Pregnant Woman

The mother and child piece was indeed a struggle but an enjoyable one. I have quickly moved on following the same theme to some extent. This carving is working quite well I think. The forms are necessarily bold as we have already discussed and I like the influence that this is having on my carving. Sometimes I think too much and end up drowning in doubt. I am anxious to plough on without delay as I am enjoying this little avenue of exploration.  The colour changes here are considerable and might interfere too much with the carving if the finish is highly polished. I shall have to see how it looks.

Drowning but waving

As I suspected this piece is completely out of control. I am floundering around; winging it. I remember one of the revelations of my 100 day series ( 100 carvings taking one day each) was the ability I found within myself to turn a bad idea round. Some ideas were frankly weak but as I was to exhibit each day I had to push on and try to make the best of every carving that was started. I feel I am in similar territory here and am quite enjoying the uncertainty of it all.

Out of my depth

I must have had a rush of blood to the head as I have started a mother and child. My neighbour gave birth yesterday and I think that news coupled with the horror happening in Tunisia made me turn towards this subject. Comfort sculpting. I have been aware all day that I am going to get into deep water here. Pushing around a torso is so simple in comparison. Still something interesting might happen. I am thinking of Romulus and Remus suckling from the she wolf as I look tonight. You probably can’t make much out yet. I am curious as to where this will lead..

Bouncing light

I could not resist putting a little wax on this at the end of the day (despite having promised not to). Difficult to see, but even harder to photograph. Outside, with light arriving from everywhere the forms almost disappear and it is only when the light is falling in this dramatic way that the forms stand out. I think that this material might be a good tonic for me as I sometimes feel my approach to be timid. Timidity with Onyx is clearly no good at all. You are forced to be bold.

Exaggeration forms

This has been interesting. I carved the figure and then pushed in all the hollows and areas that should be dark in order for the form to become visible. The breasts become rather pneumatic but I think it is beginning to work as a whole. I am reminded of Epstein’s Jacob which was also carved in an Onyx I think. His figuration was super bold there too, perhaps I now understand why. I threw a bucket of water on it and the surface became super shiny and probably what it could be polished up to if I tried to get the ultimate finish. I do not think I want that.