Some vindication

Different sculpture, same idea, different result. I went through all of the steps from my most recent posts. But I did not use any wire structure to begin with, I sculpted the whole shape before letting it air dry. There were no extra legs or anything to attach. The slathered it with Acrylic paint. When that dried, it definately had more strength to it, but it was still not really hard to the touch. I have left it this way in the past because the figure was a pregnant female and it just made sense to keep it soft to the touch. But back to my progress. After the acrylic layer, I came back in with the fiberglas resin (minus the carpet.) and just left it to cure without any other materials. ( I used sand before) It dried crystal clear. It shows all kinds of cracks and imperfections and really magnifies the flaws that were present after drying. But I think I am liking this transperant hardening goo. Both produced interesting results. And yet there were only small differences in the processes used. I think the world needs a self-hardening no bake, no shrink when drying clay that remains very very rigid when dried. As far as I know there just isn't a product like this. If there is, I wish someone would please tell me. I love to sculpt, but I have no kiln. I have access to one, but when I am creating, it just flows and I don't tend to plan ahead. So I end up with something really great and it cracks and falls apart when dry. Then I have nothing excpet frustration. I have tried so many different products. I want something that acts like clay, hardens like stone-ex, does not shrink, and accepts paint or other finishes. Seems like a simple request.....right?

Another day of day of reflection

And it's Tuesday. Yes, but it feels like Monday. Except I am terribly behind schedule because Monday was a Holiday and that's just the way the cookie crumbles. But a long weekend of cleaning the house, viseo games with the kids and a new idea. The latter may just have been the best part. After yet more sculpture disaster, I decided I would try fiberglass. But minus the fiber part. I decided to try and adhere sand to the concoction rather than the fibers because there just is no way to retain some of the finer detailes if I slather the whole freakin thing with shag carpeting. I am not quite sure if this is what I was going for either. But boy oh boy did it produce an interesting result. This is where I would normally promise to post pictures. But I think we all know that probably won't happen. So, go play with it all by yourself and you can see what I am talking about. It will keep you busy and I can chuckle to myself about how I just made everyone fume up their house/studio/garage. Have Fun!

Sculpture Disaster

The idea is simple. Create a sculpture around the frame of a small lamp. 8 inch tall female figures, not too detailed. Posing and stretching, curling and entangled. The finished piece is to be a little on the weighty side as to avoid tipping. The figures self sustained. No need to balance one figure off of another. A science project and a piece of art. RIGHT............

So, here I am 3 weeks later. I halve solved the cracking issue. I have solved the strength issue by re-enforcing with wire. (Can't see the wire....it's hidden. :) Anywhoo, it totally sucks! It keeps falling over, it won't withstand the heat of the bulb even though it is baked. And now I am back at square one with an awesome idea and without the tools to make it happen.

What a waste! I really just want one sculpture to turn out the way I thought it might. And I really want my lamp that was going to be sooooooooooo cool!

I have tried, Stonex, Sculpey, Clay and have even hardened the cracks with fingernail acrylic. My living room smells like a nail shop and My desk is a complete mess. But still no lamp. It works, it's just ugly.

Okay, so there you have it. I have blogged about a complete FAIL.

Sniffle