Should I incorporate metal into this piece?

[jhusel]

Ok, here is a figure that I have been working on but is not finished. I still need to work over the head and body a little so please don't be to quick to criticize. :)

So I am thinking about fabricating the 'dress' part of this figure with metal. I was going to age it a little bit with acid and then clear coat it. The dress part starts about at the waist, you can see it if you look closely. I apologize for the poor picture quality, but it is nasty and rainy here today and my pics aren't the best.

Let me know what you think.

http://jasonhuselton.homestead.com/files/figurea.jpg
http://jasonhuselton.homestead.com/files/figure3.jpg
http://jasonhuselton.homestead.com/files/figure2.jpg


Thanks

Jason

[max nelson]

Jason...this piece is SIMPLY ELEGANT! You do not say what material it is made from(plaster, cement?) You also state that it is unfinished. In my view, it looks like finished...if it were mine I don't believe I would touch it. I cannot see where adding anything to it would improve it, and may destroy the beautiful lines it has. Just my opinion. I had to laugh at your 'studio', thought it was a pic of mine when I first looked. Guess we are all half mechanic, half artist..huh?:D Thanks for posting. We're going to make a forum outta this yet.
Max

[Yielding]

I say go for it. Did you make any drawings that will give an idea of what it may look like?

I like the flow of the figure, very elegant. I think the addition of metal would give a nice reflective element to the sculpture. But you did say you wanted to age the metal, so this may not be what you are looking to achieve.

Are you thinking of creating a face or leaving it as is, I would keep the face blank as you have it, gives some mystery to the sculpture.

I think this will end up as a very nice piece. After looking at your other sculptures, this one has something the others do not, but can't put my finger on it right now.

[jhusel]

MAX - Thanks for the compliments. I have a whole 'On The Runway' Series that I am working on. This one, as most of my work, is carved from Indiana Limestone.

Yielding - I don't have any drawings for the metal. It would basically look just like that, just in hand formed metal. I think that the rusted metal, darkened with clear coat would really contrast it out nicely. Then I could bring it all together with the right metal/stone combination base.

All of my faces are faceless for the genderless look. Some of my figures are more feminine than others but I tend to do them as figures rather than by sex.

I have done a few pieces in combination of metal and stone, but more in small detail as opposed to a 'half in half'.

Thanks for the ideas!!

Jason

[wendee]

this is really beautiful...cant picture it with metal dress...I love the flow of the dress...:D :D

Question....LOL..is limestone the same as sandstone....and where do you get limestone from...I have always wanted to do this kind of sculpture...:D :D :D ..thanks for your help..:)

[diane555]

Jhusel

I have to go with Max on this thought...what u mean she's not finished????

It's fabulous the way it is! As for the metal, I think it might be nice, but only if you could do it with cut-outs so that the entire lower portion of this in not completely covered. For instance, I would not cover that beautiful pleated part showing in the first photo. I agree that pitted aged metal would give you a nice contrast. How big is she? Do you work exclusively with power tools or hand also? My shop used to look the same way...makes me miss all my old tools. Elegant is the best word I can come up with also. Can't wait to see the finsihed piece!

Di :clap:

[sandge]

I say go for it. I think the combination of textures could be really interesting plus if you don't might this be the piece that you always think, 'I wonder if I should have added metal?' :)

[jhusel]

Wendee - Thanks! Well Limestone isn't the same as sandstone. Sandstone is more yellow and isn't as smooth carving as the limestone. It tends to 'flake off' rather than carve.

Diane - I am glad you like it. I think it looks pretty good as well, but since it is my 4th stone figure in the series I feel that the metal would really set it apart from the rest. I am thinking about showing the limestone through the metal as you see in the first picture, but have another idea as well.

Sandra - I think you are right. I might get with it this weekend. I might form the metal and cut her at the waist. Then I could make the top half from wood and mount that to the limestone dress.

I'll keep you updated on my progress!!

Jason

[wendee]

thanks for answering my question jhusel...:D :D

[impetuous]

She's beautiful, has a very 1930's movie glamour kind of elegance about her. Cant imagine how you are going to incorporate metal into this, but am looking forward to seeing the result it gives!

[diane555]

Hi

Had to bring this girl back up to the top because she is so lovely and we are waiting for progress reports.......:) Can't wait to see what you are doing with this Jason.

Di :)

[jhusel]

Hey Diane. Well, I have been pretty busy lately and have a few commission pieces in the works SO I decided to go ahead and finish her on out like she is.

I did rework her a little bit - made the head a little smaller and in the second picture you can see my pencil marks on her back leg. I cut that down to the line and looks much better. As soon as I sand her down, polish and mount her, I will post new pics to this thread.

Thanks for the continued interest! :D

Jason

[max nelson]

SO I decided to go ahead and finish her on out like she is.

Jason..bravo!
Max