Critique, please-- bas relief in clay

[lunachele]

Hi, I would appreciate some feedback on this piece. Its a local landmark, The New Croton Dam.
http://www.bestweb.net/~mcpetitt/crtonbasrelief.gif<br clear=all>
I am thinking of making a mold and producing some copies for the local gift shop since it has very strong local interest. My husband says, don't be lazy, carve it again.... besides, the mold will come off of wet clay easier... What do you guys think?

Chele

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It is a huge danger to pretend that awful things do not happen. But you need enough hope to keep going. I am trying to make hope. Flowers grow out of darkness.
--Corita Kent

[frank]

Hi Chele,
It's hard to get the full effect of a 3d work on a miniturized 2d medium. I like the perspective, the coloring and the stone work. Is the piece glazed fired clay, what are the dimensions, what kind of mold material are you going to use and what material are you going to cast the replicas in?

[lunachele]

Hi, Frank. It is glazed low fire clay, about 7x9 by about 2 inches at its thickest. I was figuring on coating it with olive oil or somesuch, and making a plaster mold (Worked OK for me on a platter I did with a raised orchid design, but that one had no undercutting. I know I'd probably have to fill in the undercut areas- maybe with wax or wet clay, before I pour the plaster and then carve them out individually on each piece. Still, it would be alot less work...). I'd do the copies in the same type of clay.

Do you think the glazing works? I was thinking of just glazing the whole piece clear and then painting with acrylics, to get more color options and more subtle shading. At the last minute, on the original, I just decided to go for it with the glazes... I like how it came out, but I am primarily a painter, and it was frustrating to have such a limited palette.

This is going to be a long time in getting done, because while I have a kiln (an ancient L&L Econokiln, about 23" x18" interior), my house has only 50 amp electric service, and I am trying to scrape the money to upgrade.... I have been getting a few pieces fired by a friend, but she is swamped with a major commission, so I am on my own till I get my kiln hooked up. Trying to find a local class to take in the meantime, just so I can get stuff fired.)

I originally intended to do a larger piece. Something more like 11x14, or even 12x16, although I am concerned it might get too heavy to hang. What do you think?

Thanks for the feedback!

Chele

[frank]

I think the glaze looks good. Something you might consider is a flexible rubber mold and cast in resin. No kiln needed, light weight finished piece, paintable surface and the cast piece sets up in a short time so you can do several in a day. The downside is cost and working with some slightly nasty chemicals. Smooth-on is the only mfg I can think of off the top of my head, but there are several on the web if you search for casting or mold making. They have a lot of info also that might help you make up your mind about trying resin. Good luck.
Also, this thread doesn't get much traffic. for more input, put your image on the Critique board. You'll get all kinds of feedback.

[This message has been edited by frank (edited August 28, 2000).]

[lunachele]

Funny you should mention the latex & resin stuff. My husband is a crazy modeler, and he is working on making a kit of super detailed parts for the ejection seats on military jet models. He just told me he is gouing to order some of this stuff. Maybe I can get him to buy enough for both of us. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif
Thanks for the tip!

Good idea about the critique area, thanks. I will give that a try.

Chele

[arlene]

Hi Chele,
Another possibity is making the latex mold and then using paper clay or paper pulp to make the individual pieces. Very lightweight and easy to paint with acrylic, seal with polyurethane. Also, very lightweight...and unbreakable...a plus if selling.

[lunachele]

Thanks, Arlene! By the way, I LOVE your work. If I had any money, I'd be buying one of your pieces.

Hubby gave me the catalog he was ordering from, and I saw the paperclay stuff. As soon as I can scrape the money (I was very bad this month at the art store, which had a mega-sale, but I now have enough canvas and frames to last me 6 months...) I will be trying this stuff out.

I can hardly wait. I just did another, larger version of this piece, its about 12" X 14", and it came out even better than the first one. I can't wait to get it fired!

And today was a day of good news, because my gallery took a whole bunch of my ceramics on today, and the catalog for the local pottery class (cheap kiln access!) came today too. I am almost afraid to go outside tomorrow for fear lightning will strike to even things out a bit!

Chele