Tag Archives: Construction

Still in the Red

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Still in the Red

Open Day

Another New Studio

Still in the Red

the studio in a convex mirror

Quick, said the bird, find them, find them,
Round the corner. Through the first gate,
Into our first world, shall we follow
The deception of the thrush?

TS Eliot ‘Burnt Norton’ 

Despite my best efforts the concerns I had when developing the geranium project  remain central to my practice and I feel as if I’m in a dialogue with the inherent nostalgia evoked, in particular, through the Four Quartets 

The work I started and discussed in my last post led to me making the space to build a large sculpture based on the three trees maquettes I’ve been making. The sculpture must have spaces inside its mass that are inaccessible to adults because that’s the truth of the actual location (I am working alongside on a VR project that will express this better). In order to clear apples from the garden I need to get on my knees and that act immediately changes my relationship with the earth. I am attached more strongly to the ground, limited in my ability to move and given a different view of things. It’s this feeling I carry in to making and essentially try to replicate in the process. The object is the manner of its making.

Still in the Red

The build process

In this case that starts with an external armature to which I can attach shapes based on those that have grown. Each of the stages is followed by a Polycam scan of the sculpture at that stage.

Still in the Red

with the armature removed

When I’ve got the basic form I remove the armature and make sure the structure can stand.

Still in the Red

with the armature removed

This, if you like, is the outline, and I can then build on this to fill out the form I envisage.

Still in the Red

adding form

I used cartridge paper to do this and I’d normally make this more rigid with resin but my current studio arrangements don’t allow for this. It’s always worth noting that the material determines the quality of the form.

Still in the Red

adding form

The form, once complete can be painted and in this case it will be red.

Still in the Red

First coat of Red

The piece is about seven feet tall and will intially be painted using two shades of red. I’ve managed to put the first one on so far.

First coat of Red

I’ve found time to work on some of the drawings and my sketchbook, this is the third red garden drawing

Red Garden Three

Still not finished.

Open Day

You’ll have noticed this at the top of the page, try to visit if you can, the other two are really good!

New Start

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New Start

Another New Studio

After having Covid19 and therefore doing no work between the 2nd October and the 18th October, I found I’d reached the point where I didn’t know what I was going to do. Both the summer projects were finished and while I have a list of several things I’m interesting in doing I wasn’t really committed to any of them. So I wanted a New Start.

So on the 18th I went in to the studio with a view to experimenting with the Redfilm output 

I had two large boards ready for drawings and I decided to use these to make drawings to complement the films.

New Start

red garden underpainting

18/10/23

This drawing started as ‘red_garden’ and was taken through the underpainting using pastels with water through the day.

New Start

red garden ink layer

23/10/23

A week later I’d had delivery of some more Red media including Ink Blocks from Derwent [link] and the drawing was worked up as seen with the addition of some highlights using white charcoal, as seen below.

red garden 23102023

23/10/23

New Start

red garden two underpainting

18/10/23

The drawing above was begun as ‘red_garden_two’ and the underpainting was done with pastels and some very cheap pre mixed poster paint.

New Start

red garden two ink layer

23/10/23

Again I further worked up the drawing on the 23rd with the ink blocks and finally added highlights with white charcoal.

New Start

red garden two 23102023

23/10/23

New Start

red garden three

23/10/23

Also on the 23rd I started a 3rd drawing on an A4 board, ‘red_garden_three’ produced in the same way.

New Start

studio 23102023

23/10/23

I ended the 23rd with the studio looking like this and decided to change it when I came back as the mirror experiments with the film didn’t work.

New Studio

Studio from Window 25102023

25/10/23

So on the 25th I took down the projection room with a view to making a smaller one to view the edits in isolation.

New Start

Studio from Door 25102023

25/10/23

The day was finished with the studio looking like this and I discovered that Covid19 has left me completely knackered after what seems like not much work.

New Start

Red Sketchbook 19th October onwards

19/10/23 onwards

While this was going on I continued to work in my attic studio using stills selected from the films to develop ideas in my sketchbook as the starting point for new work going forward. Initially this was envisaged as two dimensional and Virtual work but very quickly grew into physical sculptural form.

New Start

Maquettes made from 20th October onwards

20/10/23 onwards

studio from door 30102023

After the 30th I’d finished the viewing room and made a space to build a large sculpture.

New Start

studio from window 30102023

I also did some further work on the red drawings.

red garden three 30102023

This is red garden three, the A1 drawing.

red garden two 30102023

This red garden two,

New Start

red garden 30102023

The Red drawings are not finishshed and I’ve started a large sculpture that will be featured in my next post, but that’s my new start.

Drawing

I’ve continued to draw every day;

The October drawings can be seen here

  • Draw Every Day – October 23
    Draw Every Day – October 23
    Draw Every Day - October 23 Continuing to draw every day, using sketching pens, japanese ...
    See photo »

…and the September images here

  • Draw Every Day – September 23
    Draw Every Day – September 23
    Draw Every Day - September 23 Continuing to draw every day, in a new sketchbook using ...
    See photo »

There is a link to the previous month’s Gallery on each page.

The drawings are posted to Threads and Instagram each day.

“Isn’t it supposed to be green?”

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“Isn’t it supposed to be green?”

NHS Barnsley

Lemniscate sculpture July 23rd – September 18th 2023.

On 23rd July 2023 the Barnsley Facilities Services office followed up on an email from 23rd January 2023 confirming that we were ready to proceed with manufacture as soon as we were paid. Their email stated that they thought the order had been raised earlier, said we would have it tomorrow and could we finish in time for Organ Donation Week which is 19th September 2023. I replied that “To answer your question, if I start now and everything goes well then yes, 18th September is achievable. I’ve got enough kit to start work on the build but I will need the money to buy the silicon and the resin within the next three weeks. I can’t start literally straight away as I’m away until Monday 31st.“

The last time I referred to this project, or illustrated it was in this blog post – ‘Gardens Project 12: First Post in Three Months’

building the lemniscate

29/07/23

This is a step by step guide to how it happened. I started earlier than I said as I had some materials. This is the first stage of the lemniscate on a wire frame wrapped in mesh and cotton scrim.

"Isn't it supposed to be green?"

progress

01/08/23

I continued to build up the layers to around 100mm girth and balance the shape, but pressures of time meant I couldn’t take the form apart and rebuild the parts that weren’t perfect. I had to build it as close as I could and then sand it back.

"Isn't it supposed to be green?"

finishing (somewhat earlier than ideal)

08/08/23

After a week of adding and sanding I’d reached this form and I had to accept that this was it for the master.

“Isn’t it supposed to be green?”

I am still trying to get in to the studio as often as possible

Beginning the mould making

16/08/23

So I coated it with release agent, and Vaseline eventually. I use clay walls and laid the plaster on to about 25mm thickness. I decided that if I made the mould as three sections around the circumference I’d avoid problems with removing it.

Turning the mould

17/08/23

The next day I turned the piece over and repeated the process with the second run of mouldings.

The finished mould

19/08/23

A couple of days later I applied the final layer.

marking up for removal

20/08/23

And after a day drying, nowhere near long enough, I marked up the mould and

“Isn’t it supposed to be green?”

back to the original

20/08/23

Took the sections off.

the numbered and marked sections

20/08/23

In the end there were 23 parts to the mould. If I’d been a bit braver I might have reduced this to an even dozen. Hindsight is marvellous.

fixing the mould together

26/08/23

So then I put the mould back together after the parts were vaselined for release. This was a pain as the markings disappeared as the mould wasn’t dry enough.

the assembled mould

27/08/23

But here is the hollow mould on the 27th August. I’m awaiting delivery of the resin I was able to order on the 25th when I got payment.

plastering the gaps

30/08/23

On the 30th the resin arrived, and extra plaster so I was able to finish the exterior to prevent leaks.

turning the mould

30/08/23

The mould had to be turned to facilitate this and the process took about 2.5 hrs.

ready for the pour

31/08/23

The lemniscate upended to allow for resin pouring. The pour was made in three parts, the first 15kg over around an hour when there were small leaks around some lower joints. Plaster of Paris was applied to seal these and the mould was left for 45 minutes to allow the resin to reach gel consistency. Then the next 20kg of resin was poured and the process with small leaks was repeated. After another hour, around 4:45 pm the last pour of about 10kg was made. A small amount of Plaster was again used to close a couple of small leaks.

the ‘workshop’

31/08/23

The “workshop” with the lemniscate covered and used resin containers in the background.

the mould is full

31/08/23

The hardened resin at the top of the mould at 8pm on the 31st August. The lemniscate is covered and the resin left to cure for five days.

“Isn’t it supposed to be green?”

building the plinth

02/09/23

Building the plinth

the top of the plinth

02/09/23

The plinth comes in two parts and the lemniscate will be secured by the two aluminium posts on the top. I have the feeling it’s too tall.

the broken original

02/09/23

The original lemniscate was being used as the test piece for the top of the plinth so I could place the holes to secure it. Unfortunately it broke into three pieces before I could test it.

fixing the original

03/09/23

Obviously I still needed to test the positioning of the lemniscate so I have to repair the original. This image shows two of the three pieces placed together ready to be fixed, you can see the connector piece on the left and just about see the break on the extreme left at about 10 o’clock.

cleaning the cracks

03/09/23

A close up view of the break on the left of the photograph above.

fastening the third break

03/09/23

The third piece of the broken lemniscate ready to be fastened. You can see the repair to the right hand side of this break that needed fixing before the whole piece was tied in.

the completed original

03/09/23

The three pieces tied together and left to set. I used plaster of plaster for these with a low water mix for strength and cotton scrim to bind it together. The picture is distorted as as I had to hold the camera above my head to get it all in even with the phone zoomed out as far it would go.

 

"Isn't it supposed to be green?"

releasing the cast

“Isn’t it supposed to be green?”

05/09/23

The lemniscate coming out of the mould. The mould failed in several places, you can see the spots of plaster stuck to the body at the top left and the mid right. Also the broken broken mould at top right.

While all this was going on I was also visiting the studio, just not as often as I would have liked.

the three pieces fressh from the destroyed mould

05/09/23

The lemniscate almost fully released and in three pieces with very large cast marks where the mould failed to match accurately.

plaster cleaned off

05/09/23

The three pieces of the lemniscate after a first wash. The breaks are pretty much face to face, there are no air gaps, so I should be able to fit the pieces together and fix with epoxy.

grinding the three sections

06/09/23

The cast marks were ground off the separate pieces while I worked out what to do to tie them together.

fixing the breaks

07/09/23

The fixing process for the three pieces, metal rods are drilled into the sections fixed with clear epoxy.

"Isn't it supposed to be green?"

the assembled cast

07/09/23

The three sections fixed together, the epoxy will cure overnight and the piece should be ready for polishing.

cleaned, and a first polish

08/09/23

The lemniscate after a first polish and the removal of the excess rebar.

“Isn’t it supposed to be green?”

the workshop – the aftermath

08/09/23

The aftermath in the working space as I move back closer to the house.

"Isn't it supposed to be green?"

the reduced plinth

09/09/23

The plinth with the lighting solution being installed.

“Isn’t it supposed to be green?”

09/09/23

“Isn’t it supposed to be green?”

This is why I really don’t like commissions, there is a apparently a requirement for the piece to be green as this is integral to the original design. I had no idea that this was the case and found out on Friday, the 8th September, so now it will be green. It will be a bit more of a sap green than the viridian above.

"It's supposed be green isn't it?"

sanding and polishing as much as possible in the limited time available

11/09/23

Sanding the piece as smooth as possible in the limited time available.

"Isn't it supposed to be green?"

Green

11/09/23

Now, it is green, having searched through six year old emails I found the relevant design sheet.

Victoria Hardman’s design sheet

11/09/23

I have a note somewhere about displaying the figure of eight horizontally so people would recognize it as infinity, but it just hadn’t registered that ‘green’ was referring to the colour and the eco credentials.

Isn't it supposed to be green

plinth with original top

12/09/23

The final part of the project was to fix the plinth so that light shines up onto the lemniscate.

Interestingly the support tubes on the plinth above are 540mm apart.

cured lemniscate

12/09/23

The posts fixed to the lemniscate here are 530mm apart. The resin continues to cure and the piece has contracted by 10mm over the past week. So this meant I needed to make a new top for the plinth.

"Isn't it supposed to be green?"

Organ Donation Memorial for NHS Barnsley

12/09/23

This is the final piece with the new top and lights fitted, all that remained was for the lemniscate to be given a coat of lacquer to seal the colour.