Mystic Embrace 2

[Frank Walsh]

I think I may have posted this painting sometime ago but I'm posting it again since I decided to do a clay sculpture of the same. If it comes out I will have it cast in bronze. The painting is going to be published as a L/E print so I'm hoping a bronze would make a good companion piece. This painting, sold long ago, has always called out to me to do a sculpture so I'm going to do it. This will be a work in progress and I have already cross posted on the sculpture forum. I'm hoping to get some good technical advise from the good folk there. At the same time I thought it might make for an interesting WP to follow, hopefully it won't be a failure.


Mystic Embrace, 30x18" acrylic on canvas. This is the painting I intend to model my sculpture.


Mock up sketches for armature planning. Right now I'm thinking of 3/8" or smaller pipe for the main frame and then use bailing wire for the finer areas. I'm looking at height of 12 to 15 inches.


Thanks
Frank

[mooz49]

Great .... a WIP from Frank! ..... that is one gorgeous painting Frank ....
I'm pulling up a chair for this one ..... can we have snacks and a few drinks? ....will Marty allow it?

[Marty C]

Of course!

I can't wait to see how this unfolds, Frank. The painting is just sensational, it has all the elements for a truly great sculpture.

[rkprod]

Breathtaking painting, Frank. The reflections are wonderful and the composition will certainly make a wonderful sculpture, but I think I would prefer the drama of the painting as bubbles and reflections would be very tough to reproduce in a sculpture. Excellent work!
Ron

[RobArtGlow]

Beautiful! Love the water reflections of light on the whales. Gorgeous.

[skappy]

Gorgeous great idea I love the light effects on the orcas
Robert

[Frank Walsh]

Thanks everyone, I'm glad you like the painting now lets see if I can do it justice with the sculpture. I'm getting started on the armature and will post some picts as soon as its ready. I'm hoping to be working with clay by tomorrow if all goes well.

Frank

[climber-man]

That's some exciting news Frank, I can't wait to see the result. I agree, that I can see a sculpture coming from this one right away. Will you try to keep ripples? Sheets of bubbles? Put them up out the water? What are your thoughts to translate some of the magic?

[Frank Walsh]

Brian, I wouldn't even know where to start to try and duplicate the bubbles, I'm having a hard enough time just trying make it look somewhat like the painting. What I'm hoping I can achieve is to replicate the movement and the intertwining of the Orcas and that is not going to be easy.

This is the armature I made using a combination of pipe fittings, copper tubing and bailing wire.


This shows how the 2nd whale will be attached. This will be adjusted as I progress since the whales will be touching but it gives me a perspective to work with.


I started blocking the in the clay and found I needed more support for the fluke area so I added some more bailing wire.


Its close to being blocked in, I just need to add some more clay. Once I have this done I will then start the second whale.

[mooz49]

Great to see the photographs of how you are doing this Frank ....it's taking shape ......

[Frank Walsh]

Working on some details with the mouth and left eye.


Right side starting to come together don't know what that white spot is,must be a speck on the lense.


Had to extend the armature to be able to work on the underside.


This has been a lot of fun so far but trying to relearn the tricks I picked up years ago has slowed me down. The expense associated with having something cast in bronze causes me to make sure I make it as simple as possible for the foundry to do the molding and casting.

Frank

[RobArtGlow]

Wow, this is very cool. Thanks for sharing the process.

[Marty C]

It's great to watch this evolve, Frank.

[Frank Walsh]

Sorry for taking so long on posting updates. What I'm learning from this experience is its best to have your armature exactly the way you want it. Making changes after you have spent numerous hours working on refining the sculpture only to tear into it is not what I had anticipated.

Using baling wire I roughed in the shape of what will be the right flipper.


I want the fluke (tail) on the Orca to be right. The way I had the armature was making it difficult shaping the fluke so I changed the armature. I used a plastic wire tie to assist in snugging the wires. It worked great.


I didn't want the usual lump of clay made to look like a rock or coral to support this sculpture. I decided to go with a base that will give a nice flow
and sweep to accentuate the spiral movement of the whales.

[birdhs]

The painting alone would have been enough to make my whole day, but the lesson in sculpture is a magnificent bonus... you just gained another fan!

Thanx 4 posting, this pleaseth our eye TWICE!