Mt Zero Art Camp

Mt Zero Art Camp, that's what I'm calling it. As with all good things, they don't last long enough. With a trip to and from, it's really only three days of intensive drawing.

Mt Zero is at the top end of the Grampians, turnoff from Dadswells Bridge. The cabins were basic but comfortable. There were five of us with an extra in the tent out back who shared our facilities. So with good company and plenty of food! we were well catered for.

For three days the routine was to rise fairly early in the morning, breakfast and then head off to the site where we would spend the morning, lunch, then off again in the afternoon.

There would be an art gallery showing each evening and it was wonderful to see all the work, analyse your own and decide what to do the next day.

This was broken with a day at the Mt Zero Olive Farm with a lovely hearty lunch with a glass of wine.

On the last day we also did some sculptural work. I made a small, intimate piece which I don't have a good photo for. So you'll have to just imagine from my photo. I was actually quite pleased but you can't quite tell why?

Nearly sculpture

How fast has this year shot by. This is my last week of classes, then I have a week to finish the work and then everything has to be handed in on the 9th November.


Monday was my last sculpture class for the year. None of them are finished, but I'm happy with the progress and will be able to finish them on time.


Here they are, in their current state:

There's the plaster sculpture,

the bronze,
















and finally, the free choice piece. This is knit copper wire. I'll be doing about 6 or so and need to figure out how to finish them off.

Pouring bronze

I was going to blog about Blogtoberfest and friends, but today was so exciting that will have to hold over till tomorrow.

For the past few weeks in my sculpture class we've been working on creating a small wax model in order to cast a bronze statue. Well today was the day we got to travel out to the foundry and watch the pouring.

Creating a bronze sculpture seems exciting enough, however, the process of pouring was something else. Richard, our wonderful teacher, had already taken our wax models to the foundry where they create a ceramic mould around the wax and then heat it up and pour out the wax.

We travelled on the train and bus to Fundere in West Footscray where they were just finishing cleaning up the moulds. We waited as they heated up the bronze to an amazing temperature which produced the most irredescent green flame, cleaned up the bronze (leftover bronze is recycled) and poured the bronze which had a consistency of watery liquid. I'm sorry I don't have pictures but it quite blew me away, that you could heat bronze to that extent.

Left to cool, they then water blasted the ceramic off and cut off the base (the bit that is reused) and we went home with our, yet to be cleaned up sculptures.


And, here is mine.

City Library

I'm so far behind in my posts, so much to tell you, so little time! However, I thought I'd let you know that my sculpture 'Windfall' can be seen at the City Library in Flinders Lane.

Richard, my sculpture teacher has been putting various student works on display and this week He chose mine.

It's always an interesting process seeing your work in a public place. I always want to stay there for the entire time and see what peoples reactions are. It's probably why I like having a market stall, getting direct reactions. I don't like phones for the same reason, you can't see people on a phone.

Anyway, if you're in the area, have a look, tell me what you think!

Review week

My blogging life has slowed to a trickle, changes in routines and competition for computer time (I compete with THREE males for access) have been responsible for this situation. With Review week over and a two and a half week break before I start my next semester studies, I'm hoping to re-organise (read tidy-up/clean-up) to enable more regular blogging.

As I mentioned, this week is Review week. We each bring in our folio of work and talk to a group of four teachers, two of mine and two of the other wonderful teachers, and they 'review' the work and talk over with you, the first six months. There is no 'mark' as such, but you do need to have done work.

My main problem was the amount of work I hadn't finished. I seem to be working, but not finishing. I was concerned, however, none of the teachers were. They liked what I was doing and saw the amount of work I had put into what had been done so far. It was a lovely session and very affirming. I've been feeling good for a little while now about what I'm doing, yes successful markets and positive teachers does wonders for the self esteem.

So I thought I'd show you some of my work.

I have three subjects where folio work is important: drawing, sculpture and painting, each has a wonderful teacher and in the case of painting, two teachers. They are all amazing artists in their own right and we all feel very privileged.

Drawing has provided real solid progress. I hadn't expected this, as I've done drawing over the years and approached it from the practice point of view, I hadn't really expected to learn so much so early. I've included the last picture for the semester and it represents alot. It's in colour, something I've always had difficulty working with. I was happy with the result at the end of the class, and I was shown and understood how I could have improved it further. Such alot!

Sculpture was really what I started this course for. I wanted to understand the process and learn techniques that would be useful. We had to do, in the end four sculptures: a cardboard mockup, which we would translate into a wooden structure, a found object sculpture and we also carved into polystyrene.

None of these were finished. However, I am very pleased at their progress and they will be completed both over the next two weeks and early in next semester. Saving time at home to do work is going to be important for this subject.

My found objects, eventually, all came out of the workshop, those odd knitting needles, empty cotton spools, that for some reason I'd kept?, and all those swatches that I've done over the years provided a wealth of colour. See, all you doubting Thomas' swatching is useful!

I'm calling the piece 'Landscape'.

My polystyrene wall piece is from the drawing I did as a result of my visit to the Yayoi Kasuma exhibition in Sydney. This has been such fun carving into polystyrene and the piece I felt that I knew where I was going. Further sanding and painting is required.

Photographing the work has also provided a really good idea about the finish. I want to paint it show varying tones of grey to highlight the height changes. With the sun on the work, it really shows the possibilities. It has no name, yet. (Suggestions welcome)

The last work is my painting. I have struggled with painting. This is the first time I've used oils and my first canvas. To say I was happy is almost an understatement. I called it 'Thursday Afternoon' (thanks to Aileen and Dina - I'm not really good at names) as it is the view out of the 6th floor window. It was my 'landscape' for the first year exhibition and drew lovely comments from many.

These pieces represent a major leap for me, To be able to show them and to think they represent the first six months of four years means alot.

All the inspiration I can give is for everyone to follow their dream whatever the challenges and barriers, it can be an amazing journey.

Knitting on the train

The first few months of this year have been hectic as I try to incorporate my new studies into my already busy schedule. Having made it to Term 2 in one piece I feel a bit more in control of the schedule. The house is still a mess, there is way too much 'just in time' management and I'm still not drawing enough. (Drawing the foundation for everything!) But, hey....



Mondays are sculpture class. This is what I wanted to do the most. The teacher is terrific and is busy teaching us the tools of the trade. We've done a cardboard mock up of a sculpture we're turning into a finished wooden sculpture. I've learnt to use a jigsaw and am currently trying to figure out how to cover wood in plastic!


As I've mentioned before, one of the benefits of going into the city is knitting on the train. Yesterday was some fingerless mittens knit from some dyed yarn from First Editions. (That stop is Euroa is really dangerous!) I wanted a stitch that would show off the small dots of colour and thought that some sort of slip stitch effect would be good.

What I came up with (I'm sure there's a stitch in a dictionary somewhere, but I was in the train!) was to yrn twice on every second stitch and slip that on the return purl row. Then alternate that.
As I knit it on the train it unfolded and was lovely and I was happy!.

Today, I off to SnB Rosanna, just a quick trip as I'm off to Ivanhoe Library to give a talk to their Creative Craft group. So if you're in Ivanhoe from 11-12pm, come and see me.

Sculpture everywhere

Today is the first day of classes and the first class, this afternoon, is SCULPTURE. An introductory day, according to the very detailed course handbook, this class is 'Presentation of the history of sculpture and it's relationship with contemporary artists working with sculpture. Introduction to set project: cardboard sculptural form. OHS issue in a sculpture studio will be discussed.'

Lots there for me to think about. I also need to keep a Visual Art Journal, and if I'm going to take full advantage of the course, then I need to be putting something (drawing) everyday. I'm trying.....

Sculpture is obviously an important part of my work, it crops up all the time. This weekend I've been working on my entry for the Old England Outdoor Sculpture award, which I've entered four times, the first time I managed to win. This time I'm hoping to make a much better entry and have severely dented this by not having a clue what I was going to do and only having three weeks in which to do it.

I continue to work on totem poles, a metaphor that seems to resonate. This is the first large scale totem pole and will prototype the process. I machine knit a flat piece of fabric with 'eye holes' in it. Sew into a tube and using Paverpol, make it suitable, ie stiff and waterproof, for an outdoor sculpture.

The holes will be covered with 'eyes' that I'm hoping to crochet. I don't know how many I want to make so will start with 8 and maybe some fallen and broken totems.

I have no idea how they are going to stand up. That will be part of the prototyping process, and I'm hoping to be able to do some sanding to give some a more weathered look.

Meet some rocks

Kandy




I thought you might like to meet some new friends. I've finished four out of the six. The other two are nearly done. I'm very happy with them and seeing them again this morning did make me smile. I hope it does that for others. They will look cute on the stall on Saturday night.

Trent

Tomorrow is a busy day. Boys tennis, the Black and Coloured Sheepbreeders Association are coming to the Handweavers and Spinners guild to sell their wares. And I have to go to Twilight Sounds at Sills Bend for the market.

Kylie

Sunday will be equally nice with a visit to the Immigration Museum to see the Masks of China exhibition. I will miss youngest son in a rock band, but hubby will be there camera in hand.

Heather

Just go crazy

When in doubt just go out left-field way. I've had this idea about wrapping rocks for awhile, but was going to do it on a big scale for the Sculpture Award, as that won't be happening till next year, I'll just do a little practice now.

Each of the rocks has a name and its' own scarf. They'll sit on a covered seat, much more comfortable than bare wood.

I'll sit them on the stall and at least people can have a bit of a laugh.

And here is a picture of the said stall, as taken by a friend on Sunday's market. It's a bit dark, and I haven't quite decided what it all says about the presentation. More thinking required.

'Bonanza'

I finished and delivered my sculpture. I was pretty happy with it, and as it happened, I didn't need a plinth!

The opening is on Saturday and I'll be there, at least for a little while. I've volunteered to sit the exhibition on the 5th December.

Now, I'm wondering what to do next!

Details:

'Bonanza' - CSA members exhibition

Yarra Sculpture Gallery,

Vere St. Collingwood

24th November - 9th December

Knitters' Block

I've really started my latest sculpture. I'm now officially in desperation mode as it has to be finished by Tuesday, when it goes into the Contemporary Sculptor Association members exhibition - 'Bonanza'.

As you can see I've made the blocks and covered most of them with knitting. This part will be finished. I do now need to find a base to stand it on and I need a plinth, which I think I can borrow.

Today is 3D5S and we're making pasta. Am looking forward to this. I'll share photos!

Sculpture start

I haven't any pictures for today, I didn't think small blocks of stain wood (Rosewood stain on pine) was really interesting. But I've started 'Knitter's block'! Hooray, about time. Varnishing will start today.

I've also knitted my first 'necklet', I'll finish it off first before photographing it.

Slow day yesterday, might just be a slow week, after the effort of the last four weeks.