11th and 12th Oct

 YES!!

I got 2 days open access at Scottish Sculpture Workshop to finally make these sculptures into bronzes.

Ceramic shell covered birds

 

 

 

Bottoms ground off the shells so the wax can be heated and poured out.

Gas torch was used to heat the bottom until the cup came out and then they were put into a oven type thing and heated until the wax poured out.

Now ready to take the bronze!

All the safety gear on while the bronze was heating up, then the pour.

Such a beautiful colour.

After knocking off the ceramic shell, they are ready to cut off from the feeders.

Lots of chasing to do getting rid of the last of the shell.

 

and here they are, ready to add the patina and shine up.

Whew! what a journey.

Friday 17th

My last day until I'm able to do the bronze pour - dates to be confirmed. It has been such a long drawn out process but I'm still grateful to VACMA for choosing my project and funding my learning. 

Today it was more of the same - playing with wax - managed to get most of the pieces attached but had to get Eden to finish a couple for me as I was getting nowhere fast.

They are to stay at SSW and Eden will coat them in a ceramic shell which is a series of layers which have to dry between each dipping, quite a process.

The rest of my time was spent making a mould for the oak leaf ball.

oak leaf ball with silicone layer, I ahd to add another chemical so that the mixture could be brushed on.

and the next part of the process - building up a clay wall so the plaster can be added.

Here it is! the first half siliconed and plaster base added. Underneath all that is half a white plaster oak leaf ball covered in cling film.

More Fun with Wax

 Lots of waxes made, would have been good to make more but time is a factor.

The next stage is to attach the wax sculptures to wax poles (just a cylindrical length of wax). Sounds easy but far from straight forward.

Hot plate on and tools heating up... The trick is to hold the wax cylinder and the piece close together, insert the heated flat tool between them, slightly squeeze together and slide out the tool.

Oh yes, without burning yourself on the tool, dropping the waxes or dropping burning wax on yourself. (hint: it hurts)

3 attached

attached to the bowl

Next, a thicker cylinder is attached to the bowl/bucket and the smaller ones attaached to that. They are upside down at the moment.

Making waxes for the Lost Wax Process

 .... Moulds ready, wax heating up and instructions being given.

Ok!

Here we go....

 The first waxes drying.  Before releasing the moulds they are soaked with cold water (running tap) slowly running over them. This is to make sure the wax has completely solidified as sometimes it is too soft and can be deformed or damaged.

The extra wax is then cut off with a scalpel and snoothed with turps on a scrubby.

Fixing to do

 

Waxes after fixing

Wee bird

More Mould Making

 

A few stages further on and each silicone rubber half mould is encased within plaster.

There are keys within it to hold the mould in place.

The silicone took overnight to set but the plaster is much quicker so before long I had 3 mould waiting for wax.

The Week at SSW

 A whole 5 days of learning mould making!

First of all, it was to make sure a silicone release agent was applied liberally to the sculptures - I really wanted the sculptures to come out from the silcone after it had set.

Next, lay on top of cling film to protect the plaster from the clay, and build up around the piece about halfway, following any lines (so that the mould lines when cast show as little as possible)

a clay wall is added and then the silicone poured in.

I'm glad I had 3 pieces as I could practice and repeat the process 3 times to learn it more thoroughly.

Large Beech Leaf

Silicone Poured

Tomorrow!!!

Exciting times -  I'm off to the Scottish Sculpture Workshop tomorrow for a week residential. 

Many thanks again to the award from VACMA throught Aberdeen City council.

These are the beech leaves I'm using to make molds.

                                                        Beech - Faidhbhile (Scottish Gaelic)

old & new plaster leaves

I decided to carve another leaf, this time larger. I thought it may be too big but on my usual walk up the road from the house I realised that the leaves on the copper beech hedge were the same size. And then of course it occurred to me that the smaller leaf fitted beautifully in my hand but I have fairly small hands so a leaf to fit a larger hand was necessary.

I have been researching a little and found some interesting information about the beech leaf. Now how much of the mythology is true I don't know but I like the ideas.

"Slivers of beech wood and leaves were once carried as talismans to bring good luck and increase creative energy." (www.thebeechtreeinkirriemuir)

Also no harm was said to befall a lost traveller who sought shelter under the branches of a beech.

SSW update

 Lots of back and fro with emails and the upheaval at Scottish Sculpture Workshop with their capital development changes, but finally....

I am booked in for a week's residential to learn mould making for casting. Really excited!!!!

Thanks to my VACMA award this is now happening.

New Gallery

Two members of the flock are now for sale at Larks Gallery  in Ballater! 

The owner is a very lovely lady called Pip and I'm so pleased that my work is getting out into the world.

'Poised'

  

'White Bird'

Of course I forgot to take the wee 'care of your sculpture' zine so they are being posted tomorrow.

We had an excellent walk too.

Larks Gallery, Ballater

News today is that I was approached by the owner of Larks Gallery, Ballater to show some of my pieces in her gallery.

Things are looking up.

Of course I checked out the website and she has some very beautiful artworks there so going to take the two latest pieces up on Sunday. Even get a day out.

More news and images to follow.

Scottish Sculpture Workshop visit

 On the 3rd April I submitted Open Access dates for SSW as the 4th was their next time for looking at availability. I also emailed Eden the technician there and arranged a visit to ask for their advice on my next steps/time frame for mould making/if project feasible.

...Today was the visit day.

I was nervous as I always am meeting new people and new places. Luckily it was under an hour drive so easy to get to.

I pulled in beside the foundry and then Eden and Michael came out to say hi. I found it fascinating, lots of interesting and odd pieces of metal hanging around and made into useful objects. Just my type of place. Great reuse.

Discussion was positive, I showed the pieces I wanted to make moulds from and cast, and they both agreed it could be done in that time with me doing some work at home too.

This is the Beech leaf.                

 

 I had ideas for another of my plaster pieces, the Oakleaf column and the verdict was that would be fine too. 

 

Progress! The idea of casting these pieces is now beginning to feel attainable. Thank you VACMA and Aberdeen City Council for believing in me.

A Halt in Proceedings

 On the 11th March I found out that I'd been granted a VACMA award from Aberdeen City Council. At the time I was halfway through having covid - not the best of times - and this put a halt on all proceedings. 

I was really excited but had no energy. I couldn't do much of anything really which was very frustrating. 

Today we felt ok enough to begin re-roofing the wee shed I use for sculpture. Old roof off and the wood - well, it wasn't even wood - was bowed and had been leaking for ages as well as the shed slowly listing to the right.

New thicker ply (recycled from an event) went up and and a new centre beam, then I lost my energy and had to have a rest. My partner carried on and put the underfelt on it.

That is where I am now. A new roof on the shed, strengthened to prevent the listing and all tidied, am so pleased. It gives me a sense of joy just to open the door. Now just to get more energy after this illness and I'll get on with the sculptures I want to make.

I've got an award!!!

 Today, the email came through from Aberden City Council about my VACMA Application. I have been granted the award and I'm so excited.

I can now book an Open Access week at the Scottish Sculpture Workshop in Lumsden to learn mould making for bronze casting. 

Things to do, things to organise, mainly myself of course, and ideas to generate.

This is the plaster sculpture I'd like to make castings from. It is life sized so fits beautifully in my hand.

Made during lockdown when I couldn't get access to my stone pieces, the plaster is delicate, as you can imagine but carves wonderfully. I had a couple of plaster blocks hanging around from a craft/art pack we'd been making at the scrapstore (ScrapAntics) for disadvantaged teens amongst others.

Beach Walking

 Yup,

I've been to the beach, Balmedie is the one, near Aberdeen.

Although I did draw a little it was more of a word day.

 

Scrambling over the dunes,

and  a slow step, steep slide

down to the beach.

I walked along following the shell and stone line.

Waves to the right

Calming me

Farther along the shells are broken,

and I hear the crunch of my steps

intermittantly through the sound of the waves.

The tide is going out.

I find a small bag, empty 

and I begin to fill it with rubbish

It makes me feel good.

It fills quickly.

I move to a bigger bag 

and on it goes.

I stop to watch the wee scurry aboot birds (Sanderlings)

eating and cleaning themselves.

Lunch

A dog to pet

A person to greet

Walking back with the sun on my face

This feels good

It brings tears of release

Only a few (maybe more next time)

I walk towards the sun

and shut my eyes

Warm reds and orange - I feel protected by them.

I keep going with the sun as my direction

and the shell line crunch to guide my way.

Pattern Cutting begins again!

So pleased to be back learning with MIN Atelier, aka my friend Tracey, brilliant tutor.

I couldn't remember how much we'd completed when the classes stopped due to lockdown. I thought we were just drawing out the pattern, but to my surprise, I'd already cut out the toile, sewed the two front panels to the back and sewn one sleeve. The two hours went by quickly and it now has two sleeves.

A sense of accomplishment.