculpture and it feels slightly clumsy? The 'unfinished' feel of the piece adds to it's handmade nature, but think there is definite room for progression. I'm not sure what I'm trying to say with this piece either, part of it was just trying out a large scale figure but I think I need to add more to it. A step in the right direction though.


These are the most recent clay models I've been working on. I've tried to be more delicate with these compared to my last large-scale one, and i think they've turned out more successful because of this. I've tried to add an element of the surreal to each of them, with one of the figures having entwined legs, or an almost suffocating hair plait. Whilst making them, I was thinking about some of the diagnoses given to women in psychiatric hospitals in the 20th century such as 'Intense Vanity' - too much attention paid one's appearance was enough to prompt incarceration within a suitable institution.









Models

I've recently been looking at the work of Shary Boyle:




In her work, she creates clay models and then makes ornamental sculptures and large scale installations with them.




The way she works really makes me want to try something big scale with the models that I've been working on. Although previously I've only been making heads of figures, I tried making a large scale model but it felt a bit clumsly. I think the next step forward for me is to be really ambitious and just try something on a large scale set up. If it doesn't work out then I can learn from it and find a way to make things work!

Thursday 24 November 2011

New collection of drawings





I've been doing a lot of ink drawings recently so thought I would try and make another booklet of drawings because my last one was quite successful. I want to change the type of paper and way that this next one is printed though because previously, my last booklet looked a bit too manufactured.I was thinking I could maybe hand draw the covers on the booklets this time and maybe sew the books to bind them?
I'm not really sure yet but here are a few images that I want to include in the booklet.

Thursday 3 November 2011

Once the clay models dried, I sealed them with PVA and then painted them with white acrylic. I gave them a final coating of PVA all over to give a shiny finish. I have had thoughts about adding colour to them but I'll have to put that idea on hold for now as reading week is fast approaching and I'm heading home tomorrow! Unfortunately my week won't all comprise of R&R as we have a draft hand in of our FoCi dissertation due on wednesday after reading week is over. It's going to be hard-going!