tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239252073041151242024-03-20T02:45:58.201-07:00Dan Woodard, SculptorDan Woodard is a Bay Area sculptor who creates evocative figurative and abstract sculptures in bronze, stone, wood, and cement.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723925207304115124.post-43884360292282018762021-12-28T15:32:00.003-08:002021-12-28T15:35:23.901-08:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpfBfih9VOlqe6GNDnBjLdJA9V3CdVBfS7PnwBMQXL-AW4XH66JM0sfgdPqXZ0sdNUzf-KPBnlFiYB3xV3ZLc1YXAIhSfo6kaQO0ifWsJ9_mzOLHm9zE98GQDIE7csK4HJ17maqkghqE/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="600" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpfBfih9VOlqe6GNDnBjLdJA9V3CdVBfS7PnwBMQXL-AW4XH66JM0sfgdPqXZ0sdNUzf-KPBnlFiYB3xV3ZLc1YXAIhSfo6kaQO0ifWsJ9_mzOLHm9zE98GQDIE7csK4HJ17maqkghqE/w326-h278/image.png" width="326" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I’ll Never Understand Time”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">Many people ask me how a
bronze sculpture is made.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">It’s actually
a very labor intensive and complex process.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">
</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">In this posting I’ll give a brief explanation of the various steps
involved in creating a sculpture in bronze.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">
</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">The method used today for most castings, the “lost wax” process, was
originated in Egypt around 1,500 B.C.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">Many
improvements have naturally been made since then, but the basic process has
remained unchanged for over 35 centuries.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">I’ll use my sculpture “I’ll
Never Understand Time” as a basis for exploring the lost wax process.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">Like all sculptures this one began with an
idea.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">In this case, I wanted to capture
my befuddlement over the concept of aging.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">How was it possible that a cute baby could morph into an old man?</span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">I started with a baby picture of myself...</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-0umOE7kgZiQs7_86t16-d4dFXcUB3W6L3nuqDfNjH-eO4DUYrJsZAoFNNgDpAFB25A2qfXBCoGtalS5L8rBwYX8PYaWZDQhZd1k1kmlKokmWOXBO68buDhBf1lDuZjujLHphjHETI4/" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="282" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-0umOE7kgZiQs7_86t16-d4dFXcUB3W6L3nuqDfNjH-eO4DUYrJsZAoFNNgDpAFB25A2qfXBCoGtalS5L8rBwYX8PYaWZDQhZd1k1kmlKokmWOXBO68buDhBf1lDuZjujLHphjHETI4/w257-h323/image.png" width="257" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large;">I then superimposed a photo
of my current face over this photo...</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_12"
o:spid="_x0000_i1038" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="A picture containing person, indoor Description automatically generated"
style='width:137.25pt;height:194.25pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/danwl/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="A picture containing person, indoor Description automatically generated"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZP2UvmoZVh_wXtKNwhjhD0iaz0tYXxds3p_eCfG6zc6liScijuq9UFxtARD2KZrU1hfxdicU7Jy_xlV-WKbrfHo1QSfYwzdnuA9okdw16Row5V6nPt8kkVLWnoiFeQ2UE8QWQumlvfn0/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="286" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZP2UvmoZVh_wXtKNwhjhD0iaz0tYXxds3p_eCfG6zc6liScijuq9UFxtARD2KZrU1hfxdicU7Jy_xlV-WKbrfHo1QSfYwzdnuA9okdw16Row5V6nPt8kkVLWnoiFeQ2UE8QWQumlvfn0/w241-h343/image.png" width="241" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Using this composite photo as
a reference, I sculpted a figure made of plasticine clay. This is a clay with oil added so it will not
dry out. It is the preferred clay for
most sculptors working in bronze. The
resultant sculpture represents a positive image of what the final art will look
like. As you follow the progression,
you’ll notice that the art begins as a positive image, then a negative, then
another positive, another negative, then finally the bronze positive.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mSy5pNmzUzXxrRLI3XxGGMWes3ty2qKfinb2K0EiFwsshlM1eYWy0tP_X5wJ8l3JAZI6bsrNe3adfjkQ7p0e8a22Mz4iWBZ6X8tN6z8ivfs2rc_24X-LXWLeDaG-5A7vgU_IaxOD0_E/" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="411" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mSy5pNmzUzXxrRLI3XxGGMWes3ty2qKfinb2K0EiFwsshlM1eYWy0tP_X5wJ8l3JAZI6bsrNe3adfjkQ7p0e8a22Mz4iWBZ6X8tN6z8ivfs2rc_24X-LXWLeDaG-5A7vgU_IaxOD0_E/w352-h265/image.png" width="352" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The positive clay sculpture<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">The next step in the process
is to produce a mold of the clay sculpture.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">
</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">First the clay is coated with shellac and thin metal shims are inserted
to delineate the different sections of the sculpture.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">In the photo below, the back of the sculpture
has already received four coats of a urethane molding material.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">You can see the metal shims sticking out of
the baby’s legs.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">For this piece, the
entire back was one section of molding material.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">The front, however, required, three separate sections.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">I am now ready to apply molding material to
the three front sections.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GxAtTLob2lLQ2FFZjUtt2dThErbHthVVXfa0Fgq00bWiyUN2lrBTc4wIULjXWKzKjJZ7Rm2g-3Rio9ryfuWa_w1Mv1s5co-FGmrLJrC5wfG7rh9dDzBlY3vfyITRvmHP6d-UP7vHv6w/" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="430" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GxAtTLob2lLQ2FFZjUtt2dThErbHthVVXfa0Fgq00bWiyUN2lrBTc4wIULjXWKzKjJZ7Rm2g-3Rio9ryfuWa_w1Mv1s5co-FGmrLJrC5wfG7rh9dDzBlY3vfyITRvmHP6d-UP7vHv6w/w366-h275/image.png" width="366" /></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The back half of the mold has been completed</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The photo below shows the
completion of the front of the mold. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The
three bumps you see, one on the forehead and two on the torso, are registration
points that are used to align this mold with the “mother mold.”</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGRBOXI2xg3A_BGKS4SOFgSZnAsF8jQqNct5xcqmbpS8AhVQrEJ_1S6trsRJw224VhvDO1YXwTFYdv5MyYOVQyyAYOghyphenhyphenXF6TDeKLjAvpImTS6GzJQy-guqu1XixwtP1dmnpsHs6fX-Q/" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="425" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGRBOXI2xg3A_BGKS4SOFgSZnAsF8jQqNct5xcqmbpS8AhVQrEJ_1S6trsRJw224VhvDO1YXwTFYdv5MyYOVQyyAYOghyphenhyphenXF6TDeKLjAvpImTS6GzJQy-guqu1XixwtP1dmnpsHs6fX-Q/w370-h277/image.png" width="370" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The front of the urethane mold is completed</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The urethane mold is flexible
and would not stand up to the steps that follow.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Therefore, a “mother mold” made of plaster is
added over the urethane mold.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">When
reassembling the flexible mold with the mother mold, the registration points
are used to assure a perfect alignment.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_8"
o:spid="_x0000_i1034" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="A picture containing indoor Description automatically generated"
style='width:219.75pt;height:165pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/danwl/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image011.jpg"
o:title="A picture containing indoor Description automatically generated"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJtuhfl-brm2aoj0rh5a7BfehZGfZv7fqqWF6Riz6DOsgIXNrDGzNQDpBqHXGCNjI9dUlk5wEJbRxOBFaRKHQgEPSXoRt_gWuRHsT2sEMFbk-AuK_L79Mkvi3IGVhUgGxeW1KH7vPSuY/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="458" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJtuhfl-brm2aoj0rh5a7BfehZGfZv7fqqWF6Riz6DOsgIXNrDGzNQDpBqHXGCNjI9dUlk5wEJbRxOBFaRKHQgEPSXoRt_gWuRHsT2sEMFbk-AuK_L79Mkvi3IGVhUgGxeW1KH7vPSuY/w362-h272/image.png" width="362" /></a></span></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Plaster mother mold added<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, I didn’t take
photos of the following steps, but I believe they are fairly easy to grasp
without the need for pictures.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Once the
mold is completed, the four sections of the mold are separated from the clay
sculpture, the clay is removed, and the mold is cleaned to remove any remaining
clay fragments.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">At the point the
original clay sculpture is essentially destroyed.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The interior of the mold is now a negative
image of the original sculpture.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The
four sections of the mold are now reassembled.</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">A special casting wax is melted and poured into the mold.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">It is swished around to create a thickness of
about three eights of an inch.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">When the
wax has cooled and solidified, the mold is again taken apart, revealing a
positive wax copy of the original clay sculpture.</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-CPoLdR7ZidyztWC4_wuTdaw0qXQfniQR4xtByqQu4kDfPxovyKaw9VWfl1ll_MPu0g0eUzFAMWDZYsTfgjqAJgf-3TvFqmtbpRRIeG0pV63TlIQyD_MmKUcuxMIqbw8lBeCcpL9q2c/" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="368" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-CPoLdR7ZidyztWC4_wuTdaw0qXQfniQR4xtByqQu4kDfPxovyKaw9VWfl1ll_MPu0g0eUzFAMWDZYsTfgjqAJgf-3TvFqmtbpRRIeG0pV63TlIQyD_MmKUcuxMIqbw8lBeCcpL9q2c/w237-h316/image.png" width="237" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">The wax positive after removal of the mold</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">You’ll notice that there are “fins”
along parts of the wax sculpture.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">These
are called “flashing” and occur where two sections of the mold meet.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The next step is to remove the flashing.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">In addition to the flashing, there are
typically small areas that may have bubbles or other imperfections from the wax
casting.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">These areas are also repaired
in a process called “chasing.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Chasing
continues until the wax casting exactly resembles the original.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_10"
o:spid="_x0000_i1032" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="A small statue of a baby Description automatically generated with low confidence"
style='width:240.75pt;height:180.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/danwl/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image015.jpg"
o:title="A small statue of a baby Description automatically generated with low confidence"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8pUGGmttGxeUSPxXtbigVVuKvM5bM_0kRsTb2Hu791yAJyIA_CxHnDMP4eXKc4iY7ctyatibM2fec5926KwiXsRmuft1aFfFU9A7sPWzI7QwxsItbtrM2v2FWeqXQE0Ut0YBL8gGDFU/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="502" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8pUGGmttGxeUSPxXtbigVVuKvM5bM_0kRsTb2Hu791yAJyIA_CxHnDMP4eXKc4iY7ctyatibM2fec5926KwiXsRmuft1aFfFU9A7sPWzI7QwxsItbtrM2v2FWeqXQE0Ut0YBL8gGDFU/w384-h288/image.png" width="384" /></a></span></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wax positive with flashing and imperfections repaired<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next step is to add a
pouring cup and pouring gates to the wax positive.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">To explain the purpose of these, I’ll jump
ahead a bit.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The wax positive will
eventually be covered in a heat-proof ceramic shell.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The shell will be heated to a high
temperature and the wax will be melted from the ceramic shell.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">This again will create a negative of the
original sculpture.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Molten bronze will
be poured into this shell to create the final bronze piece.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">However, in order for the bronze to flow
properly to all sections of the sculpture “gates” have to be added.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The red sections you see in the following
photo are red wax gates.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">These are all
connected at the bottom of the photo to a “pouring cup.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Eventually, this will be turned upside down
and the bronze will be poured into the pouring cup, flow along the lines of the
gates and fill the sculpture.</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgKCb6_8QougboYF80FfuOC_Z0fdIdJ1siWojn9pfI0O0VLbWJxAZ_6GwcNSfF5N6a-rvzkOmXzSzitUJaQsvktyMbsQ-MO8rFy5RcqirE5DSXnPMS4DKt3F0y2bu2RCfiGx13pXD1z8/" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="368" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgKCb6_8QougboYF80FfuOC_Z0fdIdJ1siWojn9pfI0O0VLbWJxAZ_6GwcNSfF5N6a-rvzkOmXzSzitUJaQsvktyMbsQ-MO8rFy5RcqirE5DSXnPMS4DKt3F0y2bu2RCfiGx13pXD1z8/w262-h350/image.png" width="262" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Wax positive with gates and pouring cup added</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkW4w6uZNpMwQcpvn2WuVH-e1Xd9e3hDg-uBjt4uGW4GL7TJn621pojQp3nFctDo_fWCFSiGGuw18F_EXyYP1yL-bEtrkdZQE9Vm4pSmJSXo_wK-NY-COpB_aDY-dOEYUf09iIS9VPPYk/" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="386" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkW4w6uZNpMwQcpvn2WuVH-e1Xd9e3hDg-uBjt4uGW4GL7TJn621pojQp3nFctDo_fWCFSiGGuw18F_EXyYP1yL-bEtrkdZQE9Vm4pSmJSXo_wK-NY-COpB_aDY-dOEYUf09iIS9VPPYk/w272-h363/image.png" width="272" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Wax positive with gates and pouring cup added</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large;">You may notice that a piece
has been removed from the forehead of the baby.</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">This is necessary so air can flow freely through the piece when the
ceramic shell is applied.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I’ll explain
this in more detail in the next step.</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">The section that was removed from the forehead can be seen attached to
the gate on the right side of the above photo.</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">This piece will also be cast, and ultimately welded back into place
after casting.</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4rvJ1ENgLk7pyaZFY4xD0sNuB8bss4_QAJz-T2QoGV-6DgY3UEF1G_ry2pEwT-aapwR5nYcbpMW4YWktG1RhAhPJslJS4e-HuXBhkQsPwFdZwd74oALF9QIJCB8KypJoFCzMpF7hSXU/" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="392" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4rvJ1ENgLk7pyaZFY4xD0sNuB8bss4_QAJz-T2QoGV-6DgY3UEF1G_ry2pEwT-aapwR5nYcbpMW4YWktG1RhAhPJslJS4e-HuXBhkQsPwFdZwd74oALF9QIJCB8KypJoFCzMpF7hSXU/w267-h356/image.png" width="267" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Gated wax positive with some of the shell added</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large;">It is now time to add the
ceramic shell.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The shell consists of two
parts: a liquid slurry and a silica sand.</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">First, the wax positive is dipped in the slurry and then it is coated
with a fine textured silica sand.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">This
is allowed to dry, and this is where the hole in the forehead comes in.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Without the hole, the drying time would be very
long and it would not be possible to inspect the inside of the piece to ensure
that the slurry was dry.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Once the first
coat has dried, the piece is again dipped in the slurry this time, however, the
piece is coated with a coarser silica sand.</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">The first coat is finer so that all of the detail of the sculpture can
be captured.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The ensuing coats are
coarser to provide strength.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Again, the second
slurry coat is allowed to dry.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The
process is repeated until the wax is covered with six coats of the slurry, sand
combination.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large;">When the piece is completely
dry, it is placed into a “burn-out” furnace at 1,600 degrees.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Most of the wax melts out of the shell.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">However, to ensure that no wax remains the
piece is kept in the furnace for half an hour to completely burn out any wax
that remains.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">In the photo below, the flames
at the top of the furnace are from the burning wax.</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfrYZNKzJG_pZ1kv5PRiKU5yYkqztnfcBm0AxGc-iFuUA55p8h9zUoeDUBIX4l4jHl9Wg68Mx6AtQTJGxwZNnp8u1VAVwa2x38v_EQ3rmLJga-SrNgRz8vGSGXNHWiYklkwn7mh2lKH8/" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="325" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfrYZNKzJG_pZ1kv5PRiKU5yYkqztnfcBm0AxGc-iFuUA55p8h9zUoeDUBIX4l4jHl9Wg68Mx6AtQTJGxwZNnp8u1VAVwa2x38v_EQ3rmLJga-SrNgRz8vGSGXNHWiYklkwn7mh2lKH8/w269-h359/image.png" width="269" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The burn-out furnace
in action</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now the fun begins.</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">While the burn-out furnace is running, bronze ingots are placed into a
crucible and heated to 2,100 degrees in a crucible furnace.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">When the bronze is at temperature, the shell
is removed from the burn-out furnace and placed into a pouring rack with the pouring
cup facing up.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">In the following video clip,
you can see the crucible being removed from the crucible furnace, and the
molten bronze being poured into three different shells.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">You may notice that the shell is now white
instead of yellow.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">This color change
occurs when the shell is subjected to the high heat of the burn-out furnace.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='609' height='507' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyoR9jSYFOVn--AJ0F3uNRuDQ_w5llHxW4TnuoPB8-1Ft6malfYq2Egrxf4Wrdc8YTY6DFPXMp8XxgJDjiGtQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Video Clip of Bronze Pour</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">When the bronze has cooled, most of the ceramic shell is
chipped away from the bronze casting.</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEz5UoouRoSGXCV07tjWvgXEhbCXoJrwqJ7YjIWbRPpFJfvNQ6gFXzcjDf2gWd2Ztc4f4ro8W-X18EX1SUUD2KdXxBt0360Y16xpvYONsf7QBcSNPj0VKy05FXaGqw5hU1NSBsji5mp8/" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="328" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEz5UoouRoSGXCV07tjWvgXEhbCXoJrwqJ7YjIWbRPpFJfvNQ6gFXzcjDf2gWd2Ztc4f4ro8W-X18EX1SUUD2KdXxBt0360Y16xpvYONsf7QBcSNPj0VKy05FXaGqw5hU1NSBsji5mp8/w264-h352/image.png" width="264" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bronze sculpture with
the shell removed</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, many small sections of ceramic shell still
remain.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">These are removed with a sand
blaster.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">You’ll notice that the gates
and pouring cup are still attached to the final sculpture.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The next step is to cut these from the
sculpture.</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVcpTUlL5uiehNHzgGxZf647NwJWpY4I7nYBzECIyXTWmM_KJXGpjgUzcgqBnK2VAD4D-8yC5PWEz7nQ5uaFoLfu5lzQjVf4bd6v76wW_7FcWtYZiSZE0n3C1n3yxhi-GTZ5ijW4ku9U/" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="346" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVcpTUlL5uiehNHzgGxZf647NwJWpY4I7nYBzECIyXTWmM_KJXGpjgUzcgqBnK2VAD4D-8yC5PWEz7nQ5uaFoLfu5lzQjVf4bd6v76wW_7FcWtYZiSZE0n3C1n3yxhi-GTZ5ijW4ku9U/w265-h353/image.png" width="265" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sculpture with gates
still attached</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is now time to “chase,” or clean up, the sculpture.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I’m sorry, but I don’t have any photos of
this process.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">However, the chasing
process is as follows.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">First, the
section removed from the forehead is welded back into place.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Any bubbles or other voids are also welded and
filled in at this time.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The welds are
then ground down as are the remaining nibs left from the removal of the
gates.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">All these surfaces are then worked
with files, grinders, and an assortment of other tools so the texture blends in
with the areas surrounding it.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Any areas
of flashing or other imperfections are also reworked so the surface identically
matches the original clay sculpture.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, the sculpture is sand-blasted, and a patina is
applied.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The last step is to heat the
sculpture and apply a coat of wax to seal and protect the surface.</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2BsV6iRtPeyBzUYqO631RVNGrqeYmfRZ8-e_-7v1UQf0RozmyzbGZEI-0ocQnDIvh_8xXpdiVTH4uLBBHIxMgI1RzY2L8J7moH06Qgeuhc-ROihxA7tcMJMY-0ENXODkvRSkJ4st1QM/" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="484" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2BsV6iRtPeyBzUYqO631RVNGrqeYmfRZ8-e_-7v1UQf0RozmyzbGZEI-0ocQnDIvh_8xXpdiVTH4uLBBHIxMgI1RzY2L8J7moH06Qgeuhc-ROihxA7tcMJMY-0ENXODkvRSkJ4st1QM/w353-h302/image.png" width="353" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The final sculpture
with patina applied and sitting on a cement pillow</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And that’s it.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Many
steps and a lot of work, but the end result is a sculpture that will last much
longer than a mere lifetime.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">If you have
any questions about the process, please contact me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723925207304115124.post-80187215435636786802021-09-04T15:27:00.004-07:002021-09-04T16:10:05.782-07:00<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span><span style="font-size: large;">Does
Subject Matter Alone Qualify as a Consistent Body of Work?</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In my last blog posting, I
discussed what is typically considered a “consistent body of work.” For most art critics and gallerists, consistency
generally refers to the recognizability of an artist’s work. This relates to the artist maintaining a
consistency of style, color schemes, process, form, degree of abstractionism and
other elements. My own work consists of
five separate series. Within each series
there is a consistency that is easily recognizable. However, the series themselves vary wildly
from one to another. Here is an example
from three of the series to illustrate the range of styles and other criteria
between each series.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span> </span></o:p></span></p>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyHAGqV5mpJXlUprjUSdMhB6Xbm5j40U65bjuGWcWGuZ1YcZmiabwVFfX_OFkjbAPVKEbB8fhtwQ-chbsRmwUkm1gOo0FtB-J7dtkUk4hs532e2mSpI2LP45_ess5uHhC9WRv7AWJoyA/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="246" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyHAGqV5mpJXlUprjUSdMhB6Xbm5j40U65bjuGWcWGuZ1YcZmiabwVFfX_OFkjbAPVKEbB8fhtwQ-chbsRmwUkm1gOo0FtB-J7dtkUk4hs532e2mSpI2LP45_ess5uHhC9WRv7AWJoyA/w277-h387/image.png" width="277" /></span></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span>“Canopic Jar”</span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span>Artifacts From a Former World series<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></span></p>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span>Figurative series<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Obviously, the three series
differ from one another. But, within
each series the sculptures have enough similar elements that each of the three series
could be considered a consistent body of work. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span>However, I’ve created a sixth
series, titled “It’s About Time.” In
this series, my goal was not to arrive at a consistent look and feel to each piece
but to explore my fascination with the concept of time. Ever since I can remember, time has been a
vast puzzlement to me. And now, as I’ve
gotten older, this puzzlement has only increased. When I look in the mirror at a white-headed
man, it’s hard to imagine that this aging presence had once been a cute little
baby. In fact, my first sculpture in the
series, “I’ll Never Understand Time,” was created to explore this very thought. The work juxtaposes a baby’s body,
based on an actual photo of me as an infant, with my current head. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span> </span></o:p></span></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicm7hFll0TK0spgLe5SJ1SQMroY7ewb55hHB6lvoNFRD2HJEGv49m1lpcVssYmCh3y1PPhLWIBRoUxVJuOZOPgsHvxQrB4uBoggUScw5uIXI-VXEzbCUCLteQS9D0V0fzccmQqyrBUYvo/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="248" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicm7hFll0TK0spgLe5SJ1SQMroY7ewb55hHB6lvoNFRD2HJEGv49m1lpcVssYmCh3y1PPhLWIBRoUxVJuOZOPgsHvxQrB4uBoggUScw5uIXI-VXEzbCUCLteQS9D0V0fzccmQqyrBUYvo/w264-h382/image.png" width="264" /></span></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span style="font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">“I’ll Never Understand Time”</span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_6" o:spid="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="A person sitting on a bed Description automatically generated with low confidence"
style='width:160.5pt;height:226.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/danwl/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image009.jpg"
o:title="A person sitting on a bed Description automatically generated with low confidence"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLv4_k9G-QysFyGqvDMJXny6BanC95ypVMTsDLqSeccwf9GidtCkizM5CjIta9_rG3wv2tsbzcgUJotU6J3qZ74Nv2Xk4i-BA0NgYydhpxkTz3X_nXbk0zuySI8TybN9vxpqb_W6WJXio/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="214" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLv4_k9G-QysFyGqvDMJXny6BanC95ypVMTsDLqSeccwf9GidtCkizM5CjIta9_rG3wv2tsbzcgUJotU6J3qZ74Nv2Xk4i-BA0NgYydhpxkTz3X_nXbk0zuySI8TybN9vxpqb_W6WJXio/w242-h342/image.png" width="242" /></span></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span>Original photo composite for “I’ll Never Understand Time”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With
this sculpture as a beginning, I began further exploring the concept of time. In the series, I wanted to portray the changes
and dissolution that are the result of the passing years. Sculptures in the series are of two types. The first group consists of self-portraits
based upon the idea of time, such as “I’ll Never Understand Time,” and “I’ll
Never Understand Time II,” which depicts a head of the present me with the head
of me at about seven years old.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXq2-LomKFzxH7Wo69vpidkEOdg_4Y01n56zCDs3h4W7sJ8sb-F8d_EiTdzEqOcoU8l20f8DoWRONAv0_921wUhOHGdLfjWjceUjWpsBJJ94gFSDSytfRiOKOW6CSPt3WrEDCXXChAyM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="329" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXq2-LomKFzxH7Wo69vpidkEOdg_4Y01n56zCDs3h4W7sJ8sb-F8d_EiTdzEqOcoU8l20f8DoWRONAv0_921wUhOHGdLfjWjceUjWpsBJJ94gFSDSytfRiOKOW6CSPt3WrEDCXXChAyM/w417-h313/image.png" width="417" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span>“I’ll Never Understand Time II”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;">Other
works in the series</span><span style="text-align: left;">, like “As Sure as Death and Taxes,” incorporate
materials from my daily life in order to fix a period of time into a tangible
form.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">This particular piece consists of
tax forms and returns from the year of my retirement combined with a wooden
coffin made from leftover beech flooring from when I refloored my office.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUEg5bv82RgCDLN-px0X0eZyGGwlQpPlcMGNijmRaHFWUsYKROcJBALprgo0LOtSDtzRu3ph2fhx1LkURtylqjeDQpMjlmTizZLHfjDBgkXdP-FkxBvmzrZX43nj4yC9QkGC9oFpvVFw/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="322" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUEg5bv82RgCDLN-px0X0eZyGGwlQpPlcMGNijmRaHFWUsYKROcJBALprgo0LOtSDtzRu3ph2fhx1LkURtylqjeDQpMjlmTizZLHfjDBgkXdP-FkxBvmzrZX43nj4yC9QkGC9oFpvVFw/w443-h338/image.png" width="443" /></a></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">“As Sure as Death and Taxes”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another piece in the series that consists of items from my
everyday life is “It Will All Come Out in the Wash.” This piece is composed of dryer lint that I
collected for a year attached to a section of log from an apricot tree in my
back yard.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIPwjD0rHP6nJD-aVPepdZkHg2t2sKtwJYMTui4wj0OqRw5QS0Hxjn6epiMoEgqhmG1oTt6dsbTE0G3zQMx0D-8xz0Ny96JhiCRRbwia9o0ctBUKTD5k-oSllMxlFBZflD5Jwmg6ZO0Y/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="192" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIPwjD0rHP6nJD-aVPepdZkHg2t2sKtwJYMTui4wj0OqRw5QS0Hxjn6epiMoEgqhmG1oTt6dsbTE0G3zQMx0D-8xz0Ny96JhiCRRbwia9o0ctBUKTD5k-oSllMxlFBZflD5Jwmg6ZO0Y/w324-h580/image.png" width="324" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span>“It Will All Come Out in the Wash”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As you can see, the pieces in this series are very stylistically
different from one another and appear to have no commonality other that being based
on the concept of time. For gallerists and
art critics who often insist on consistency, these works would not be
considered part of the same series.
However, because of the mutual theme that underlies all the pieces, I do
consider it a consistent series. As I’ve
said, oftentimes, pieces in the series are based on materials that have been a
part of my daily life; and I’ve used these materials to help anchor myself to
that period of time. Since the materials,
themselves, differ so greatly, it seems only natural to sculpturally incorporate
them in a way that would seem most fitting to the material. This would enhance the consistency of the
theme of time but would result in a series that would not be classically considered
a consistent body of work.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, what’s the consensus?
Would you consider the series “It’s About Time” a consistent body of
work or not? I’m curious to hear what
you think.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723925207304115124.post-5206087803628765222021-08-06T14:18:00.020-07:002021-08-06T15:46:54.581-07:00<p><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: large; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"> </span></p><div class="_1AZWZ" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_1KJEZ _1Zljb" data-hook="post-title" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 27px 0px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="-1"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;"><span class="post-title__text blog-post-title-font blog-post-title-color" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "times new roman", times, serif; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 10;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, serif; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;">Why a Consistent Body of Work?</span></span></div>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;">In the art world there is often
talk of the desirability and necessity of a “consistent body of work.” This
simply means that the output of an individual artist, regardless of the medium,
be recognizable as the work of that specific artist. Thus, an art patron could
easily recognize this painting as the work of Piet Mondrian even if she had
never seen this particular piece.</span></span><span style="color: #d9d9d9; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44peAd7cu9lA9U9yxN4k9Xl-7iHRDBK5ELuv4zwG1StViyUk9LCJaGQbcGnV1QR7S3zjTTIX4ch-LUdaJCsy3VHKNjaYMhY5sP0JPHLADrfzI3RVgokPZELs8Vdy0kfiKvY3SooXMpb0/s616/Mondrian.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Compostion A" by Piet Mondrian" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="616" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44peAd7cu9lA9U9yxN4k9Xl-7iHRDBK5ELuv4zwG1StViyUk9LCJaGQbcGnV1QR7S3zjTTIX4ch-LUdaJCsy3VHKNjaYMhY5sP0JPHLADrfzI3RVgokPZELs8Vdy0kfiKvY3SooXMpb0/w320-h312/Mondrian.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">"Composition A" Piet
Mondrian</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;">Do you know what sculptor
created this piece?</span></span></div></div><p style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CWa4Jyuk9cgMMtxSEHAIunhCY2SCFwNMZGpBslevwJ0eeR3M1zBUe4sr-hb4rvT6lQfEnYX3Bas2B65XHI2wC3sjIImLn7ZBn1-Ke_5IIPbI9ENHSSPZwCKHCdUwmoKpS2NACkQG3zw/s1080/Henry+Moore-+recumbent+figure.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Recumbent Figure" by Henry Moore" border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1080" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CWa4Jyuk9cgMMtxSEHAIunhCY2SCFwNMZGpBslevwJ0eeR3M1zBUe4sr-hb4rvT6lQfEnYX3Bas2B65XHI2wC3sjIImLn7ZBn1-Ke_5IIPbI9ENHSSPZwCKHCdUwmoKpS2NACkQG3zw/w320-h234/Henry+Moore-+recumbent+figure.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">"Recumbent Figure"
Henry Moore</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;">I, personally, had never seen
this sculpture before, but I immediately recognized it as the work of Henry
Moore, the famous English sculptor.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">These two examples highlight
what is meant by a consistent body of work. Their style, color schemes, shape,
form, degree of abstractionism, and additional elements are consistent with
other works in the artist’s oeuvre.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;">Most artists create a body of
work around subject matters, methods, styles, and further criteria about which
they feel passion. In doing so, they give themselves the opportunity of
exploring and experimenting with those artistic factors that most inspire them.
They also gain the additional benefit of gaining greater technical proficiency
in their chosen media.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Often students, novices, or emerging artists try on a variety of artistic
“hats” as they seek to find that which most speaks to them. However, after this
beginning phase, the majority of artists (and almost all professional artists)
settle in to creating a consistent body of work by which they are recognized. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">But is this necessary? The
preponderance of gallery owners would say “yes.” These gallerists spent a lot
of time promoting the artists they represent and developing relationships with
clients who are drawn to the work of individual artists. If the artist were to
frequently change their style, the gallerist would have to repeat the process
again and again at a cost of both time and money. Thus, most galleries see a
consistent body of work as a necessary criterion to carrying the work of an
individual artist. In fact, I’ve heard a few gallerists state that consistency
and passion are even more important than creativity or skill in making sales.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">While I fully believe in the
concept of a consistent body of work, I personally find it hard to be
constrained to any one style. As I began sculpting, I worked on small,
table-top sculptures made of acid-stained cement with a rich textural surface
such as “Burning Sun” and “Burnt Offering.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y7es0VYNtOms7jTTkc5Q4KQQQ2GRsRin9js6R5I2lCy42ZuRpnCqJmpiQLVVbxkZInRDPmdCXdmLu-jkLW8Z4eY-KIySPsU0VUHhvJp_4F6YnJ3DTRXilCVQxAwY8eb8IxM_8yh7SOI/s2000/Burning+Sun+300dpi+WF.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Abstract sculpture by sculptor Dan Woodard. Sculpture of copper, cement, and wood." border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1996" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y7es0VYNtOms7jTTkc5Q4KQQQ2GRsRin9js6R5I2lCy42ZuRpnCqJmpiQLVVbxkZInRDPmdCXdmLu-jkLW8Z4eY-KIySPsU0VUHhvJp_4F6YnJ3DTRXilCVQxAwY8eb8IxM_8yh7SOI/w319-h320/Burning+Sun+300dpi+WF.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">"Burning Sun" from "Artifacts
from a Former World"</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgcaMfaangsktBYeyXY4kj3WS7FFs2jDys8DvGDV3KMyRpIQt_Gho3okvsxOWMJdDW9Ka5Llz8Vxv1nIYA7RPeUODeZR2IuGE-ymyu66FACS_7cos0qXZd3ap1Eg4MjFt24_1pa2veU0/s1280/Burnt+Offering-1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Abstract sculpture by sculptor Dan Woodard. Sculpture of copper, wood, and cement." border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="892" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgcaMfaangsktBYeyXY4kj3WS7FFs2jDys8DvGDV3KMyRpIQt_Gho3okvsxOWMJdDW9Ka5Llz8Vxv1nIYA7RPeUODeZR2IuGE-ymyu66FACS_7cos0qXZd3ap1Eg4MjFt24_1pa2veU0/w223-h320/Burnt+Offering-1280.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> "Burnt Offering" from
"Artifacts from a Former World"</span></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;">These two pieces and others I
created definitely fit the criterion of a consistent body of work. However, as
time passed, I wanted to explore other styles, such as figurative work. I
considered my first works a separate series that I called “Artifacts from a
Former World,” and began work on a second series (or, if you will, a second
body of work), “Heads and Hands.” </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcR0cWy0UrbjxzF5xeBGmjgJAvnkcAaXMzhd85xCziL-q0w2XimM2-GrqaFu549V5AYGHkjEFsisIR5bmZWVMEkWDPagCOWRZeZ1OB2sx2LdlqKEMW-84ZHUxkaZgcl5ROY9Q4EChNlE/s1920/Hands+by+Face-CU-1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Figurative sculpture by sculptor Dan Woodard of a man holding his hands in front of his face. Sculpture of clay with a rusted iron coating." border="0" data-original-height="1552" data-original-width="1920" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcR0cWy0UrbjxzF5xeBGmjgJAvnkcAaXMzhd85xCziL-q0w2XimM2-GrqaFu549V5AYGHkjEFsisIR5bmZWVMEkWDPagCOWRZeZ1OB2sx2LdlqKEMW-84ZHUxkaZgcl5ROY9Q4EChNlE/w320-h259/Hands+by+Face-CU-1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> "Man with Hands by
Face" from "Heads and Hands"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01MSeEL5YkhY_q7mB5lwWyNqxMfcO565jZSJl52oDOlxXXLjI_YeVZ1wI7UI3b_YSrCYKtirCRfRMhlpMYCNl-FXlv11rr9QQm5RydFFYa1nITX5dEiENlNzdYkDNc2mp__0pAGjyj6U/s1920/Bearded+Man-CU+1920-300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Figurative sculpture by sculptor Dan Woodard of a man holding his beard. Sculpture made of clay with a rusted iron coating." border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01MSeEL5YkhY_q7mB5lwWyNqxMfcO565jZSJl52oDOlxXXLjI_YeVZ1wI7UI3b_YSrCYKtirCRfRMhlpMYCNl-FXlv11rr9QQm5RydFFYa1nITX5dEiENlNzdYkDNc2mp__0pAGjyj6U/w240-h320/Bearded+Man-CU+1920-300.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> "Bearded Man" from
"Heads and Hands"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 3; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">To date I have begun work on five different
series of sculptures. Within each series of sculptures, the work is consistent
and recognizable as being from that specific series. However, the series
themselves vary from one to the other. Unlike most artists who move from one
series to the next, I find that I still continue to work on all my series. I
find interest and passion in each series and want to continue exploring the
allure that each holds for me. Thus, I am still working on the “Artifacts from
a Former World” series that I began over a decade ago. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;">This may not be a path that is
taken by most artists, and probably not advised by most gallerists. However,
for me it seems to be a path that fits my own passions, creativity, and need
for variety while still adhering to the definition of a “consistent body of
work.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">If you have any thoughts on the
subject, I would love to hear from you.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">In my next blog posting I will
talk about a sixth series I have recently begun. This series, “It’s About
Time,” is based not on the general consensus of what constitutes a body of work
but is, instead, based on a unifying theme that overlies all of the sculptures
within the series. The theme of time.</span></span></p></div></div><div class="_1AZWZ" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_1KJEZ _1Zljb" data-hook="post-title" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 27px 0px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="-1"><div class="_1AZWZ" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; 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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIPYGuYIG5stra_ZSB04R7tTR7il0VGz2KAxLzp-zr9mP5eDb6UMQcHCUVdNgmhXHvppo8Oi4cnDlht0Om-WOvnxcV38Hp6dtToWFnMbW7zC9ypvLGenB-sCyh3-lxLVG_9RkHh14Cr0/s1600/Silence-Gold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIPYGuYIG5stra_ZSB04R7tTR7il0VGz2KAxLzp-zr9mP5eDb6UMQcHCUVdNgmhXHvppo8Oi4cnDlht0Om-WOvnxcV38Hp6dtToWFnMbW7zC9ypvLGenB-sCyh3-lxLVG_9RkHh14Cr0/s320/Silence-Gold.jpg" width="277px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Silence" by Dan Woodard</span><br />
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</style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="st">I am often amazed and sometimes impressed by artists who can succinctly talk about why they create art and what their goals and intents are.<span> </span>They can talk at length about what they had in mind when creating a particular piece, what message they wanted to convey, what they wanted the viewer to experience, or what their emotional or philosophical intent was.<span> </span>For myself, I find that I usually begin the creative process as though my mind were a blank slate.<span> </span>Naturally, I’m aware of what I am about to produce, but I’m generally not aware of what this piece means to me; let alone what it’s meaning will be.<span> </span>Rather, I continue with the process, refining and defining the sculpture as I proceed.<span> </span>Perhaps, the meaning comes to me during the course of creation.<span> </span>However, usually it is only after I have completed a piece that I find personal meaning in it.<span> </span>And sometimes it is only after I have finished several sculptures that I realize they are all representative of a single theme.<span> </span>For me, the process is more intuitive than intellectual.<span> </span>But by no means am I attributing a value of one way of working to another.<span> </span>In fact, I admire and often envy those who have a definite message in mind when creating.<span> </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"></span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="st">Having created several bodies of both figurative and abstract work, I realize that my own work falls into two broad—and diametrically opposed—categories: alienation and complete union. I would have to say that the majority of my abstract pieces, such as “Golden Offering”, exhibit a sense of alienation. My series, “Artifacts From a Former World,” to which this piece belongs, depicts the artifacts and ritualistic objects from an unknown and former world. They represent the remnants of a society that has long since vanished. About as alienated as one could get.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="'Burnt Offering' by Dan Woodard is an abstract sculpture made of cement, copper, stone, wood, and copper leaf." height="320px" src="http://danwoodard.com/Burnt_Offering/imag000.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="222px" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Burnt Offering" by Dan Woodard</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">After completing several figurative pieces and standing back and looking at the series as a whole, I discovered that the majority of the men, such as “Silence” and “Anguished Man with a Broken Nose,” were on the alienation end of the spectrum. While the women, “Ariadne’ and “Ester” for example, showed pregnant women. The far end of the complete union category. I further noticed that my males were generally titled with a description of their condition, while the women were given real names. This is all incredibly interesting to me and has led me to explore the subconscious reasoning for my depictions of men versus women. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSVF6GxIYclKvkVXVGvw8Qc_eFPelFvqCxMOz-G1EduSQt5g885_509HY9ObezmFo5sIsuAwAkPBc0fv4USrFH8AN1CTxOQDBOIxVfhvOokZp21dqjQPs80tsE9PwQQS5lmHeiMyBt9w/s1600/Ester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSVF6GxIYclKvkVXVGvw8Qc_eFPelFvqCxMOz-G1EduSQt5g885_509HY9ObezmFo5sIsuAwAkPBc0fv4USrFH8AN1CTxOQDBOIxVfhvOokZp21dqjQPs80tsE9PwQQS5lmHeiMyBt9w/s320/Ester.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Ester" by Dan Woodard</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="st">So, on the one hand we have the intention of the artist and their message, whether it be conscious or subconscious. But, on the other hand there is an equally powerful force, the perspective of the viewer. And, since everyone’s perspective is different, the messages derived from a creative work are as varied as the number of viewers. Each individual has their own sense of what a particular work of art “means” to them. And each person adds their own background, personality, experiences, current mental state of mind and on, and on to arrive at this meaning. And that’s good. In fact, it’s one of the wonderful aspects of art...the viewer comes to her own relationship to the art sometimes totally independent of what the artist intended. And all of the meanings or relationships that one has with a particular piece of art are valid—even if they are not what the artist intended. Marcel Duchamp summed this view up when he said: “</span>The artist only has fifty percent of the responsibility.”</span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="st">After hearing people’s reactions to my work I am often led to look at it in a new and different way. And as a result of this process, I, myself, learn more about my art and about my subconscious creative impulses. It’s an exciting and wonderful process. A process that is very therapeutic and gives me a better understanding of myself. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723925207304115124.post-55768496554548478982011-07-21T18:30:00.000-07:002011-08-23T19:51:18.265-07:00Creativity and Chance<div style="text-align: center;"> Art loves chance and chance loves art.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Aristotle</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hc4wQHaX17iZPCCfIFheoWvsUdKA1skaGNc-uaQjBHYucw6xEdnI0B5Kdkka8eeaeMkjdhBOO2Lyh0OpBykPu-8KPs64pcS78r3deDQPn8GlMrQ0lm5AztNDMDaz0zqMw8Hm1fNe6wQ/s1600/Marion3-769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hc4wQHaX17iZPCCfIFheoWvsUdKA1skaGNc-uaQjBHYucw6xEdnI0B5Kdkka8eeaeMkjdhBOO2Lyh0OpBykPu-8KPs64pcS78r3deDQPn8GlMrQ0lm5AztNDMDaz0zqMw8Hm1fNe6wQ/s400/Marion3-769.jpg" width="360px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Marion 3.0" by Dan Woodard</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">In my last blog, I talked about what I believe are two important elements of creativity: 1) creativity comes not from our conscious mind but from a source beyond it; and 2) creativity is deeply connected with a sense of play. In this posting, I will discuss what I believe is the third element of creativity: chance.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Most people would probably not consider chance to be an aspect of creativity since it definitely does not occur through any intent of the individual but rather from a mistake, an accident, or simply happenstance. However, I believe it is what one does with the chance occurrence that makes it an aspect of creativity. Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert stated: “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” Whether it’s creating a work of art, working on a scientific research project, or designing a building, one is faced with a multitude of choices. The conscious part of the creative act is selecting which of these choices one should follow. As a sculptor, I must decide: “Do I make the nose longer, wider, aquiline, straight, and on, and on.” As I continue to make these choices, I often discover that some of my previous choices do not support ensuing choices. I then must go back and take a different direction to make the piece work as a whole. In the same way, a scientist will make certain choices as to the direction she should proceed. Sometimes these choices will lead to the desired results, but more often they will not. The scientist must then go back to make other choices that will hopefully lead to a solution to the problem. During this creative process, both for the artist and the scientist, chance occurrences often present themselves. And the opportunity presented by chance is yet another choice. The choice being, “Do I accept this, reject it, or learn from it?” Just because we ourselves have not participated in the element of chance does not mean that it is not a viable route to our desired end (even if we may not yet know what that end is). </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Alexander Fleming is generally given credit for the discovery of penicillin. However, this ‘discovery’ was based on the ‘chance’ observation by several scientists who preceded him. One of these was Louis Pasteur who studied the growth of the anthrax bacilli. When his samples were accidentally contaminated with mold, the growth of the cultures was inhibited. He correctly interpreted this chance event and surmised that the mold itself had a negative effect on the growth of the anthrax. This lead to his famous quote: “In the fields of observation chance favors only the prepared mind.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’d now like to look at a few examples of my own work to demonstrate how chance played a large role in their creation. “Marion 3.0,” as shown at the top of this posting, was originally designed to be a solid bust of a woman. However, the casting was faulty and a gaping hole was left in the piece. I was just about to toss it away, when I realized that I really liked the effect. The location of the hole was such that, for me, a great deal of originally non-intended meaning was added to the piece. I considered my options and decided to finish the outside and inside of the casting with diametrically different finishes to arrive at the final sculpture. She was thus born of chance.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAg1DbawQLr6LhjSp54RJ6xMVCpDrObRmP8uT_clyRIked0ruefDL96cDozYTY3awpllEnVdYdLpWpWVL80pWwcaBWXq0PVxmqX49ncYhNJUFj1cEvDPyLcBBeTuhrHf3-szQkmKpiATQ/s1600/Gorgon-864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAg1DbawQLr6LhjSp54RJ6xMVCpDrObRmP8uT_clyRIked0ruefDL96cDozYTY3awpllEnVdYdLpWpWVL80pWwcaBWXq0PVxmqX49ncYhNJUFj1cEvDPyLcBBeTuhrHf3-szQkmKpiATQ/s400/Gorgon-864.jpg" width="318px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Gorgon" by Dan Woodard</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"> “Gorgon” is another of my pieces that was the result of chance. The head of “Gorgon” was originally made for another sculpture. But, after completing the sculpture, I felt the head, then without hair, was too small and cut it off. This head lay in my studio for quite some time. I still wanted to use it but wasn’t quite sure how. Then one day, I held the head in my hand, turned it this way and that and wondered, “Now, what can I do with this?” Suddenly, I realized, “Wow, I like the way the head fits my hand so comfortably.” I then sculpted a hand to hold the head and created hair to flow around the hand. It is now one of my favorite pieces.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Many of us believe that creativity does not arise from the conscious mind. Some say it comes from a ‘muse,’ the creative impulse, the subconscious, a universal creative force, God...but wherever it comes from, couldn’t that force also be controlling the chance occurrences that present themselves to us? As I’ve heard many people say, “There’s no such thing as an accident.”</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723925207304115124.post-22131571390252508772011-05-24T16:37:00.000-07:002011-05-28T13:17:47.762-07:00Creativity and the Universe<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eKokIMbcF4ZDyAMV_IPMC9t7MG94Jz9R9sjNXITmHjZ8S_HcPWKQ-mEyKo4kqkVb238rt-QgFgJUPuI1ZUnKdVssJ0GaHHY04QMlSG5u9t5-8zUCsoNDlu0IGI3gmMgZQRgreJ5ZNEI/s1600/Dan-in-Studio+3--928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eKokIMbcF4ZDyAMV_IPMC9t7MG94Jz9R9sjNXITmHjZ8S_HcPWKQ-mEyKo4kqkVb238rt-QgFgJUPuI1ZUnKdVssJ0GaHHY04QMlSG5u9t5-8zUCsoNDlu0IGI3gmMgZQRgreJ5ZNEI/s1600/Dan-in-Studio+3--928.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dan at work in the studio</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Much has been written about the subject of creativity: What is it? Where does it come from? How can it be controlled? What makes a person creative? Can it be learned? And on, and on...and on. To this vast topic, I’d like to add my own two cents worth, which (considering inflation) is now more like my own two hundred dollars worth. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">First of all, I strongly believe that creativity is inherent in every one of us. It is a given aspect of being human. Just look at the creativity of children to see the most blatant example. If any distinction applies it is between those who regularly use their creative abilities and those who have the creative potential but do not apply it. The primary difference between these two groups is not creativity but inspiration. Those who create are inspired to do so. It is what makes them feel fully alive. It is how they make meaning of their life and the culture surrounding them. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the remainder of this blog and the one to follow, I’d like to explore my own thoughts on the creative force.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Creativity, the Universe, and Play</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In any of my creative endeavors, whether it be writing, film-making, or sculpture, I’ve always had the sense that I was definitely not the one in control of the creative force. As James Abbott McNeill Whistler (the painter of “Whistler’s Mother”) aptly put it, “Art happens—no hovel is safe from it, no prince can depend on it, the vastest intelligence cannot bring it about.” Creativity is not something that one can control or force. You cannot sit down and say to yourself, “In the next half hour I’m going to be creative.” You have to allow the creative impulse to come to you. It seems that creativity exists somewhere beyond our conscious mind. Depending on your belief this might be in the subconscious, God, or in the cosmic consciousness of the universe. But to whatever we attribute creativity, the most we can do is to allow ourselves be receptive, to act as a conduit for the creativity that flows through us. This holds true even in the world of science. A classic example comes with the discovery of the structure of the DNA molecule. After years of research, the Nobel laureates Francis Crick and James Watson finally realized that DNA was composed of a double-helix. But the answer to DNA’s design came not from the lab but from Watson’s dream of two intertwining snakes.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">For me, the creative act is a matter of letting go of my conscious and controlling mind as much as possible. To do so, allows me to be open to the creative essence. As Peter Koestenbaum, the philosopher, said, “Creativity is harnessing universality and making it flow through your eyes.” In fact, when working on a particular piece I often get “stuck.” I know that what I have in front of me isn’t working, but I have no idea of what to do. In times like these, I generally go out into my garden to get my hands dirty and immerse myself in mindless physical work. Doing so will usually clear my mind and allow the creative “solution” to come to me. The harder I try to intellectually envision a solution, the further I am from the solution. Only by forgetting about the problem does the answer arise.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Play is also an essential element of creativity. I strongly remember the feeling I had while creating my first abstract sculpture about six years ago. The sculpture was composed of beautifully twisted and aged tree limbs that remained from an ancient apple tree that had finally died and fallen in my back yard. I spent the day using heavy copper wire to tie several of these limbs together into a nest-like form. And, as I did so, I was overcome with a feeling of childlike play. I was immediately transported to memories of making small objects of twigs as a young boy. This was pure play...no ultimate objective, no sense of there being a right or a wrong way to assemble the limbs, no time lines, no need for outward approval...the joy was in the process of play, pure and simple. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">According to Carl G. Jung, “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.” The improvisational violinist Stephen Nachmanovitch agrees when he states, “Creative work is play. It is free speculation using the materials of one’s chosen form.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So, my first two criteria for creativity are a playful spirit and a clear and open mind. And remember, these qualities are not unique to those who are considered “creative individuals.” They are part of the heritage of everyone of us. In my next blog posting, I’ll discuss “Creativity and Chance.” I hope to see you then, and I welcome any thoughts you may have about creativity.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723925207304115124.post-24367987063695916642011-03-26T15:33:00.000-07:002011-03-29T13:06:40.724-07:00Fertility Figures<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://danwoodard.utopicstudios.com/artistsImages/displayImg/4d8bb4f0e860aFertilityFigure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://danwoodard.utopicstudios.com/artistsImages/displayImg/4d8bb4f0e860aFertilityFigure.jpg" width="347" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Fertility Figure" Dan Woodard, Bronze</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In creating my own fertility figure, I was strongly influenced by paleolithic fertility figures that date to some 38,000 years ago. These voluptuous and sensual forms have greatly affected my characterizations of the female form.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bookishmiss.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/venus_of_willendorf.jpg?w=182&h=300" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://bookishmiss.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/venus_of_willendorf.jpg?w=182&h=300" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Venus of Willendorf" 4.3" high, Limestone</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Fertility figures have fascinated me ever since I first became aware of the Venus of Willendorf while taking an anthropology class at UCLA. This sculpture, approximately 23,000 years old, was discovered in 1908 in the village of Willendorf in lower Austria. She is made of limestone and tinted with a red ochre. With her large breasts, abdomen, and a detailed vulva, scholars immediately thought of her as a fertility symbol and named her after the Roman goddess of love, which she predates by several millennia. For many years she was considered to be the oldest example of sculpture known to man.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Vestonicka_venuse_edit.jpg/307px-Vestonicka_venuse_edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Vestonicka_venuse_edit.jpg/307px-Vestonicka_venuse_edit.jpg" width="203" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Venus of Dolni Vestonice" 4.4" high, Low-fired clay</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">However, since her discovery, many similar, and even older, fertility figures have been found. These include the Venus of Dolni Vestonice, which at around 29,000 years old is the oldest known example of the use of ceramic, even predating functional pottery. And, in 2008, one hundred years after the discovery of the Venus of Willendorf, the oldest yet known Venus figure was discovered in Germany. The Venus of Hohle Fels is approximately 38,000 years old and dates to the earliest presence of Homo sapiens (Cro-Magnon) in Europe. This sculpture is not only the oldest known example of sculpture, it is also the oldest work of any art form yet discovered (the oldest cave paintings date to “only” 32,000 years ago). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tourismus-bw.de/var/tmbw/storage/images/media/bilder/kultur/venus-vom-hohle-fels/33971-1-ger-DE/Venus-vom-Hohle-Fels_my_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="http://www.tourismus-bw.de/var/tmbw/storage/images/media/bilder/kultur/venus-vom-hohle-fels/33971-1-ger-DE/Venus-vom-Hohle-Fels_my_full.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Venus of Hohle Fels" 2.4" high, Wooly Mammoth tusk</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">While the majority of scholars view these and similar figures as fertility symbols, others have presented alternating theories of their meaning or purpose. Some argue that the diversity of the figures represent differing segments of the Paleolithic population. Others see them as self-portraits created by the women they represent or effigies of a mother goddess cult. Some even theorize that they are a form of portable pornography due to their small size.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I had been creating abstract sculptures for about two years when I tackled my first figurative piece. Without having any conscious image in mind, I automatically began sculpting a woman that quickly evolved into my own fertility figure. I hadn’t seen the Venus of Willendorf for many years, but the memory of her immediately came to me as I continued my sculpture. I was impressed by the size and voluptuousness of my own figure, but when I again looked up the original, I realized how my form was much more reserved than that of my prehistoric ancestors. My own natural inclination to this form makes me believe that the prehistoric fertility figure is an archetypal and subconscious image. To me there seems to be both a numinous and a sensual quality that draws one to these figures. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Upon completion of my own fertility figure, I made a mold of her and cast her in bronze. The final statuette has a rich patina with sections carved out to emulate natural erosion. My bronze fertility figure is somewhat of a personal joke, although no one yet has gotten it on their own. The joke: the bronze age began some 20,000 years after these types of fertility figures were created.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SRu4wjWeJH7tWlJHFN0Z6b2u_DJ-F20I94Pl78iLaODSWnhwWmH-yX-XQXlQLWFhDpaZ00OBRQ8rSuTfMSPNlDaq0YDht_rLZRQUzJ8Vhv2OwDE3uTnZ0Nx3BoC-icNl4Yb8aDqYRm8/s1600/Stone-Fertility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SRu4wjWeJH7tWlJHFN0Z6b2u_DJ-F20I94Pl78iLaODSWnhwWmH-yX-XQXlQLWFhDpaZ00OBRQ8rSuTfMSPNlDaq0YDht_rLZRQUzJ8Vhv2OwDE3uTnZ0Nx3BoC-icNl4Yb8aDqYRm8/s640/Stone-Fertility.jpg" width="326" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Fertility Figure #2" Dan Woodard, Alabaster</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Other female sculptures I’ve created (see “Ariadne” and “Ester” on my web site) have been strongly influenced by my own and prehistoric fertility figures. It seemed only natural that, when I made my first stone carving, I return to my fascination with fertility figures. Actually, it was a good subject matter for a beginning stone carver since the form is both stylized and not intricately detailed. All-in-all it feels good to continue a tradition that began nearly 40 millennia ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2SU8E5PMPDC7 </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1723925207304115124.post-87871265279795748542011-01-29T12:44:00.000-08:002011-01-29T13:41:23.762-08:00Welcome...Marcel Duchamp and 'Choice'<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SWCf_7N7bhVnS6TjA61yKH84cPnIyuV0eNjse8WbBBsLB9m4C4qkaY3fmznryDTsWmkxuVyr7kwFhsBvW5eLVXdVYPkwcQWMQTkhRnoPvORhf0yQ5_Gdr1s1UXbfCs8L5WoF9vYncl4/s1600/Falling-Woman-CU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SWCf_7N7bhVnS6TjA61yKH84cPnIyuV0eNjse8WbBBsLB9m4C4qkaY3fmznryDTsWmkxuVyr7kwFhsBvW5eLVXdVYPkwcQWMQTkhRnoPvORhf0yQ5_Gdr1s1UXbfCs8L5WoF9vYncl4/s400/Falling-Woman-CU.jpg" style="background-color: black;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #f3f3f3;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">'Falling Woman of Versailles' by Dan Woodard</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hello, and welcome to my first blog posting. I’m a sculptor living in the San Francisco Bay Area and have created this blog to show samples of my works in progress as well as newly completed pieces. I’ll also be talking about topics of interest to me in the world of sculpture and art in general. Of course, this doesn’t preclude the fact that I may talk about other items as well. We’ll just have to see what happens.</span></div><div style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I also have a web site that highlights several pieces of both my figurative and abstract sculpture. To visit the site, simply click on the link to the right. And, of course, I’d love to hear from you as well. Please feel free to send me comments on my work or any aspect of my postings. Or, if you have any questions, I'll do what I can to answer them. If you’d like to be informed of new postings <span style="color: #f3f3f3;">that I publish, please click on one of the boxes to the right to receive either an email notification or an RSS or other reader feed.</span></span></div><div style="color: #f3f3f3;"><div style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, on to...</span></div><div style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </div><div align="center" style="color: #f3f3f3; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Marcel Duchamp and ‘Choice’</span></div><div align="center" style="color: #f3f3f3; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">In this, my first posting, I’d like to talk abou</span>t the ‘choices’ that an artist makes. When creating any piece of art, the artist is faced by an infinite number of choices. From large choices such as subject matter, size, materials, texture, and composition to seemingly minor choices such as the amount of roundness on the tip of a small toe. The odd thing is; none of these choices are really large or small. They are all equally important and all give meaning and cohesion to the final piece. To put it simply, the ‘art’ is primarily determined by the choices of the artist. </span></div><div style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;">In my own work, I’ve become more and more aware of this over the past several years. Last December, while visiting the museums of Berlin, I became aware of Marcel Duchamp’s views on choice. Duchamp, as you may well known, was a follower of Dadaism and was widely known for his ‘readymades.’ These were manufactured items such as a coat rack, a dog grooming comb, a snow shovel, and, perhaps, most famous of all a urinal, which Duchamp labeled “Fountain” and signed: R. Mutt 1917. Duchamp stated that these objects were elevated to the status of art by the simple fact that the artist ‘chose’ the item. He further stated that, “...because the subconscious attends to the choice—in reality everything has happened before your decision.” In creating his readymades, Duchamp effectively elevated the role of choice to the highest status of the artist’s repertoire. And choice certainly was important to Duchamp. He did not lightly grab any object and declare it a readymade. In fact, over his entire lifetime, Duchamp limited his readymades to no more than twenty pieces of art. These were the pieces that he, through his subconscious, found worthy enough to be considered art.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #f3f3f3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Duchamp_Fountaine.jpg/220px-Duchamp_Fountaine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Duchamp_Fountaine.jpg/220px-Duchamp_Fountaine.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">'Fountain,' Marcel Duchamp, signed, 'R. Mutt 1917'</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Naturally, you may or may not agree with Duchamp’s viewpoints or with his self-appointed status as an arbiter in determining what is or what is not art. I know that even five years ago, I myself would have probably laughed at his views and would have considered them another art world example of the ‘Emperor’s New Clothes.’ Now, however, my position has changed. As I become more and more aware of how critical choice is when creating my own art, I can fully accept that a readymade can be valued as an artistic work. </span></div><div style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;">These are my thoughts. What are yours?</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #f3f3f3; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/RroseSelavy.jpg/220px-RroseSelavy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/RroseSelavy.jpg/220px-RroseSelavy.jpg" width="250" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Marcel Duchamp as his alter ego, Rrose Selavy</span></td></tr>
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2