Newsboy-Frustration Of The Creative Process

December 7-13, 2004
Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon has documented the entire process of creating a figurine of a newsboy and a life-size bronze sculpture. Watch the artist work through these posts. In this blog, she has also included information for students and teachers. In the previous post, we learned a little about the possible history of the this newsboy sculpture.

If you are lost and want to go back to the chronological running list of posts, follow this link.

I have a hard time actually seeing my progress at this point of the project. The work is progressing very slowly. I just keep working and working, and working, moving around the sculpture, taking clay off and putting clay on, comparing it from all directions, looking at the many photos. It is very frustrating. I wonder if anyone else can see the progress?

In many different art projects there is a point of frustration. Sometimes it is a feeling of being overwhelmed; sometimes it just doesn’t seem to come together quick enough and you end up frustrated with the process. All artists go through this. It is important to push past the frustration, stay motivated keep pushing to greatness. I have told this to my own children as they have worked with their creativity. I’m not sure if they understand totally. I think the more you push past the frustration and then finally see the finished art, the easier it is to continue in this difficult part of the creative process.

As artists, my husband and I have many years of creativity between us, and the frustration with our art still comes. The most welcoming part of the frustration is that you know there is a wonderful feeling on the other side of it.

TEETH
This is the first time that I have ever had to sculpt the inside of someone’s mouth. I need to set up another sitting with Dusty to get more reference photos.

BOOTS
The boots that Dusty wore in the photo sitting were his mothers. She collects antique clothing. I plan on getting the real boots to work from next week, while at the photo shoot for Dusty’s teeth.Being able to work from life, even if it is a boot, will be a tremendous help. I can hardly wait.

Let’s move on to the Morphing of a Sculpture.

STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

History
• There was a sales campaign for the zipper in children’s clothing in 1939. Can you search the history of the zipper link above, and tell me what items the zipper was used for before it was used on pants?

• There is a copy of the newsboy strike printed in the New York Times, July 21, 1899. Kids your age were able to change the minds of very powerful people.

“Friens and feller workers. Dis is a time which tries de hearts of men. Dis is de time when we’se got to stick together like glue…. We know wot we wants and we’ll git it even if we is blind.” 

The New York Tribune quoted Kid Blink’s speech to 2,000 strikers: