Ice Crystals

Appropriately for the winter solstice some beautiful ice crystals

Choc City

This cast looks like some futuristic cityscape, don't you think?

Inspiration

If you feel uninspired, don't know what to make, sculpt, paint etc. just look around you! Inspiration is everywhere! I find that I draw inspiration from the world around me all the time. Here are a four photos I have taken in the last 10 days which have given me loads of creative ideas.

Disposable polystyrene cup with my doodle

Girl lying on wall in autumn sun, Lewes, Sussex

Dead heather, cropped & dug up from my garden

Sunrise at Balham station

A Big Carrot

I made a big carrot for a food festival, Tooting Harvest Foodival, last week. Big vegetables are relatively easy to make if you can't grow your own. Although I did have to go through a couple of prototypes like the one on the right which was not strong enough. I found that the solution was to make a basic carrot structure out of cardboard, then paste newspaper and finally orange tissue paper over it. A bit of acrylic paint adds texture, add some "leaves" and there you are! OK, I agree, it's no Botticelli, it's a rudimentary quick paper carrot ... but it's surprisingly easy to get a good enough effect and a very positive response from the public!

Fiesa Sand Sculptures

The Fiesa sand sculpture exhibition is possibly the largest of its kind in the world. Set over about 2 acres in Pera in southern Portugal, Fiesa has been running since 2003 and is absolutely amazing! This year's theme is "Discovery".

Flower Mosaic

Another mosaic using discarded materials, this time a less formalised, more abstract design set into the back of what was an Indian thakat cupboard door; the metal rectangle at the bottom is a lock. Lovely bit of wood. I have now discovered a technique using the tile nippers for more reliably cutting longer strips of mirror like the ones here. Not quite sure if I have finished this one yet mind you ...

Mandala Mosaic

Here is a mosaic I rustled up last week from items I found discarded on a rubbish tip - broken tiles, a mirror and an old table top. It's amazing what you can achieve with patience and a pair of tile nippers. The finished product is actually quite difficult to photograph due to the number of mirror pieces!

Below with flowers and leaves (and me!) reflected

and here adding some light in a dark hallway

Steve Glynn's Big Fish

I met mosaic and papier mache artist Steve Glynn at a Brixton Art Exhibition the other week. I really liked his amazing large mosaic fish and am inspired to at least have a go at doing a pilchard of my own! The mirror cutting is especially impressive.

Check out Steve's site here

Sand Face

I was in Portugal last week so took the opportunity to scare the local kids on the beach with this sand sculpture. Far from being put off two 6 year-olds gawped then went off and created their own version of this!

Wax Buddha

Another attempt at wax carving, aiming at a Buddha image to cast in metal. It's hard to carve this wax which is quite sticky. I am using a small craft knife and a wooden tool. A better finish seems to come using my fingersGetting closer to a lifelike image hopefully. Haven't quite worked out a good technique for the fine details on the face yet.

Creation ... Destruction ...

Creation, destruction, the perpetual cycle of existence continues

Alabaster Figure

A small figure carved from an alabaster shard as I sat in the sun

Great Art & Sculpture Venues of the World

#467 The Foundry, Old St, EC2A
Returning this week for a visit to my old local of many years, I was glad to encounter a Tyrannosurus Rex and some decent "TV". The Foundry may look like a squat but the craic is good and there's always an interesting exhibition or two either upstairs in the bar, in the "Library" or in the old bank vault downstairs and ANYONE can exhibit. The loos meanwhile boast extensive graffiti.

Paper Laminate Mask

Paper laminate mask made over plaster face cast and painted in acrylics. Please watch the video!

Garden Mosaic

A mosaic made from a broken mirror, plates and tiles on the wall in my garden, covering a blind window.

The wall is gradually getting populated by other sculptures.
Meanwhile a blackbird has made a nest among the clematis.

The Head-Maker

Alex can't stop making massive, wild, energy-filled, disturbing heads in large numbers; his pantry is full of them.

He also holds the British All-comers record for the most clay used by one individual in a single day ...

And here is a micro-documentary I made of the artist himself, relaxing at home ...

Mother Love

Clay statue finished with iron paste, bronze powder and verdigree as with the mask below

Finished Clay Mask

Finished with iron paste, bronze powder & verdigree

Mushroom Bowl

It does have a rather ulcerous look about it ... which I quite like!

Made by wrapping clay over newspaper over an upturned bowl

Marysia's Face Cast

Fired Face Mask

Quite fragile being only two clay daubs thick;
now thinking about the finish - iron paste perhaps.

A Tile

Very easy to make and glaze, distorts a little on firing.

Trial Ideas Fired

A Face Appears

Something I did this afternoon. Let's see if it survives the drying process!

Shimming Video

Paul explains how to shim a clay figure as preparation for making a plaster mould. Firstly by cutting home made shims from soft drink cans. then carefully sliding the shims into place to enable a multi-piece mould to be made.

Bloody Mary?

What are we, am I, I mean? I don't know ...

Section of Christine

Finally fired, the section of the life model from Nov 08; glaze is skin

Brain

giant brain section complete with blood clots