 Building up base... |  Bulking out... |  Refined... |  Shimmed... |  Encased in mold... |
 Plaster waste mold ... clay torso removed | I have always had an affinity for working with the human form, and find that life drawing and life sculpture provide the perfect opportunities to further explore the nuances of the human landscape. The underlying skeletal structure, the muscles, and the skin covering all undergo a myriad of changes depending on the weight distribution and gesture of the figure - even when working with just the central mass of the torso. |
 Cast plaster torso ... unfinished  Plaster torso ... 19 1/2 " h ... completed | The torso pictured above and to the left was created as a life sculpture in clay from a model. The piece was gradually built up and refined. Thin metal shims were then inserted so that plaster of paris, layered with burlap could be applied to create a 2 piece waste mold. (Two wooden sticks were imbedded in the mold, one on each side, to make separating the mold halves easier after the plaster hardened.) Once the clay was removed, the two haves of the mold were put back together using strips of burlap soaked in plaster. The mold was then inverted, propped up and filled with plaster of paris. After the plaster set, the mold was carefully chipped away to reveal the cast within. The final step was to seal the piece. I utilized a combination of 2 acrylic paint products made by Golden. First I coated the piece with a solid layer of Graphite Gray (Golden # 01160 series II, crystallized carbon) and then I rubbed on a thin layer of Iridescent Bronze Fine (Golden #04003 seriesVII, titanium dioxide coated mica particles). The bronze acrylic, applied primarily to the high and flat surfaces, served to accent the form and create an effective metallic illusion. *Additional views of this sculpture can be seen in the slideshow section of the website. |
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