Sunday, October 4, 2015

Sculptural Piece - Maybe Finished

I know I'm pretty crazy, but on nights like this, I'm glad I am.  I just returned from a long working weekend, and was really tired, but had to get my hands into clay for at least a little bit.  I ended up working on, and perhaps finishing, my sculptural piece, which I started a week ago :
Ceramic pottery sculptural bust of negro woman, in progress.
Ceramic pottery sculptural bust of negro woman, in progress.
Ceramic pottery sculptural bust of negro woman, in progress.
On Wednesday, I had thrown a piece which was to be the head.  I knew the base would be a bit heavy, and I wouldn't be able to trim it, so I threw it upside down, and formed a "neck" opening about the size to match the neck on the handmade coiled/pinched piece.  Then once it firmed up a bit, I trimmed it with a knife, and opened up the top, so I could get my hand inside, to work from both inside and outside.
Ceramic pottery sculptural bust of negro woman, in progress.
I knew the head would not be perfect, so planned that my beautiful lady would have flowing hair covering the imperfections.  Once I gave her the big lips, I realized that she was a negro, so I gave her a tight afro, by adding balls of clay and pressing them with a handmade stamp.
Ceramic pottery sculptural bust of negro woman, in progress.
Finally, I flattened a piece of clay and closed up the skull, and then let it firm up a bit before pressing the curls of hair to cover it.
Ceramic pottery sculptural bust of negro woman, in progress.
Then I added a lucky butterfly, for interest.  I thought I'd add a necklace and some other finishing touches, but I kind of like it the way it is.  She is a classy lady, but not too sophisticated, and not too perfect, just down to earth, and comfortable with herself.
Ceramic pottery sculptural bust of negro woman, in progress.
I added my signature stamp behind her right shoulder.  I think I am done.  I've covered her for now, to dry slowly, and will re-evaluate again tomorrow whether I need to add anything more, or just let her be.

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