Sculpture
Taking Apart The Puzzle
Once we have approval we can begin the next step, however, we must take the sculpture apart. We do this in the same way that it went together. However, an intern told me later, “it went together much easier than it came apart.” I was thinking the exact opposite myself.
piece by piece. Allison is posted on the
winch to life and lower as needed.
overhead while we clean up the area.
and we no longer have to move them around
I can look at everything and make sure the
detail is perfect before we go to mold.
While I make sure there is a clean cut between
piece of the paws.
A Bit More Work
While visitors were coming to the studio, our work did not stop. I had notified Grambling State University before they approved that I intended to make a few changes, and there were details that were not finished. When we were attaching the arm to the body Allison Gonzalez, my lead intern, brought her family to help. A niece, Ingjierd Marquez offered to take my phone and take pictures while we worked. She went up into the loft and shot us attaching the head and arm. I noticed in one of the pictures when we were trying to get the arm on that it really looked better a bit lower. I don’t think I would have ever thought of this had I not seen the picture taken by Ingjierd. Thanks Ingjierd.
Had this been a table top sculpture I might have thought to play with the arm and step back, but stepping back when you are that far up in the air is not that easy. And moving an arm, that is made with foam, but has a metal armature and lots of clay on it, is not that easy.
When I told Allison about my thoughts, she did not hesitate about climbing up so high and helping. Allison, God bless you for your fortitude. She went up on the scaffold and helped me to lower the arm to check it out. I loved it! The sculpture looks more threatening.The tiger is not just raising its arm to attack but the paw is coming down on you! However, this minor adjustment meant that I had to spend 2 days up on the scaffold fixing the arm and the areas surrounding it. Well worth it.
So I sat up here for a few days. My work area the atop of the scaffold.
The paw before it was changed.
We Have Our Approval
Grambling State University promised to get me an approval on the tiger within 24 hours of sending pictures. I did tell them there were a few minor changes I was going to do to the sculpture. The chest and arms needed a different type of fur, the tail was not complete, and of course there are more rocks under this cat.
The left back paw was temporarily modified for this armature, but will be fixed in the final sculpture.
A view of the digital model used in our proposal and the final version.
Visitors
My family and friends have not seen me in a very long time. I have been working on the tiger night and day. My hope is to get it finished before homecoming. No promises, but I’m really kicking it trying to get it done.
So, I opened the warehouse to a select few to come and see the finished creation. I was waiting for approval anyway, so I decided to make the most of it.
Raising The Beast And Adding The Paw And Head
Then I can make any revisions and receive my approval.
I Need A Welder
Ask and you shall receive. Thanks to my wonderful new warehouse roommates, they have access to a welder. There is a fear that the head and paw have so much weight on them that once attached the tiger will fall over. Also, there is no way to raise the tiger with the head and paw on as it is so much weight in the front. So, I have hired a welder to come in and give it extra support. I am doing this for no other reason than to see the entire cat together an get approval. It only needs to stay like this for a couple of days and then it comes all down again.
You must not look at the weld. I don’t think that applies to photographs.
my sneakers. Sometimes it gets so bad I
stick to the floor.
You must not look at the weld.
I don’t think that applies to photographs.
Multiple Things Happening In The Studio
The parts of the legs and head have smaller
tubing than the part that runs through
the entire body. This is really a very
incredible armature building that came
with the foam and was provided by
Across the Board. Once the pieces slip
into each other there is a bolt that secures the pieces.
Then we must be sure that they have been
sculpted correctly as they are attached.
plates so that we can weld to these for more
structural support in an armature.
Home Stretch- Crunch Time
It is Tuesday. I’m writing this post from the warehouse. I am ever so thankful that a welder is coming this afternoon after 3:00. Our job- to complete stripes on the back of the head and then take the head and front paw off. To lift the tiger up onto part of the rock and have it ready for the welder to secure it. Then we can put the head and paw back on. Head and paws are heavy and it is hot up at the top of the warehouse . We are all praying for the safety of the tiger and the workers in this part of the process.
The head can not stay on the body for long. It is so hot in the warehouse we are afraid it will melt way up there. Sometimes I wish everyone had an artistic eye and could picture it together even though it is in pieces. Still , I’m excited about seeing all the pieces
Together, or at least most of them. We will not see the entire thing together until the foundry . You must visualize 3′ of height. the tiger climbs higher than we can see in the warehouse. Our goal- l today to take pictures and receive an approval within 24 hours. The problem is… The clay acts differently at 3:00 then at 6 a.m . So moving things must be coordinated with the coolness of the clay.
Onward!
Making The Rest Of The Tiger
cover the foam with a foundry wax
We have only been in the warehouse for less than a week and we are really making some progress. Here is an update on what is happening.
all of the wax and clay on the torso. Now to put in detail.
and clay. About 3-4 brushed on layers are applied
to get the feeling back in my fingers. Here is the kicker-after we raised the tiger, I didn’t like what we sculpted upside down and did it all over again!
and lower it as needed.
We have sculpted everything in pieces now lets make it look like one piece!
So glad that the head and arm come off easily.
A Progress And Weather Report- We Are Racing And Worrying About Warm Weather
I’m paying close attention to the weather report these days. In Houston it is always hotter than it appears in the weather report. Some say that is because of our humidity. I must tell you, being in a metal warehouse with no AC it is even hotter. Yesterday, as we worked on the clay, we did not even need a torch to make it malleable That makes me a bit worried. I’m glad the tiger is swinging from the winch instead of up in the hottest part of the warehouse. This will soon change. We need to put the tiger back up for approval. We are working diligently to get an approval of the sculpture as soon as possible. Once it is up in the air it is best if it does not have to stay there long. We hope to have approval this week. Then we can take apart the pieces and bring some of them back to my air conditioned studio to get them ready for the foundry.
See the photographs for a recap of what we have done this last week.
we had to work on scaffolding to reach the
shoulders. And remember we are not using the
first 3 feet of the rock.
Our goal this week:
1. To finish the stripes- Monday
2. To put the sculpted tiger back on the rocks- Tuesday
3. To secure the lower armature – Tuesday
4. Check over all details-Monday- Tuesday
5. Take pictures and receive approval for the next step. Wed- Friday.
at the taking of this picture. I was wondering… I’m in a metal
building, on a metal scaffolding
holding a metal hoist, this can’t be smart.
the armature for the sculpture. There is a lot of weight.
winds and the jet stream. It is not. It is to help the interns
know how the hair grows. The clay will be put on using
these directions.
