Technology in The Art Studio
Created for Best of Artists and Artisans website
By Bridgette Mongeon © 2008
CLAY
In my twenty-three years of sculpting, the process and materials have changed very little. Moving from water-based clay to a wax-based clay was probably my biggest change over the years. It was really done out of necessity. Being a commissioned sculptor, the time between starting a sculpture and a final approval could be months. Trying to keep a water-based clay portrait or a life-size figure from drying out and cracking was a nightmare and when introduced to Classic Clay (brown firm AB200) from Reynolds Advanced Materials, I made the switch. Almost all of my work is created for reproduction by either the manufacturer of my gift items or my foundry for bronze. I rarely fire sculpture in the kiln. In using Classic Clay I no longer have to keep my sculptures wet over the months of time that it takes for an approval, but having to heat up the Classic Clay, with crock pots and torches is a bit inconvenient. The studio is less dusty with the wax-based clay, than it was with water-based clay but I miss having the feel of the water based clay. Even the process of drying out, that caused me such tension, gave me that leather hard stage in the during the drying process that was perfect for adding fine texture to the sculpture.
Casting Outdoor Sculptures
I also keep my eye out for changes in technology as it pertains to casting material, especially outdoor material. Many years ago, when I cast in concrete, I was desperate for additives or different strong but lighter casting material. Whenever someone would tell me they had a product it always fell short of my expectations. Upon further research, it would not withstand the elements. it would chip or it did not come in bright white so that concrete dyes could be added. I have not poured in concrete in a while, so I do not know if anything new is on the market. Though it would be interesting to know if something is now available.
Mold Making Material
Mold making material is another area where technology is vital to my production. If someone could invent a mother mold material with the strength of fiberglass, but not the smell and toxicity, that would be great. (A mother mold is the structure that is put over a rubber mold when making a mold. The mother mold holds the rubber in place, so that when you pour something in it, it is not deformed. Usually the mother mold is plaster that is heavy or fiberglass resin that is toxic and uncomfortable to work with.)I have tried Plasti Paste, a mother mold material purchased from Reynolds Advanced Materials but personally I was not happy with the results. (photograph shows rubber mold with plaster mother mold)
I’m intrigued with the materials used in special effects and frequent the web sites of Reynolds Advanced Materials and Smooth On ( Reynolds Advanced Materials is part of Smooth On ) to see what new items they have.
I have spent some time ordering and utilizing their free dvd’s and pamphlets. The Reynolds site has an entire section on How To. I would love the free time to play with all of the fun things that can be found from these vendors. And now Smooth On has Youtube videos! Like this one on how to create a face mold.
I recently utilized Smooth On’s material for casting hands, and the process that they discuss in the second YouTube video, is similar to what I did. I cast my mom and dad’s hand and they are now two of my most prized possessions. I wrote about them in my newsletter, and posted my thoughts and the process on my forum. The process was the same as the Smooth On video, though I cast their hands in plaster and the Smooth On video shows plastic. ( picture shows father’s cast, my hand, and mother’s cast)
Digital Enlarging
My most recent endeavor into new technology in the art studio has been digital scanning and enlarging. I visited Synappsys Digital Services and was intrigued by what I saw.
Before I go any further, I must first explain the process that a sculptor goes through to enlarge a sculpture. Often a client will want to see a small maquette, which the artist creates for approval by the client. Then the artist proceeds to enlarge the sculpture by creating a metal armature of pipe or rebar, foam and chicken wire. This armature gives the sculpture structure and support, and the foam offers mass that is light in weight. A final layer of clay is put over the foam and details are added. This process can take weeks. (If you would like to see the entire process of creating a life-size sculpture in this manner, please review my online journal of creating the life-size newsboy.) If a sculpture is going from maquette to monumental, the process is a monumental task!
Synappsys Digital Services, along with a few others in the country offer the resource of digital enlarging. They take your small maquette and digitally scan it. Once the scan is in the computer, the data is compiled to create a 3D model. The 3D model is enlarged in the computer and milled out in urethane foam. I have written about this process in detail for an article in the up and coming Sculptural Review Magazine on technology.
(Picture of the Ranger by Harold Holden maquette and enlarged urethane foam created by Synappsys Digital Services)
I visited Synappsys Digital Services to review the process and was thrilled with this new technology. I can’t wait to use it myself. Of course it is a bit of investment. The cost ranges from $1,500 to 4,000 for scanning and milling a 6-foot man depending on the detail and the density of foam used. They can even spray clay on the foam before shipping it to your studio. This process will save me so much time and money, I am definitely adding it to my repertoire of new resources. While preparing the article for Sculptural Review Magazine, I called many different vendors that offer this process. Here is a short list for your records. Prices can vary between vendors as well as the detail that can be obtained in the scanning and milling.
They say “necessity is the mother of invention”, and looking over this article I can see why. It is necessary that I create, and I love vendors that can assist in my creative process.
List of 3D resources
Digital Atelier, formerly Johnson Atelier
Cyber FX
Direct Dimensions specialize in scanning.
Satellite Model specializes in milling.
Digital stone project This company mills in stone.
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without the written consent of the author.
The Coolest Thing… GREAT RESOURCE!
More people should know about this. If you own an Apple Computer and want to learn to do anything, from very basic, what is a mouse and how do I turn the thing on, to how do I create a podcast, video, website etc. You can order something called “One to One” It cost me 99.00 for a years worth of One to One. Once a week I can go to the apple store and get one on one training on anything I want. I can bring in my website design, podcast, video etc and they help me figure out how to do it, lately I am going in for upper level stuff, audio etc. But this is such a great resource. I just don’t know why more people are not working with it. I didn’t know it was available and most do not.
My father owns a PC in another state, and I know he is frustrated with the new operating system and the computer. Geek squad costs so much, but it is probably the only alternative for him. I wish he owned an Apple. If he did I would buy him One to One.
Today I had a One to One. You see I am trying to put up podcasts. There was a woman working with the specialist next to me she must have been in her 70’s. She brought her own laptop, which is an advantage to those having a lap top. I was impressed with her.
I headed over to Micro Center to buy new headphones and other tech items and there was a guy in line that said he owned an Apple and didn’t know what to do with it. I told him about the One to One. He had no idea! I have run across many who don’t. THIS IS THE COOLEST THING! Sorry PC guys. One more reason to love my Apple computer.
I really must create a video on One to One.
PLEASE MAKE PLANS FOR THE UNVEILING!
August 25th 2008, TW Wood Gallery. ( not sure of the time)
DATE IS BEING MOVED TO SEPTEMBER 25th 2008 5:30
There Is Nothing Like Molten Bronze!
June 10
The professors glasses are all fogged up!
While at the foundry dropping off the Jenna waxes and picking up wax two, I snapped these pictures of Dick Hathaway. Here you can see his head foot and…? The white stuff on the metal is the ceramic shell. The foundry will now break this away and begin to weld him back together again. Quite a process!
While at the foundry dropping of the Jenna waxes and picking up wax two I snapped these pictures of Dick Hathaway. Here you can see his head foot and…? The white stuff on the metal is the ceramic shell. The foundry will now break this away and begin to weld him back together again. Quite a process!
June 05
Today I went to see the pour of pieces of the Dick Hathaway sculpture. Here you see them pouring the head, in the background are the some other parts of the sculpture. You could say Dick Hathaway has a hot foot.
June 03
Richard Hathaway
Meanwhile I was able to take some pictures of Dick Hathaway, or at least pieces of him that have gone through the dip process. They are a bit different than the last pictures of the head.
Quite a shell around those wax pieces. If you have followed documentation process before you will note that inside these shells are the waxes. On Thursday the wax will be burned out of these shells until only a cavity remains. The molten bronze will be carefully poured within that cavity. The pour is scheduled for Thursday. I hope to get some good video footage of it for the upcoming video. I just love to watch a pour! There is something very entrancing about that glow!
May 29th
On with the bronze process of Professor Richard Hathaway
The next step, after the creating the waxes, is the gating of the waxes. Pour cups and wax sprues are added to the waxes that came from the Dick Hathaway molds. These are then dipped into a mixture coating the waxes both inside and out. Each of the many pieces will need to be dipped creating a ceramic shell. I went to the foundry today to take some pictures and video of the dip process for the next video that I will be creating about this sculpture. This part of the bronze process will take the foundry about a week.
Introducing Elijah
My new client has given me permission to introduce you to this wonderful boy ‘Lij.
He is the boy in the sketches below. I was introduced to ‘Lij, through Jenna’s family. I feel so privileged to be creating with ‘Lij’s mom. She had posted this wonderful video on her Carepages. Carepages are free personal websites that connect family and friends during illness and injury. The song was produced by Songs of Love Songs of Love Foundation provides personalized songs for Chronically and terminally ill children and young adults, free of charge. I think this is one of the coolest things I have heard of in a long time. The video made me smile and cry.
Presentations And More Computer Toys
I have another presentation that I am doing but I have not been given permission to post the child’s photographs or name. I did want to share a bit about the process, for those following along. ( does anyone read this blog?)
I could not do this little boy in a 3D model as with Jenna. I began this process in the post “Working on another 3D presentation.” The big hold up? The blanket. Apparently creating blankets in 3D take quite a bit of time. So instead I played with another new form of technology in my studio. My WACOM tablet.
with this tablet I can draw right on the screen! I love it! I am also using a program called Painter. In the sketches here I have only used the pen tip, but in Painter you can actually paint in all sorts of mediums. The nice part about using it with these sketches is that I can do things in layers. Sketch the boy on one layer, from a photograph provided by mom, and then place him on different layers showing different elements. Kind of like having a clear transparency. Some day I’ll have more time to work in Painter. I am wanting to illustrate my children’s books in them ( any publishers interested?)
The sketches you see are the boy on the granite base and a cross, that is on an angle. In one picture his blankie wraps around the cross as if it is a gift to God, in the other it hangs off. I love that the grass is tickling his toes. In the third picture I have shrunk the cross. See how it changes the feel of the piece?
This presentation reminded me of a praying boy that I had created a long time ago. He is peeking up to see if God is listening!
Boxed Angel Wings and Baby Plays Peek-a-boo
My daughter used to love playing in boxes when she was little. That is the feeling that I get with this picture that I quickly snapped before loading Jenna into the van to go to the foundry. I have her taped in so there is no chance of her little roses coming off of her dress. Her little wings, and the hand now with a butterfly secured to her finger are in another box. It is up to the foundry now!
I have a note on the box that says, “please bead blast” When the sculpture is in complete it is usually sand blasted before the patina is added. Not many people use the bead blast but I’ll tell you it makes a difference. How to describe it… softer, yummy, translucent? I really don’t know how to describe it. Not long ago I was at a foundry and they were boasting about a sand that they use. I think it was some sort of Oklahoma sand. I am such a tactile person, I immediately asked, “may I touch it?” The moment my fingers touched it I was reminded of the only other time I “felt” what they beadblast with. I thought is was interesting that my fingers had a memory.
I still have Jenna wax two in the studio. My goal is to get her together before the end of the month for display. I have several clients coming to view my work, and it would be nice to have her there. Thank god for apprentices!
Be Careful- A Word About Copyright
I had someone call me and ask if I could create an award for them. Not unusual, but they wanted my to recreate an award that they already had. My response to them was, “I am sorry, but I cannot recreate your award unless you have written permission from the artist.” I was unclear as to why they could not have the artist do the award, and they were in a hurry. “We paid the artist to create this sculpture,” they said. “Unless the artists contract states that you have the rights recreate or pour from a mold you cannot cast this piece. If you get permission from the artist I would be happy to help you out. ” Because of their time frame I quickly sent a photograph off to the foundry to see if they could give an estimate, then we would be ready if they could receive the permission. They recognized the artists work. It turns out the client could not reach the artist, and the foundry said they would help.
THE LESSON
Copyright is a bit confusing.
All of my work is by commission. Though clients pay me a lot of money to create sculpture, and many times in the likeness of their loved one, I retain the copyrights. They do not have the rights to recreate, cast or pour other pieces. Sometimes a contract may state it is a one and only sculpture, usually this costs more. Note the artist can still cast an Artist Proof (AP). This is just like the clients sculpture but is used as a proof by the artist. AP can also be in an edition. Often AP’s are sought after by collectors.
Typically I request that I have the rights to pour up to 10 additional pieces of my work and sell them at what I feel is a reasonable price, which is often much lower than my client originally paid. The reason is that the client is paying for the design, the personal likeness, and the original creation of the piece. Creating pieces as an edition of 10 is a wonderful way to gain a body of work.
Copyright is tricky and really not understood by many. It is there to protect the artist, their careers and their work.
Yes, I Do Have Fairies!
Someone that I had traded plants with before emailed me about plants and at the end of the post asked, “My girls still talk about the “magic pond” and the sparkling lights that you showed them when they were with me earlier in the year! My littlest one has also asked me if you have fairies that live there.”
when these girls were in my yard, I went to get something, their mother was digging plants and one little girls was dancing around on the beach, the other was sitting very erect on one of the wooden benches. She said she was the queen of the garden. These children understood what I was trying to do with my garden. Some adults come here and say it is magical, these children played into the magic. It was getting dark and I told them they could bid the garden to become even more magical. They said the words that were indicated and I plugged in the twinkle lights. You should have seen their faces light up.
This was my response for her children.
“Yes, indeed I have seen some fairies in my yard. Some have introduced themselves. Fern is the oldest and wisest, she seems to watch over everyone, and make sure that the garden is in order. Ivy is quite lazy and prefers to lounge on the ground, especially in the shadows of plants. I don’t think she likes the heat, but I have never asked her, as most of the time, when I see her she is yawning, and either just getting up, contemplating another nap, or has sleep in her eyes, is annoyed and does not want to talk.
The dragon flies are back at the pond and they often perform for everyone that will watch, showing off with their acrobatic maneuvers, then dipping their tails in and splashing in this circular dance. I have not seen the huge dragon fly. I heard they are called tree toppers. I was sitting on the bridge one day and one of those dragon flies came out of the sky and nearly knocked me in the pond. No one believed me until we saw one come down and lay eggs. She must have been close to 12” wing tip to wing tip! They are called tree toppers because that is where they live. ”
The bully bullfrog has brought a couple of his friends. Even though they are not my fondest of pond creatures, because I have heard they could eat my baby turtles, I still would not wish harm on them. I do love to watch them jump and dive. I should talk to Tilly the turtle and see if she might like to host a pond Olympics.
It was so funny, when I was taking out this huge portion of plants out of the pond it was so heavy my son had to come and help me. Then out of the blue…bully bullfrog jumped out! He hopped around the pond, and the foster black lab chased him, around the pond, over the bridge and then dove. The lab looked so sad. She sniffed around trying to figure out where on earth bully went.
Tears And In Memory of Family Pets
I am often asked to create memorials for family pets, or at least sculptures to remind the owner of the love of a pet. If you remember I recently sculpted a little boy and dog, the boy whispering in his dogs ear. When the commission began I was touched when they said the dog was aging and they did not expect him to live long. I had to create the dog as part of the sculpture and did so at no charge. My client arrived at the studio yesterday and informed me the dog did indeed pass away a few weeks ago. She lovingly stroked the piece, attracted and looking at it even before she did her son. I could feel her sorrow. I identify. Her son is growing up, and this dog has been a part of his childhood. I’m going through something similar with my daughters cat of 16 years. I gave my daughter the cat when she was 6 or 7. (you don’t really take into consideration, that when they grow up and move away after college you now have a cat)
Anyway…the cat is not well. I’m more attached to the cat because of what it represents as my daughter’s childhood, then just the cat. The cat and I have both gone through our own struggles as my daughter left for college, and then moved away to Oklahoma. I guess we bonded as we each dealt with the loss, and our goodbyes and coming to terms with the new arrangement. We drew to each other in her absence.
I recently heard someone tell about how their childhood poodle helped them through the difficult times of growing up, through the alcoholism in the family and a divorce and that this poodle dying was so traumatic for them they never again had another pet. I on the other hand, foster dogs, work with shelters and at this point in my life I have two cats, two dogs, one of which is being fostered by us and has come through some horrible physical problems, two turtles and a bunch of fish in the pond, they pretty much take care of themselves and am now the feral cat lady as a mother cat found our house and dropped off her kittens, all 4 of them, which also brought two teenagers. I have no idea what to do with these cats, the shelters won’t take them. I keep feeding them and trying to get them used to people, but something has to be done.
This is my life with cats and dogs and pets. No wonder my heart goes out to those commissions that includes the family pet.