C.V.SmithARTWORKS
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Sculptures
    • Bronze
    • Clay / Apoxie Clay
    • Plaster
    • Wood
    • Stone
    • SLIDESHOW
  • Galleries
  • Contact
  • Book
  • River Arts
  • BRAF
  • Saltwater Artists
  • CMCA
  • Yarmouth Art Festival

Apoxie Clay ... proves to be extremely "Gull - able"

7/10/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Carved 2"x4" wood armature with shaped styrofoam sides
Picture
Armature with carved wooden head and threaded metal rods attached
Picture
Carved wooden lobster claw
Picture
Armature coated and shaped with Apoxie Clay
Picture
Portland Cement base with texture
   
     I recently completed a sculpture utilizing a medium called Apoxie Clay. It is a 2-part synthetic self-hardening clay and this was my first experience working with it. The piece that I was constructing was going to be a seagull standing on a post holding a lobster claw in its beak. The first step was to make an armature. I did this by cutting the profile of a bird body out of a piece of a wooden 2"x4" and shaping pieces of styrofoam that I had glued on each side of the wooden form. I carved a head out of wood and fashioned a lobster claw out of a piece of driftwood (that was conveniently slightly red in color). After making holes to allow me to fastened the claw to the beak with wooden pins, I attached the head to the neck and inserted 2 threaded metal rods into the underbelly for legs. I was finally ready to apply the Apoxie Clay.
     The 2 parts of Apoxie Clay had the consistency of putty and were easily mixed by kneading them together for about 2 minutes. Not being familiar with the medium, I mixed small amounts at a time (about the size of a ping pong ball). It was fairly easy to smooth over the surface of the armature - a little water on the fingertips was helpful. I did find it necessary to take breaks to allow the material to stiffen up so the freshly applied Apoxie wouldn't be disturbed as I handled the piece. Once I had all surfaces covered, I began to build up and shape specific areas. The bird's feet had been made out of duct tape and wire so that I could form them to the top of the post . These were also easily covered with the Apoxie. While waiting for the Apoxie to harden so that I could sand any rough or uneven areas (about 24 hours), I made a mold and cast a cement base that I would eventually mount the seagull and post on. 
    After putting the finishing touches on the Apoxie surface, I sprayed the piece with primer and proceeded to paint the seagull with acrylics. The final area of concern was the attachment of the claw to the beak. Once the claw was pegged and epoxied in place I had to fill the holes with Apoxie Clay and repaint the areas to match the rest of the beak. The next step was to attach the seagull to the top of the post by inserting the leg rods and epoxy into holes I drilled in the top of the post. Another threaded rod coming out of the bottom of the post was used to attach the post and the gull to the cement base with a washer and nut.
    This first experience with Apoxie Clay was a good one and I will be looking for projects to use it on in the future!
Picture
Picture
Picture
 Completed seagull sculpture (16 1/2 " h) with lobster claw in beak, mounted on post and attached to cement base.
                    *This piece has been entered in the juried show 'Maine Icons' at the River Arts Gallery in Damariscotta.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Cynthia Smith, Maine artist, originally from Connecticut. Taught art at secondary level for 35 years, retired in 2004. Sculpts in bronze, wood, stone, clay & plaster. Her work can be seen at several mid-coast Maine galleries and shows.

    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    October 2022
    May 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.