Sculpture development

5 April 2010

I have been hard at work in my studio developing the first ideas for the Totem pole from 2D to a 3D scale model.  I have been making it out of clay.  It is always a good idea to do this as seeing it in 3D helps me to visualise what the finished sculpture will look like.  It is much easier to do this from a 3D model than a flat piece of paper.  I have decided I wanted to make just one last minute change and have asked the scout leader for the images that I need. 

Once this is done I will post images so you can see the final idea.  Then it will just be a quick hop, skip and jump to get approval before launching into carving the Totem Pole for real.

14 April 2010

I made the changes to the clay mock-up today – so here they are!  Fingers crossed everyone likes it. Please let me know.

Totem Pole mock-up

 The following photos show, from the bottom to the top -

1.Hiking boots to represent the great outdoors

2. Paw print to represent awareness of wildlife & environemnt

3. St Andrews cross to represent 19th Prestwich

4. A Bear Cub to represent the Beavers, Cubs & Scouts

5. Scouting symbol to represent the scouting movement

6. 1949 – 2009 to represent the 50 years of scouting at the centre

7. Scarf

8. Scout sign to represent all the scouting ideals

 

21 April 2010

After discussions we have decided to make some changes to the Totem Pole design.  Below is the amended version with the Wolf cub at the top.  Hope you like it – I look forward to your reponses.

Totem Pole Amended Design

05 May 2010

Thankfully everyone liked the new design – so I was very happy with that. 

You’d think I would now be happily chiselling away and getting on with it.  But no! things are not going quite so smoothly at the moment.  The first set of tools I bought about a month ago – power chisels – proved not be compatible as the suppliers had stated.  so they were sent back. 

A couple of weeks ago I bought a set of hand chisels from a reputable company, started using them on a practice piece of wood while I awaited design approval from Judith, only to have the chisel tips bend and crack.  I sent those back and we now have to go through the whole process of them being sent back to the manufacturer for assessment before they will agree to give me a refund, or better still a replacement set of chisels. 

So, very annoyingly, we wait.  I spoke with the company today and he has promised to try to resolve it by the end of this week.  So hopefully I’ll be chiselling away next week – fingers crossed!!!!

17 June 2010

My 3rd set of hand chisels arrived today!  My fingers are firmly crossed that these will be fine and work can really start to ‘forge’ ahead.  Forging may have been the problem with the first 2 sets of chisels – so I await with bated breath to see how these superior quality chisels stand up to the job.

Thankfully the funders have granted us an extension, so I will be able to complete the sculpture in time for the new deadline.  I now aim to complete and install the Totem Pole before the Scouts return after their summer break.

Wish me luck!!