The frame

When designing the frame I decided to make the wooden skeletal frame for my sculpture curved so it also appeared to mould around around the sphere. I roughly sketched out a design to decide how long and narrow I wanted each piece to be.

 

Then using a compass I redrew one arch to use as template to cut out each piece of wood. I cut the template out redrew it onto card and traced around this onto each piece of wood for the frame. 

 

 

When this was complete I then needed to cut two 45 degree angles onto each end to create a mitre so each piece would slot together. As some pieces of wood were twisted, I needed to cut the twist out by applying pressure to different sides of the wood when cutting. 

 

 

I then joined them up to see if they would fit, marking each piece once I knew they did so i knew which sides would easily fit together.

 

 

 

After I knew it would join up, I began cutting out the curves into each piece. I did this by cutting out one curve on one side, taping it back together and then cutting out the curve on the other side using a band saw. 

Once all the pieces were cut out I needed to glue them together. I paired all the ones that went together and began by masking taping them together to make sure all the pieces would still go together. I then began glueing them together so the corners aligned.

Once it was all glued together some of the last pieces wouldn't fit so I needed to cut and sand away small sections of each side so that they slot into the remaining gaps. When the frame was whole I carved away the overlapping sections so that all the edges ran together smoothly. I finish by using two sanders to remove all marks from the frame created by the band saw.

Sculpture 1

When beginning to sculpt my sculpture I used my samples to help me decide what thickness I wanted the metal strips to be. I began using long, thin strips and used tweezers to hold them in place, I also did this for assorted sheets of metal.

I then repeated this with thicker strips of metal, which I felt looked better. I then experimented with the positioning. Once I had all the pieces in the places were I liked them I used the piece of equipment that soldered the strips together to hold them in place. As the pieces needed to be touching for this to work, I decided to create a frame to suspend the sculpture in as it did not look right with all the pieces touching one another.

Making the sphere

To create the sphere for my final piece I used a piece of wood that consisted of many sheets wood glued on top of each other, I then set this up in the lathe. Using a file I then slowly carved out a sphere  while it spun around. Once it was symmetrical all the way around, I used a smaller file to carve away each end of the wood leaving just the sphere. I also used different coarse grade sandpaper to smooth the sphere and create a neat finish. I then coated it in wax so it had a shiny finish. I am very happy with the sphere as for a first attempt it was more symmetrical than a factory bought one. I would have liked to make another bigger one to use for my final piece however, time constrained this so I used my sample piece.

Drawings.

In my sketchbook, as I am looking at horses through my primary research, I made a few observational drawings. I used graphite pencils to create both drawings. I prefer the second drawing to the first as it is more detailed, had more time spent on it and the first does not look the way I wanted it to. Also, i don't like the finished head on the second drawing as I feel its eye looks strange and the way I have shaded the head to look too wide.

Alcohol pens samples

Whist drawing my second design sheet I created an alcohol pen experimental page in my sketchbook.  I drew out the shapes I used on the sheet and used different shades of pens and layering to create the looks. I like the look it created for the wooden planks however for the spheres, it didn't give the effect I wanted to portray .

Design sheet 2.

For my second design sheet I focused on the materials I wanted to use. I photocopied my first design sheet and used these to show the design for my final piece. I then used coloured pencils to create the effect of wood and bark. I also used alcohol pens to create the effect of metal and wood, layering the ink to create the texture and reflections. I finished the piece with an image of my inspiration. I like the final look of this page however I don't like the look the alcohol pens made with the metal.

Design sheet 1

Using the sculpture mood board I began designing a sculpture where one material bends around another to represent imprinting in two species when one has been raised by another. The sphere will be made from wood and metal strips will be used to bend around it. Graphite pencils were used to create this page. I like this design page however the shaping isn't correct as the point of reflected light are all the same for each strip of metal. I also feel one side is too vape compared to the other.

Workshop samples.

In todays workshop we experimented with different materials and pieces of equipment to see if we could use any of the techniques in our final piece. 

I started by using a hot wire to cut shapes out of blue foam. One wire was bent into a circular shape to enable me to carve shapes out of the foam, while the other was one long piece of wire which allowed me to cut large chunks out and create a waved effect shown in the photograph.

I then used a strip heater to heat sections of a strip of plastic which then allowed me to bend the plastic into different shapes. I also did this by holding a heat gun over a section of the plastic to bend a larger surface area.

When experimenting with metal I used a guillotine to use different size strips of metal. I then pulled them through a roller which created the curved effect. To experiment with the tightness of the bend, I adjusted the rollers and the closeness they were to each other, the further apart they were the less curved the metal would be. I also cut larger sections which I could then bend and manipulate using another piece of equipment. I placed the sheet of metal under a bar, locking it in place. I then pulled a leaver which would bend certain areas of the metal.

Using the pieces I experimented with, I then soldered them together. I used a piece of equipment that would send a pulse of electricity through the metal and solder them together. 

For my final experimentation I placed a piece of plastic over a piece of metal I had previously experimented on. Then using a hairdryer I heated the plastic up enough so it began to mould around the metal. I did this to create the effect of one shape moulding around another for final piece.

Artist Research - Bruno Calalano.

For my second artist research page I looked at the sculptor Bruno Catalano as I want to create my final outcome in a sculpture. I like how he uses the landscape in his work by missing parts out of the body, replacing it with the sculptures setting. I think this creates a very creative and unique look.

For my research page I used fashion designers sketches of models and carved out items of their clothing. I then used images of various scenery, placing them behind the models so it also looks like their clothing is their setting. I like the outcome of this research page and my take on Catalano's work. I wouldn't change anything I have done on this page. 

 

Artist Research - Pablo Picasso.

For my first artist research page I studied Pablo Picasso and the way he portrays mother and child in his work. I found one photograph of a painting he created that I liked therefore tried to recreate. I liked the simplicity of the painting compared to other painting from other artists I found.

For the background I used a watercolour was to create the off white, however it came out more yellow than I was aiming for. I then sketched out the painting and traced over it in black ink. I like the outcome of this painting overall however some parts went wrong and I smudged some of the ink in the corner. 

 

Workshop.

For our first session in the workshop we began training on a lathe that can turn a block of wood into a cylinder. We started with a block of wood and shaved off the corners so they wouldn't catch of the files used to create the cylinder. We then attached the block onto the machine, which rotates the block at a high enough speed to be able to run a file along the block to chip away at the wood, eventually turning it into a cylinder. We also experimented with different files to carve out sections and round off edges. 

Sculpture mood board.

In my sketchbook I created a quick mood board using sculptures that have influenced and inspired my own designs. I looked at sculptures that were made from wood and metal and that twisted and bend itself as this was a main element I wanted in my design.

The real Mowgli.

I also researched the story of a young girl who lives in Africa with her parents. Growing up around different wild animals she developed a bond with them being named the real life Mowgli. I found a range of photographs taken by her parents and used them in my sketchbook.

 

Secondary research.

For this project I am taking it down the route of how humans can be raised by animals, (feral children) and how animals can be raised by people such as pets and reduced animals.

For my secondary research I studied four different stories of feral children. 

The first was from a girl who was raised by Capuchin monkeys in the jungle after being kidnapped and abandoned. 

The second was from a baby who was protected and nurtured by wild cats. 

The third was from two girls that were found living with a pack of wolves and the fourth was from a young boy that was found living with wild dogs after fleeing from alternative after being abandoned by his parents. 

For each page I noted each story and sketched each animal that had supposedly raised humans.