Virtual_Kas(Update)

Update on the virtual model-
Starting to fill in his features- I overlaid the drawing to compare where I need to update and change the sections - pretty much as I did with the clay sculpture.

Analog/Actual -Finished

Saturday afternoon 29_09_07 _ Yes!!!!
I have finished the clay bust- it is now drying in its cupboard. It was successful as an experiment on the analysis of the medium of clay - successful since I had never sculpted a bust in clay before.

Really liked working with the paper based clay (its a very forgiving clay for noobs)- Even though in the end the sculpt is no longer a portrait image of David- as I rushed the working in of his eyes and lost his key features and proportions in the process.
Doing this exercise has certainly given me a better understanding of working with clay- and I really enjoy working with it- except for the fact there is no Crtl+Z in the physical world and that have to keep the clay wet. though next time I will work a little more loosely and to larger scale -which to me is the more fun aspect of clay.


I had a great time making a mess- I will be making more soon.
Though I will be looking into using sculpty or some other equivalent in the next physical(From now on I will be using the term actual) sculpt.

Update_Analog_KAS

Analog Update Monday 24_09_07: From left to right- Busy reworking the back of the neck area as I was working in the clay a little to thin which resulted in me beginning to lose the supporting clay on the neck. So I reworked the base armature. Then went onto working in more detail such as adding the bulge of the eyes, reworking the ears and started on the hair detail

Update_Analog_KAS

Slowing moving out from the blocking stage- just one thing to mention- good thing I am not planning on firing the bust as I am sure there are loads of air bubbles.

I am now at the stage of reworking and removing bits of clay that I don't need from the bust, which still need loads of work but the paper based clay is a pleasure to work with. I have all the reference up - now just have to get it looking like him.
(easier said than done as one can see from the images below).

Above: Just realized where I am not putting the correct volumes of clay- as one can see from the un -overlayed version below.

After looking at the the photos I have put up I realise just how unsymmetrical my model is- I have also notice that the best way to get the volumes right (for me) its to close my eyes and feel the volumes of the face- which I obviously cannot do on the Mudbox version -an avantage- also its just great to feel the flesh of ones work so to speak.

Things I do miss from working in the virtual/digital- Control z, symmetry on tools, free camera rotate - that way I can work from any angle.....

Things I don't miss from digital - NO tactile aspects.....For me sculpture is not just about seeing its about touching feeling the piece.

Process : Digital_KAS

Process:
1 I'm using the pre-built ready made mesh "here is something I made earlier" method- so I start with a base mesh that I have used before in other Mudbox sketches.
2-3 Refinement of mesh, adding extra rows and rough blocking out of head shape.Rescaling and re-positioning of nose and ears.
4 Adding of eyes and completion of blocking out. (At this stage it doesn't look like the subject matter Dave)
5 The mesh exported as an .obj which is the subdivided in Mudbox ready for actual sculpting


Above: Additional reference image with simplified line work.

Space and Process : Analog_KAS

I have just to say thanks to Ian and Charles for arranging me the space at QUT - I love it its great to get a space where I can think and make a mess. I have started personalizing the space -even if I get kicked out in a couple of months or so I want to be inspired so I am gonna stick up pics up of whats out there.

Hell the space is bigger than the unit I live in- Fan-bloody -tastic!!!

Analog Process:
1- Tools: Basic students pottery kit, paper based clay as its seen as stupid proof, spray for wetting clay,wire for armatures, brushes and sponges for something.
2- Base Structure : made up from paper trash and coffee cup found in the studio, I also use a an bit of wire for support -all of which will be removed from the sculpt when dry.
3- Underlying support/armature :hopefully my clay slaps that I put over this will not collapse and crack
4-Beer and thoughts: Cheers to my neighbor

Now I just have to pull this baby off

Table sketches: Just some arbitrary sketches I did on the table.
I am doing the "hey I 'm an artist so I can!" thing...WOOT! - Cynicism aside I did feel comfortable in the space/place..so who knows I may get some things done after all.

Notes on exercise:_KAS

I will make the same artefact twice

Initial concepts: a bust of a person - David Kassan came to mid as I had promised to make a sculpture based on him. A sculpture referencing skeletal anatomy images of birds and predators. (Xeno biology?)

What do I want to analyse?

Which piece do I make first?

Process- Technique

In Mudbox (Virtual) and in Clay (Analog)

Process- Creative approach

Virtual- Ease of use and familiarity

Analog- tactile-ness of working with clay

Why am I doing this exercise- to find out in which medium I am more comfortable, what are the differences in the mediums.

Though in both cases the end result is a sculpture.

Documentation- Journalise my process through this blog- which will then be used as a basis of an essay for my “Approaches to Enquiry”. (2000 words)

Timeline
Journalise and create pieces up to week 2
Rough draft of essay submitted to supervisor’s week 3
Submit end of week 4 (Week 10- Wednesday 10October)

Subject matter for first study:_KAS

I will be finally getting around to doing what I said I would - creating a sculpture (bust) of David Kassan- who re-introduced me to the art of oil painting at a workshop that I did over here in Australia. (see my sketch blog for weekend info).
David is a New York based artist, more info on David here- http://davidkassan.com/

I will be creating
1X Virtual(mudbox) and 1XPhysical(clay).
The above image will be used as a basis of his sculpt, I will also be looking at his self portraits for inspiration/reference + couple of crappy sketches I did of him while on the workshop.

Till then.