Sculpture
This is my last year of study on the Portraiture diploma started two years ago at the Art Academy. The first year I focused on painting, last year I started expanding through etching, and this year I want to give sculpture a go!
Here are my first experiences with sculpture, the opportunity to work from observation and to cast it; various thoughts on my relation with 3D; the similarities with digital modelling and the idea of drawing in space. Finally where I'm going next with this added dimension.
I also documented the process of moulding-casting here (with pictures!).
For the past few months, I've started exploring sculpture through clay modelling and stone carving. The former through direct observation, the later from imagination.
I love such physical practices, which offer an exciting balance of both cerebral and hands on tasks. Being under technical constraints also works well for me, I feel it is easier to be creative when there's boundaries.
The class I took this term was called ‘Sculpture: Observation, Anatomy and Measurement'.
We had ten Tuesdays working on the same pose to produce a half-life size figure (around 80 cm).
We worked step by step, starting with the armature to get the main proportion and gesture, then slowly adding clay with a focus on anatomy and high points before exploring rendering (texture, shadows and light) on the last session.
After creating the clay sculpture, we had the wonderful opportunity to learn how to cast a fragment. It was the only way to keep the sculpture, the wire armature inside was making firing impossible.
It was a 2.5 day process, that I've documented here for the curious.
I love with painting and drawing that the surface is flat and through a single view point. This made me worried I'd feel overwhelmed with a 3D space.
It turned out that infinite view points could also be in some aspects liberating! It allowed me to dilute the pressure of nailing a single view point and rather work on the whole.
I trained in the video game industry so 3D thinking wasn't totally new to me. There's a lot of similarities between digital and clay modelling: working from rough to rendered, thinking about planes, paying attention to transitions and edges...
There's also a lot of positive differences: I don't like the endless possibilities of working digital whereas sculpture comes with finite limitations; there's no undo key to press and forward is thankfully the only way to go.
It's been said that sculpting is like drawing in space. Measuring, comparing relationships (horizontal, vertical, angles) and knowledge of anatomy are helpful. It also felt harder and more intense as if looking wasn't enough and proper understanding necessary to deal with a 360° view.
Beyond developing my observation skills, I'm also looking forward to explore mark making in sculpture and learn how to play with values, gesture, texture and everything I'm still not aware of.
My intention for the last two terms on my diploma is to explore sculpture further. First by taking a class on how to sculpt and cast in response to life models ; and later on how to work with wood and metal.
I'm also looking forward to all the possibilities that arise regarding bridges with painting, because it sounds like a direction I'll naturally be happy to take.
As a kid I didn't discriminate between the way I'd play or let my imagination go; developing my skills in various direction allows me to develop a similar freedom as I create.
Stay tuned :)