0 Comments

A local studio runs bronze casting workshops so I am going to learn about that process. I have made another figure that is more compact and simple in shapes, ideal for a first try at the process.

Kathryn Raffell, 2014, maquette inĀ  clay, 15cm high.

After several steps, this is the final one. The moulds are all sitting in the pit waiting for the bronze to be at the right temperature to pour. They remind me of the Canopic jars that the Eqyptians used to store the organs of their dead kings.

Kathryn Raffell, 2014, Photograph of bronze moulds prior to pouring.

And this photograph shows the top of the my mould as we are waiting for it to cool enough to open.

Kathryn Raffell, 2014, My Bronze casting still in its mould.

Several weeks, and processes, later and the finished bronze is revealed. I am really pleased with the amount of detail that I was able to get. I should have left the clay model to harden as I realized that some areas have been flattened i.e the back of the hair. The hair is longer because the neck cracked on the clay so I innovated a solution so that I could use her. As a first attempt not bad! The process is long and fiddly and I can see now why a bronze costs so much to buy.

Kathryn Raffell, 2014, Untitled, Bronze, 10cm tall.


0 Comments

Kathryn Raffell, 2014, Untitled, clay, 15cmx5cm.

My studies have moved to exploring the figure in sculptural form. In response to the female nudes that Jenny Saville paints. I have sculpted a voluptious female form in clay.

Kathryn Raffell, 2014, Untitled, clay, tissue paper, pva glue, 15cmx5cm.

Instead of painting the clay figure I thought I would “wrap” her in paper as if she was wearing patterned clothing. I like the effect very much, it works well although I am not sure of the choice of actual pattern. It needs to be bolder!

 


0 Comments

My exploration of bold pattern against skin continue. This piece was finished a while ago and I am pleased with the way colour mixes work and clash at the same time. Really pleased with one of the hands but the other is not so successful, something to work on!

Kathryn Raffell, 2014, Untitled, Acrylic on canvas, 40cmx50cm.


0 Comments