Posts by Bridgette
My Memories Are Gone To The Dogs!
Working on this new sculpture of the child with his dog and knowing how the dog is aging makes me think of the other dog sculptures that I have done. I have sculpted many animals before. Many were commissions of pets or people and their pets. One would think, “Oh a dog that should be a rather easy thing to sculpt.” But really they are just as intricate and have just as much emotion as the humans.
My first animal sculpture was my own wonderful black lab Conan. It was done just after he died. I remember that when I was sculpting my beloved pet I cried. My husband came into the studio and asked what I was doing. “Sculpting Conan,” I replied. He said, “If it is that difficult then why are you doing it.” My response that was said in between my sobs, “Because I have to.” That was when “Puppy Love” ( limited edition of 100) came into existence. I sculpted myself with my dog. In fact, when he came out of surgery and was on the floor of the clinic, I snuck in and cuddled up behind him in a similar position. The doctor said that his vitals changed when I did this, even though the dog was totally unconscious. I still think that is amazing. The dog was old, and a few days later, after we brought him home I was in this same position, but after many hours of staying awake to help him I literally passed out. He died in our kitchen. I was devastated, as I wanted to be there for him when he died. My husband who was on the floor in front of Conan said that every time I spoke to Conan he would see the fight to live in the dogs eyes. But the fight was too much. He had to go, and he could only do so when I was silent. I know it sounds strange, but what I learned from this event was that it is very important to give our beloved animals permission to go on.
I have owned 4 other dogs since, fostered 4 and had 3 that neighbors owned and I interacted with at my studio. I have never allowed myself to love a dog as much as I loved that one. I wrote a poem to go with this sculpture. I’ll have to see if I can find it.
In grandpas swing (bronze limited edition of 10) I was originally going to sculpt just the children, then I found out the dog was aging and not expected to live. I added the dog, which really did make the piece because the little girl is reading, “If you give a mouse a cookie” book to her brother. The little boy is looking at the book and not paying attention, his cookie balancing from his fingers; the dog smells the cookie. Maybe the piece should have been called “Give a dog a cookie” instead of “Grandpas Swing” Yes the swing really swings! The entire food theme came about because at the sitting the little boy kept saying. “I’m hungry.” It is funny to see how a commission comes together.
The Mr. Hevrdejs had me sculpt his wife and their two Rhodesian ridgebacks. I never got meet the two dogs as they are in their home in California. I was thrilled to have a piece of my work in their collection because Mr. Hevrdejs is a collector of art. In fact they have a wing in the Museum of Fine Art-Houston. Photographs were provided of both animals and I was surprised that after viewing them I had a sense about each of the animals. The same sort of feeling I get when trying to sculpt deceased loved ones. I went to Mrs. Hevrdejs and said. Porsche, she seems like she is one of those dogs that needs a lot of attention and would rather get that then even eat. Symba, on the other hand has a cat like mentality and frankly could not be bothered. Turns out I was right on. I sculpted Porsche waiting for the bone from her master and Symba turned away not really caring.
Playing Ball ( limited edition of 10) was another commission of master and dog. I loved getting to meet these dogs and taking the pictures of them. It is interesting that meeting a dog for a commission is quite similar to meeting a person. You get a feeling about them and you bond. I have learned that one of these dogs passed away a few years ago. I am glad they have the sculpture to remind them.
Jack- ( bronze limited edition of 10)This was my first posthumous dog commission, other than my own dog. Jack passed away. I visited the family and got to view his seating place, his toys and his bowl. The death of the dog was very difficult for the client and in turn having the sculpture come to completion was also difficult, as it sometimes can be when sculpting the deceased. I am sure they love having this piece.
Looking For an Apprentice… Once Again
Interviewing for an apprentice again.
If you are interested or you know of someone who might be interested in being an apprentice in an art studio, have them contact me. The complete description is listed below.
Houston Sculptor is seeking apprentice.
This job consists of working in a real art studio with a master sculptor as well as in the foundry for bronze casting when necessary. Work is figurative. Your duties would include anything from smoothing clay, helping to make armatures for life size sculpture, assisting artist with working waxes for the bronze process and clean up. The work can get dirty. Desire for art and a commitment is the only prerequisite.
This is not a paying internship however there are sometimes bonuses involved and the learning experience and exposure are invaluable. The artist’s studio is located just north of the 610 loop off of shepherd. Hours are flexible, we can work around your schedule if you can committed to at least 5-10 hours a week. Upon completion of the summer the artist would be happy to write a letter of recommendation for the student for college or job.
If you would like to see some of the artist work or look at how other apprentices have helped check out the blogs listed below.
https://creativesculpture.com/blog/
http://www.dickhathaway.blogspot.com/
Artist’s web site is located at https://creativesculpture.com
Please contact Bridgette through her contact page on her website
And put Intern/Apprentice in the Subject headline. Be sure to let me know when you are available and your desire. If you are under 18 we will need to meet at my studio with your parents and they will be required to sign a consent form.
She Is Learning
The new dog, we should really find a temporary name for it, has learned the process. We are always here. Shadow would be a good name as she goes up and down the stairs following me. Our offices are on the second floor, the studio on the first. Thank God she has learned not to jump up every time I am downstairs and need a tool on the shelf, or to warm my coffee in the microwave. Or upstairs when I run from my computer to the accounting computer. She so wants someone to play with her, and Emmy could not be bothered. Our retriever that passed away was the great foster uncle. He would play with the puppies and tire them out.
I guess having someone around all the time is good, but we really work a lot here and only play on the way to the house.
Hubby said, “she has not jumped into the pond yet.” No, she has not. I wonder why as she appears to be a lab. But all dogs that come here consider the pond their personal watering dish.
Still no home for her, on the upside, she has been a good resource for the growth pattern of hair for my little dog sculpture.
The Pets Have Our Number
At least that is what my son suggests. This is why,
On Christmas morning we found 4 kittens on our doorstep. We have been feeding them and the mom and trying to learn about how to take care of the problem of ferrel cats and the endless cycle of reproduction that seems so cruel.
Then we noticed this lab eating out of a dumpster. My husband noticed she had rope wrapped around her neck, and chest and legs. it was so sad. I coaxed her over with a turkey hot dog. It took some time to get the knots out. Now we are trying to find a good home for her. She looks to be about a year old.
Our home does seem to attract those animals in need. I think we have fostered 5 dogs in the last 3 years.
A New Work in Progress
I have been working on this new commissioned sculpture of a little boy and his dog. I was not actually commissioned to sculpt the dog, but when I saw the two together in a photograph, and heard that the dog is aging… well it pulled at my heart strings. Besides the photograph of the little boy whispering in the dogs ear is to say the least so cute.
Here a quick roughed in sketch of what I am going for. The dog and boy are two pieces. That way the parents can place them around the shelf. You must remember David. He is the other child in the family. I love that the mom had miniatures made of the children.
Now that I look at them together I can see the placement. Maybe David is not looking down at his toys, but at his brother and his dog. What fun!
I Am Excited about The New Year- But Accounting Hurts My Brain
I am excited about the new year. Even if I am still a little foggy from the flue. We are setting up an e commerce site for my collectible series. For those of you who have not seen them you can find them on the God’s Word web site. Setting up an e commerce store that works with the accounting system, changing the accounting system to a new computer and on a PC none the less. I am a mac girl. Is making my little brain hurt. All in all, we are excited about this new endeavor for 2008. The site should now be functional and I plan on spending a lot of my time marketing the site, and the artwork. I am also creating a few new pieces for the collection. Creating for God’s Word Collectibles is really the only time I get to create out of my head. Everything I do is by commission.
Happy New Year!
I wish everyone a wonderful 2008!
My new year started with the flue, but I am coming back around… slowly.
The Skirt article is postponed, and will not be out in January.
Happy Birthday- I Received My New Equipment
Trying to learn how to create podcasts and movies with my new computer. The only thing missing was a microphone and pop filter. That is what my husband purchased for me for my birthday. You have seen the first movie I created, I put another on you tube, but it is really just a copy of a video that someone did of the man that I am presently sculpting down in the studio. Richard Hathaway is talking about progressive education. The video was an inspiration to me.
Besides the many podcasts that I am looking forward to creating I hope to put together some instructional video’s.
I Love to Hear That My Clients Are Pleased About The Artwork
It was lovely to receive this e mail from my client about the recent portrait sculpture of their father. I am thrilled that everyone loves the portrait bust.
“Hi Bridgette,
I wanted to share with you how excited our father was with the
sculpture. He was in Houston last week and was able to see the piece for the first time. He loved it and was so pleased with how it
looked.
Thank you for making that possible.
Regards,
Patty Maxin”
Judging Culture Shapers Art Show
It was a pleasure to judge the Culture Shapers art show this year. I am not really sure how many years they have been doing this, I just know I have been there from the beginning even before there was a sculpture category. This is a wonderful show for students. With $5,000 prize going to the top contestant in each category it is wonderful exposure for the students.
My judging partners this year were Richard Fielden and Ben Woitena I don’t know about the other judges but I look forward to our time of sharing each year as much as I look forward to the judging.
For those not familiar with the process there were 112 sculpture pieces. Each of the three judges is given yellow post-it’s and we are to choose those pieces that we want to advance. Because each of the three judges is given a post-it packet of 25 we hardly use all of ours. Frankly we tend to agree on the pieces that make the cut.
I continue to say each year, if you did not make the cut, please do not get discouraged. Judging is often subjective and what might not make it in one show might make it in another show. One other suggestion I always tell students is that they must push the work. Often young artists want to “just get something done to put in the show.” You can tell the difference between those works of art and others. Those that advance are ones that continue to grow and change with the process. They are also finished. Always, always go the extra effort with presentation. If you complete a work and glue it to an ugly base or don’t take the extra time and effort to bring it to its completion it shows.
I always like to read the descriptions. Another suggestion is to think this out. The artwork and the piece of paper are the only reflections that we have of the artist. I’d write my coments on another piece of paper and then neatly transfer it to your page, or better yet type it. Don’t forget to proof your sheet. As someone who struggled with grammar and spelling my entire life (but later became a writer) I would not judge an art piece by the student’s ability to spell, but another judge might!
Sometimes comments on this sheet sell me on the art. If you can share some information about our emotional experience with the piece or the difficulty of the process it helps us in the judging and might help in your advancement. Please avoid comments like, “I did this cause I had to come up with something.” Your lack of interest reflects on the work. Even if I liked a piece I might look it over because of the attitude connected with it.
After our first round of cuts we are each a packet of only 5 post-its to place on the pieces we want to advance to the final round. This is the hard part and I often wish I could turn in yellow post-its in the previous section for pink ones at this part of the judging. I was surprised to see that one of the pieces we all thought was strong was disqualified because of copyright concerns. Please be careful of this. If you are unsure of copyright ask you instructors.
If you did not advance into the final round I must say there were two other pieces that I labored over wanting to put in that final round, yours might just have been one of those two, but alas I only had 5 pink post-its.
Each judge is chosen because of our different expertise and experience. It shows in the final selection of 15 pieces. Sometimes I find myself wishing someone would have voted on something else, but then each had their 5 post-its.
These pieces are pulled from the rest and set on tables for us to view.
This year we got to discuss the pieces. I really pushed for this part of the judging process. Up to this point we are not allowed to talk. I must say I have to rely on my fellow judges when it comes to certain type of sculpture. It may be a process that I am not familiar with and I look to them to tell me the difficulty or to help me understand the piece. Also because there are so many pieces you might not really “see” a sculpture until this moment. I still remember the one-year there was the piece of the baby in the box. I am sorry I do not know who did it. At first glance it was nothing, but after you looked at the piece, I mean really looked at it, it grew on you and you began to realize the thought that was put into it. That is what this time is for, to bring to light the parts of apiece that the other judges might not see.
After this we sit down with each piece and score it. This is difficult because you hate to give a low score to someone who has come this far. I mean they made it in the finals and that is a huge achievement. I am forced to put low scores on some because… well there are pieces that are just better, in my opinion, and I want to see them advance. After this is done the administration takes our numbers and puts the final 15 in the order of our numbering. We then get to move the pieces, with very designated rules as to how far they can move. This is where the fighting begins. Not really fight, we just all firmly believe in “our” favorites and want to see them advance. All three judges have to agree on a piece moving. So we talk it out. When we all feel good about the order we are done. The entire process today took about 7 hours of judging including our breakfast and lunch.
As always I wish there was more involvement between students and judges, maybe a judges evening were students could come and see samples of the judges work and ask questions to a panel.
My congratulations to all of the students involved in Culture Shapers. Please feel free to keep in touch with me throughout the year. I can be found at https://creativesculpture.com. There is a forum there where students can post questions if they like.
Keep creating!
Bridgette