Weeks:
Studio Documentation
Week 7 (8th - 12th Nov)
Plaster layer on Polystyrene Sculpture
I decide to add plaster to my polystyrene sculpture, continuing my experimental use of plaster. This is the first time I'm creating a large-scale sculpture piece, which is a challenge.
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I found out that plaster doesn't stick to smooth surfaces. Adding the plaster the first time without anything kit dried, cracked and fell off the polystyrene. I sought advice from a tutor and got recommended to add hessian fabric.
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I dipped hessian into the plaster mix to coat it and placed it onto the sculpture, manipulating it to hug the polystyrene shape.
The first layer. Adding the hessian covered in plaster onto the polystyrene. The dried hessian covered in plasters created little ridges to which another layer of plaster would stick.
This set of pictures after the second layer of plaster without hessian. The aim was to try and cover up the hessian. I learnt from the second layer that plaster dries very quickly, so you can use the plaster in small amounts more effectively.
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The frame that hangs from the side started to sag from the weight of the plaster. I guessed that this would happen, and I found the effect very interesting as it made the form less geometric, which I am trying to go for. I can soften the geometric form with the plaster without taking away anything from the original shape.
These are the pictures from the third layer of plaster. I liked that the plaster weighted the frame creating a droopy effect at this point of the process, instead of just adding a layer to hide the hessian then smoothing the plaster, which will make the sculpture stronger but keep the same shape before. I will make the shape softer by manipulating plaster by relying more on gravity to fall. Not to worry too much about creating a smooth, clean finish.
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To create the gluppy texture, I treated my hand like a funnel, scooping the plaster and letting the plaster drop at a specific area. I used this technique throughout the rest of the sculpture and its plaster layers.
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These pictures are the fourth and final layer of plaster. In some areas of the sculpture, I took single pieces of hessian with plaster to create the illusion of thread falling which added to the droopy effect.
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I noticed that the sculpture looks like it's melting from afar, and I like how it turned out. I enjoy the way it looks from afar but also, when you look closer at the piece; you can see all the texture. I found it interesting that I made a sculptured look as if it's melting when I was turning my polystyrene into a solid sculpture.
Adding colour - Sculpture
I added water to the acrylic paint to thin out the paint. When the colour is poured, it acts like a liquid where gravity will bring the colour down.
I think that doing this will further emphasise the droopiness of the sculpture.
When poured, the paint naturally forms a paint direction, making the sculpture look like it's melting—giving a solid sculpture the illusion of turning into a liquid.
First, pour of colour.
I added a second colour as I wanted to create a cover layer that it very thin and watered down. Similar to my mini sculpture experiments.
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Second pour of colour.
Close up pictures
The second pour of paint wasn't thin enough for my liking; it overpowered the orange. I poured half of my mixture onto the sculpture then added more water to the left mixture. The second mixture created too much, so I poured in areas that needed more colour. I used a damp flat brush to brush light washes of blue to create different shades which emphasise the sculpture's texture.
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Overall I wouldn't say I like how this sculpture looks with colour from a distance. I preferred it when it was all white and uncoloured, and I think keeping it in colour makes it look polished. On the other hand, I felt the colours brought out textures that couldn't be seen before, which can be seen up close. You can see those textures from the close-up photographs. I didn't expect the colours to react this way as I made one mixture too thick.