Week Three
Working with Clay
I wanted to develop the ideas from my anatomical sketch of the cow above that I did over the summer and see where it could lead me - I started to experiment with new mediums and sculpted the miniature head below from a rudimentary armature which was then removed in order to hollow the figure for kiln firing
Cow head after the first bisque fire - hoping to do an oxide glaze on it with iron oxide or yellow ochre but I’ve spoken with Sean and he’s going to give me some 1 on 1 glazing advice. I will do some more reading from The Craft and Art of Clay by Susan Peterson (1999)
slicing the clay for hollowing reminded me of the abstract works of Damien Hirst and my interest of taxidermy despite my disdain for meat, flesh etc.
Berlinde De Bruyckere
‘We are all flesh‘
(2012)
Jenny saville
‘Torso 2’
(2004-2005)
These works show a fine line between Beautiful and Gory - beautiful cattle vs violent death - Vore vs Gore - A dichotomy of Life and Death
I want to explore this subject more through sketchbook work and develop my clay handling skills and see how far I can take my knowledge of it - I’ve always had a fascination with the medium and I think there’s so much more to learn. The thought of working with porcelain one day sounds amazing but at this early stage the Buff clay has handled the sketchy quality of the maquette so well that I didn’t realise it could. Sean said most sculptures built in the way I do (built solid and hollowed after) is typical for sculptures to be cast from bronze so although this can be an option for me I’d like to keep working with the material as is.
Reference List
Brucyckere, B.D. (2012) We are all Flesh [Installation] Available at: https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/we-are-all-flash-de-bruyckere-berlinde/cwH1FYKh5H55WQ?ms=%7B%22x%22%3A0.5%2C%22y%22%3A0.5%2C%22z%22%3A9%2C%22size%22%3A%7B%22width%22%3A2.551282051282051%2C%22height%22%3A1.25%7D%7D (Accessed: November 02, 2022)
Faber, M. (2014) Under the Skin. Edinburgh: Canongate.
Fowles, J. (1976) The Collector. St Albans: Triad Panther.
Hirst, D. (1993) Mother and Child (Divided) [sculpture] Available at: https://www.sartle.com/artwork/mother-and-child-divided-damien-hirst (Accessed: November 02, 2022)
Lanteri, E. and Hale, N. C. (Ed.), Modelling and Sculpture: A guide for Artists and Students. (1965) Canada: Dover Publications, Inc. Vol. 1.
Nabokov, V. (1997) Lolita. Harmondsworth: Penguin
Peterson, S. (1999) The Craft and Art of Clay. 3rd ed. London: Laurence King
Saville, J. (2004-2005) Torso 2 [Oil on Canvas] Available at: http://www.artnet.com/artists/jenny-saville/torso-2-CsDSmtQMPLUWonIkOsvFfw2#:~:text=%2C%202004%E2%80%932005%20Medium%3A%20oil,(141.7%20x%20115.7%20in.) (Accessed: November 02, 2022)
Schietti, V. (2021) Happy Swiss Cows. Available at: https://theveganutopia.com/happy-swiss-cows/ (Accessed: November 01, 2022)