It seems most of my views that are on the post I am explaining a technique that I use or something I am working on, I could use some feedback on what it is my viewers would like to see or would be interested in watching me do.
I realize that the times you are reading me you are away from your own creating or personal time so I want it to matter. Let me hear from you and if I can possibly help or explain I will. I was recently talking with a woman that works in another medium and was curious about the process of lost wax, I steered her in the blog direction but I also remind people that only by going back to the very beginning of the blog can they get all the necessary steps of clay to bronze.
I have recently been searching for a new camera, digital and a new experience for me so wish me luck and I would welcome any advice from any artist currently using one. I use mine not only for long shots of animals for research but close up of details and also my online submissions.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Just thinking.....
If you have checked in on me very often you remember I love finding quotes and ran across this gem. "When you move forward with passion about what you know, what you don't know won't paralyze you." author unknown
When I think about 17 years ago and whether or not I should have or should not have started sculpting it puzzles me as to how I thought I had the guts to jump into something at that point in my life when most people would have been thinking of ways to live an easier life.
Sure there were a lot of things through the years that if I did not know I had to either ask about or experiment until I found a solution. Some things just had to be done rather than explained because it was the feel of something not necessarily the explanation of how to do it.
In the old days there was a clay that was probably one of original oil clays (Plastilene) and I began in California with it...until the first time I wiped my eye with a dirty hand and the burning from the residue of the clay made me start my search for another clay quickly. Most of the time it is the effectiveness of a product, or the smell or residue of a product that turns me against it.
Also in the old days we used to do plaster molds by the old method of a large bucket of water and putting your plaster in until it started to "hill" then we kept eyeballing it until it was time to add the fiber glass. I played with silicate sand in sandblasting not knowing it would be later found to cause cancer and cut stained glass letting chips fall where they did not knowing some would remain in my skin and cause little bumps when skin grew over them.
When you are young you are fearless.....and a little dumb!
Now I am smart enough to know that certain products are not good inhaled or handled bare handed. Often I have to move something that is too heavy and I know better but no one else is around, that is knowing better but doing it anyway....also dumb.
So just to let you younger artist know, we all start out with a dream and learn along the way but don't ever let your fear of failure place blinders on your creativity.
Want to close with another favorite that I ran across that I feel we have always wanted to do as an artist and maybe on a personal level also....we all wish we could do that fantastic monumental piece of art but we need to know that all our small endeavors are important to someone also.
"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble." Helen Keller
Regardless of the work being accomplished, do your best and always work with pride...art is forever and it so speaks of our society as a whole.
When I think about 17 years ago and whether or not I should have or should not have started sculpting it puzzles me as to how I thought I had the guts to jump into something at that point in my life when most people would have been thinking of ways to live an easier life.
Sure there were a lot of things through the years that if I did not know I had to either ask about or experiment until I found a solution. Some things just had to be done rather than explained because it was the feel of something not necessarily the explanation of how to do it.
In the old days there was a clay that was probably one of original oil clays (Plastilene) and I began in California with it...until the first time I wiped my eye with a dirty hand and the burning from the residue of the clay made me start my search for another clay quickly. Most of the time it is the effectiveness of a product, or the smell or residue of a product that turns me against it.
Also in the old days we used to do plaster molds by the old method of a large bucket of water and putting your plaster in until it started to "hill" then we kept eyeballing it until it was time to add the fiber glass. I played with silicate sand in sandblasting not knowing it would be later found to cause cancer and cut stained glass letting chips fall where they did not knowing some would remain in my skin and cause little bumps when skin grew over them.
When you are young you are fearless.....and a little dumb!
Now I am smart enough to know that certain products are not good inhaled or handled bare handed. Often I have to move something that is too heavy and I know better but no one else is around, that is knowing better but doing it anyway....also dumb.
So just to let you younger artist know, we all start out with a dream and learn along the way but don't ever let your fear of failure place blinders on your creativity.
Want to close with another favorite that I ran across that I feel we have always wanted to do as an artist and maybe on a personal level also....we all wish we could do that fantastic monumental piece of art but we need to know that all our small endeavors are important to someone also.
"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble." Helen Keller
Regardless of the work being accomplished, do your best and always work with pride...art is forever and it so speaks of our society as a whole.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Lab pup, cute or artistic?
There is always quite a conversation on what exactly is art and whether an artist should do "cute" pieces or should they do creative, artistically unique work.
This is a problem for artist that do representational work because we constantly float between doing what we think people will love and what we love ourselves or experience. I happen to love labs and we have had quite a few wonderful dogs.
In your lifetime you will see moments that tug at your heart that you just want to freeze and this particular moment that I have tried to capture here is just that moment.
I worked this up in Chavant clay and used an armature that is fairly large to capture the awkwardness of this pup. The trouble with puppies is that they do not stay the same size long at all so you are either constantly hurrying or you constantly change your design as the pup changes. My thought is to work fast and be able to catch the moment within the week or two that you desire. Measure, measure and take photo's of every little detail...remember people that will be attracted to this piece love labs and pups and will know if anything is not right.
This is a problem for artist that do representational work because we constantly float between doing what we think people will love and what we love ourselves or experience. I happen to love labs and we have had quite a few wonderful dogs.
In your lifetime you will see moments that tug at your heart that you just want to freeze and this particular moment that I have tried to capture here is just that moment.
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| First Retrieve |
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Crazy time! Exciting time!
This has been a very busy time for me and as I have mentioned before on my blog, your work should always come first not the internet requirements or marketing. If you do not have the work or portfolio there is no need for the other.
I am trying to finish up a commission that has been a difficult piece, it is a mastiff. Hopefully it will go to the mold maker next week and I can get on with life. I am at the same time also working on and finishing up a mule deer and taking some molds to the foundry.
For the next few months until Aug. you will probably hear less of me than you have ever heard but it is because the Loveland Sculpture Invitational has always meant a lot to me and I am in it the second weekend in August. It is a major show for me and I usually do well in selling as well as commissions. This will be my fifth year to participate.
This is one of the largest sculpture shows in the US and is held under seven large tents with almost 300 artist so it is very competitive but gives you the opportunity to talk with the patron and him or her to you which is very important. You see every type of medium available and every subject matter.
I will post later when the details are closer at hand but hopefully if you are a sculptor (beginning or honored) you will come visit the show and say hello. If you are a patron please come enjoy yourself and visit and ask questions or watch demo's. With the economy picking up we are expecting a great year.
I am trying to finish up a commission that has been a difficult piece, it is a mastiff. Hopefully it will go to the mold maker next week and I can get on with life. I am at the same time also working on and finishing up a mule deer and taking some molds to the foundry.
For the next few months until Aug. you will probably hear less of me than you have ever heard but it is because the Loveland Sculpture Invitational has always meant a lot to me and I am in it the second weekend in August. It is a major show for me and I usually do well in selling as well as commissions. This will be my fifth year to participate.
This is one of the largest sculpture shows in the US and is held under seven large tents with almost 300 artist so it is very competitive but gives you the opportunity to talk with the patron and him or her to you which is very important. You see every type of medium available and every subject matter.
I will post later when the details are closer at hand but hopefully if you are a sculptor (beginning or honored) you will come visit the show and say hello. If you are a patron please come enjoy yourself and visit and ask questions or watch demo's. With the economy picking up we are expecting a great year.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Wiley Coyote
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| Coyote in the mountains hunting |
This is a view of my work space showing the clay on the armature, always remember when doing a vertical work that you have to not only support the clay but you have to remember to build it strong enough to support the weight of the molding material also.
If you notice I have used a discard cabinet board from Home Depot and the bought armature which I have to admit is better than my pipe creations because of a simple little hinge area to add to the top of the post in order to change the slant of the top portion. I have bought several of these and they really come in handy with animals because of the movement you want to show.
The cabinet portion is also great because of the finish on the surface allowing you to put the Vaseline or release of some sort onto it in order to be able to pull your mold off after it has hardened. Remember also that you have to add another product to keep the silicon from slipping off the vertical figure unlike your molds you make for something flat such as a relief.
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| Wiley Hunter |
This has been a popular piece not only because of it being a fun animal but also because coyote are found almost all over the U.S.
One of the few times I have seen coyote's traveling in groups was in the Rocky Mountain National Park and they were following a lone elk cow that did not look healthy.
Again often I can open my windows onto the Platte River at night and hear them running along the river in packs and crying out in answer or response to others or even neighbor dogs yelping. This is an animal that is a great example of one adapting to civilization and often seen even in alley's or backyards.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Domestic animal sculpture depicting an industry
I have been blessed with the pleasure of having several commissions for the beef industry which has put food on my table for years and I admire ranchers and farmers tremendously.
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| USDA Prime This depicts a finished steer and the pride of an industry and the work put into a steer over a period of 120 days or more. |
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| Sheep Industry This is a desktop of an industry that I see a lot of in Colorado and was honored as well to do some work for these nice people. |
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| Feeders This piece was created for a feedlot and depicts two steers looking through the pipe fencing and is perfect for a desktop depicting your office decor and an opportunity to show a customer that you are committed to reflecting your lifestyle even in your office. All of these pieces as well as others were done on location and viewing the animals up close. I always challenge any industry to welcome an artist to do a piece either for entry or office to depict the very industry they represent. |
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Another great powerful read!
Just finished The Power of Who by Bob Beaudine and as always I relate it to the art field regardless of what I am reading. If you have been following me you have read how much my art friends mean to me and how they support me...they are a few of my Who. Ok now I admit I am beginning to sound like a Dr. Seuss book.
"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." author unknown
Everyone has a group of people that they turn to for advice, encouragement and support in their lives and this book clearly gives them credit to the development of your creativity. Loved this book!
"A who friend will call a halt to fearful thinking. When you are in fear of losing yourself call a who, a who friend will redirect you to the light when on a dark path. A who friend knows your true identity and won't let you forget."
"When you move forward and find a closed door just remember that door was not meant for you so look for another one opening to lead you forward. Don't take life as it comes."
"A who will confidently listen, care and help strategies with you."
"Take care to get what you like or you will be forced to like what you get". George Bernard Shaw
"If you want to have something you've never had before you've got to be willing to do something that you've never done before". author unknown
Quite often I begin an art day dragging and really not into my work (other things digging into my brain and ruining my focus) but I have also learned that if I stick with it and go at it from all different directions then I find in a few hours that I am working and pleased with my progress. Then it is hard pressed to get me to come up for air or food and water. Pure Joy!
When I am down, not because of burn out or boredom but just because the price of copper is rising and I can't quite get a handle on the kind of wire to use on tiny antlers without having to do a lot of wax re-work or the marketing end of art is driving me nuts....I turn to my "Who"....hopefully you do also. This post is dedicated to my very special "who" and I feel in the description above they will recognize themselves.
"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." author unknown
Everyone has a group of people that they turn to for advice, encouragement and support in their lives and this book clearly gives them credit to the development of your creativity. Loved this book!
"A who friend will call a halt to fearful thinking. When you are in fear of losing yourself call a who, a who friend will redirect you to the light when on a dark path. A who friend knows your true identity and won't let you forget."
"When you move forward and find a closed door just remember that door was not meant for you so look for another one opening to lead you forward. Don't take life as it comes."
"A who will confidently listen, care and help strategies with you."
"Take care to get what you like or you will be forced to like what you get". George Bernard Shaw
"If you want to have something you've never had before you've got to be willing to do something that you've never done before". author unknown
Quite often I begin an art day dragging and really not into my work (other things digging into my brain and ruining my focus) but I have also learned that if I stick with it and go at it from all different directions then I find in a few hours that I am working and pleased with my progress. Then it is hard pressed to get me to come up for air or food and water. Pure Joy!
When I am down, not because of burn out or boredom but just because the price of copper is rising and I can't quite get a handle on the kind of wire to use on tiny antlers without having to do a lot of wax re-work or the marketing end of art is driving me nuts....I turn to my "Who"....hopefully you do also. This post is dedicated to my very special "who" and I feel in the description above they will recognize themselves.
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