Have trawled the Internet, yet again, and ordered some different kinds of wax to experiment mixing to try to get a wax which melts enough to be moulded by hand but is a little less inclined to wilt at room temperature. Await delivery! Though one was said to be particularly good for mixing, I did not order it, as it was a strong green and this just would not do, (too living plant like, my sculptures would end up looking like cabbage leaves!!) I went for a white micro-crystalline. I use a brown wax at times, but prefer the pale yellow one at present. The brown is a little more sticky than the yellow and so is more messy to work with and more importantly hard to clean up quickly, (when you suddenly realize it’s kids pick up time!), but some times the stickiness gives interesting effects as you prize it away from your fingers. Will consider colour more deeply later just need to get more going first. I also like the yellow as it gives delicate look and is reminiscent of plants and creatures that survive in complete darkness away from human notice.
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I do not have a set picture in my head or even a set medium I just get a sensation that ruminates through my body and I get very frustrated because I cannot just say it’s like this and produce it. I know lots that I do not want my work to be about and I know some things that it must have. I want parts to have a delicate fragility, I want to evoke associations with natural forms, I would like an interesting surface with strong highs and dark depths. I know that though ultimately it will be about painting I have to manipulate materials, as this is what is driving through me and causing my frustration. I worked with clay last module and this (though the item was not liked) it helped me realise that I need fragile, undulating and dark holed forms and to be able to create them in some way, I need to physically manipulate while at the same time leaving room for accidental occurrences, ‘Happy Accidents’ as one tutor calls them.
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The wax I am using is both great, because it melts at body temperature, so once warm is very malleable and a desperately fragile and a pain and fiddly for the same reason! In between working I have to keep the wax in the fridge at present. Hope the kids don’t try to eat it, (they have been warned!)
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The grouped together photos are O.K., they still have a strong floral or under sea creature look about them, but these forms are more interesting to me, they are getting closer to the ‘something’ that I want.
Started to transcribe in charcoal to see the effect.
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After some hours research, reading blogs on a sculpture web sites etc., seems one of the best ways to keep the wax in between working on it is in water. Tried this and it seems to work well. Good job, as I needed to find a new way to store them, the kids squashed some of my sculptures that where in the fridge with their yoghurts! Bless um, they were only trying to find their favourite flavours! I know they should have been better boxed! (The children that is!!)
I am still researching my ideas for three-dimensional forms using wax and paper at present, but have started to let the shapes grow in my hand more organically.
I like aspects of these forms in wax, but they are too floral like at present. Will try grouping them together then photographing them, this may help.
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I do not have a set picture in my head or even a set medium I just get a sensation that ruminates through my body and I get very frustrated because I cannot just say it’s like this and produce it. I know lots that I do not want my work to be about and I know some things that it must have. I want parts to have a delicate fragility, I want to evoke associations with natural forms, I want an interesting surface with strong highs and dark depths. I know that though ultimately it will be about painting I have to manipulate materials, as this is what is driving through me and causing my frustration. I worked with clay last module and this (though the item was not liked) helped me realise that I need this swirling rippling crevices and dark holed forms and to be able to create them in some way, I need to physically manipulate while at the same time leaving room for accidental occurrences, ‘Happy Accidents’ as one tutor calls them.
———-
The wax is both great, because it melts at body temperature, so once warm is very malleable and desperately fragile and fiddly for the same reason! In between working I have to keep the wax in the fridge at present. Hope the kids don’t try to eat it, (they have been warned!)
———-
The grouped together photos are O.K., they still have a strong floral or under sea creature look about them, but these forms are more interesting to me, they are getting closer to the ‘something’ that I want.
