Well, since I have to make a mold for my students tomorrow, I figured I should give it ago before I have to do it on camera. It turns out, it's like riding a bike. It actually felt pretty good to control the plaster again. I've got a huge sculpture lab to work in, and where do I decide to do it? My home classroom, of course. That's where the music is, among other things. 

    I faced the fact that I didn't want to rush that gargoyle face just in order to give them a mold making demo. So I made a quick nose, which, along with the base, presents the kinds of problems they are likely to run into.

     The first coat of plaster is very thin, and the main job is to tap out air bubbles as they rise up. It takes some patience, because at this point, the plaster is so thin it runs. I just keep dripping some on slowly, and tapping, making sure it doesn't expand past the desired thickness of the mold. 

     The fun part is when the plaster starts to thicken and you can actually shape it. I like to make one-part molds really flat on top so when you cast it, it will lay flat with no props.

     So that will be two parts of the process they will know: the Life (clay) and the Death (plaster). Next will be the Resurrection :)

 

Four Gargoyles

Four drawing classes, four demos. Reductive charcoal on Strathmore paper. About 30 minutes each.

My first sculpture in years and years

I really thought I'd be printmaking this semester. But, things change. 

My sculpture students are doing bas reliefs of gargoyles, and since I have to demo on something, I started this based on an old drawing.

I have to admit, with all the troubles right now, it is lovely to use my old tools again and lose myself in this face.

 

Sculpture assignment

   These are three of the sculptures from the first full assignment in my sculpture class. They made a figure out of wire and then added materials of their choice to fill out the forms. I'm proud of what they were able to accomplish, especially since all of their lessons have been online.

    Their next project will be bas relief gargoyles. I'm looking forward to them :)

 

The Volunteers, All Grown Up!