Update

It's week 8 of a 10 week session at the Gage Academy and I'm starting to get nervous about completing my sculpture before our time is up as she still lacks hands, proper feet and many details. Still, I was happy to  have made a small breakthrough this evening on improving the flow through the "stand leg". It was very straight and lacked rhythm, but after inverting the thigh slightly and pressing out the calf in the opposite direction it looks much better! Here are a few cell phone photos. Stay tuned for better images next week.

Foundry Open House

"Pugilist" with original seams from reassembly

"Brian" and "Pugilist" with work by other artists

"Brian" and Mike who will be doing the metal chasing

"Brian", "Pugilist" and work in progress by other artists

Two Ravens Studio had an open house today. It was my first opportunity to see the bronze castings of "Brian" and "Pugilist Hoagie". There is still a lot of work to be done and you can see metal chaser extraordinaire Mike in the background of one of the photos. He will be working on removing all of the seam lines from where the castings were welded back together.  It's a huge job requiring a great deal of technical and artistic expertise.

Work in Progress

I just started a new piece at the Gage Academy reserved sculpture sessions. The pose has great flow, which makes it a lot of fun to sculpt!

Bronze of Alexis is Complete

Here are a few images of the completed bronze figure of Alexis. Enjoy!

In Which Alecia's Sculptures Explode in the Kiln

Sadly, a sculpture recently self destructed in the kiln taking another one along with it. The process of restoration seemed like something interesting to post. The first stage was to glue the pieces back together and patch the holes. Next, I'll give each sculpture a uniform patina - probably faux bronze, but your suggestions are welcome. One of the wonderful things about sculpture is that almost anything can be repaired!

Gage Academy Awards

I am feeling incredibly honored this evening after Yma won 2nd place at the 18th annual Gage Academy Awards juried by Seattle Art Museum director Derrick Cartwright. Thanks to everyone who came for their kind comments and feedback! The exhibition will be up through July 30 for those interested in checking it out. There is a lot of amazing work to be seen!

Update

It's been a while since I posted, so there's a fair amount of news: The bronze of Zoey is complete, the reclining figure of Hoagie was successfully fired (thanks to Geraldine for painting the areas I had to touch up!) and a new standing male figure of Hoagie is progressing. The photos above were taken at 20 hours.

Lastly, I was able to check out the wax pattern for Alexis yesterday and she is headed down to Portland for casting today.

Alexis is delivered for casting

It was another beautiful Sunday afternoon at Two Ravens Studio. I worked worked with Mike to patina "Zoey" and Delivered my latest piece "Alexis" for casting. Here is a preview of Alexis in the original clay. She will be resting her left hand on a staff, but that will be added at the end.

Two Ravens Studio in the Newpsaper!

Congratulations to Ed, Mike and Katrina for the profile in the Tacoma News Tribune. And you can see the bronze (in progress) of Zoey in the background of the photo!

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/09/1141079/artists-sculpt-a-business-plan.html

Something from last year

Here are a few images of a terracotta sculpture I did last year. I'm currently working on finishing it up so that it can be fired.

Zoey Wax Pattern

I spent a beautiful Sunday afternoon down in Lakewood at Two Raven Studio. The wax pattern is now finished and ready to be cast. It's in two halves so that the bronze will be hollow; after the metal is cast, the sculpture will be reassembled. The investment and casting will probably take place in Portland, but we may try out a small new foundry in Kent..

Zoey's ready for her mold

At last, another sculpture is ready for casting! Unfortunately, the Foundry in Tacoma has closed, but Ed, their master mold-maker is still taking in projects. He'll make the mold and then contract out the casting to a foundry in Portland and coordinate the chasing, patina etc. I'm delivering "Zoey" to him tomorrow. Here are a few images.

Update

Here are some new images of the reclining male figure that I posted earlier. He's almost ready to fire, but first I need to finish the hands, feet, ears and hollow him out.