Well, just in case you have a hard time making out my artwork, it is a sculptor of a lamp. The first problem I encountered was trying to find out if I would make a better painter or sculptor. After choosing to become a sculptor, my next decision was what medium I was going to use. I finally decided on a large three wick candle. To help shape the wax I started by cutting the candle with a knife. Then with the help of my husband's workshop I used a dremel tool, which is a small sander like they use in nail salons. This whole process took a lot longer than I thought it would. I also used heat to help shape and smooth out the wax. It came out better than expected and I only had to use one candle. Michelle Taylor
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sculpture by Margie Clark


I could not decide what I should try and sculpt it had to be something simple not extravagant since I have no talent. I had a glass Rose
On my desk so I thought that could be my model. Next decision was what material I would use since there was so many restrictions. I chose
Balsam Wood because it is soft and easy to carve. I used 3 pieces before I got the product you see below. I bought a X-acto wood carving set since
I didn’t know what I would need. I tried almost every instrument inside the kit. I used ¼” & 3/16” carving chisel gouge for the top. I used
Whittling Blade for cutting away most of the wood and a carving blade.
Artist have a special talent with which they are born. I can visualize what I want to construct but cannot transfer that vision in to a work of art.
I took me many hours just to achieve what you see not bad I guess for my first sculpting effort.
On my desk so I thought that could be my model. Next decision was what material I would use since there was so many restrictions. I chose
Balsam Wood because it is soft and easy to carve. I used 3 pieces before I got the product you see below. I bought a X-acto wood carving set since
I didn’t know what I would need. I tried almost every instrument inside the kit. I used ¼” & 3/16” carving chisel gouge for the top. I used
Whittling Blade for cutting away most of the wood and a carving blade.
Artist have a special talent with which they are born. I can visualize what I want to construct but cannot transfer that vision in to a work of art.
I took me many hours just to achieve what you see not bad I guess for my first sculpting effort.
Leonardo by Kim Acosta
This was my fourth attempt in trying to use Leonardo's scientific method. I tried to draw a 3D linear perspective which I found very difficult. My eyes could see it, but my hands could not transpose it to paper. Even more difficult was trying to send a charcoal sketch over the internet. I placed several items on a table and used my fireplace as a background. The background is more abstract and fuzzy to create more depth. The 2 small candle holders were made of many small glass tiles that I tried to reflect the window light from the left side. Also, there was a window behind me that reflected my lighted image onto the objects. Obviously, I am not an artist and that is why you are unable to see my reflection. To create balance, I found myself adding more objects. -Kim Acosta
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Kittie Sculpture




This was a tough project for sure. I had never done any sculptures in my life outside of playing with playdough with the kids! The first project I did was all wrong as I discovered that I needed to use the subtractive style for carving. My husband pointed out to me that Michelangelo said that I needed to "free" the form from the material I was working with. I stared at that block of styrofoam for awhile and thought "well I can get a cat out of there." I don't own a cat but tried to keep in mind my daughters cat while I carved at it. I soon discovered that with the subtractive method, you can't put it back on if it falls off! Consequently, the cat was much larger in the beginning. The tail was originally longer too. The good part about it is that you can recognize it as a cat! The medium I was working with is also difficult as there were imperfections and irregularities in the block of styrofoam as I was working with it. Almost in the middle, I discovered a huge gouge or bubble. The little pieces of styrofoam would also crumble and not cut smoothly either. You also can not sand this material so it took some careful sculpting to round the edges. The Masters have nothing to worry about from me for sure. While I was working on this project I also thought about how difficult it must have been for them using stone. I wondered how many stones just crumbled half way through months of work. I have always enjoyed the beauty of sculptures. But now having attempted one on my own, my depth of appreciation goes far beyond my original appreciation.
Mitsi
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Caravaggio From the WebMuseum online
Caravaggio, Michelangelo Merisi da
Caravaggio (1573-1610). Probably the most revolutionary artist of his time, the Italian painter Caravaggio abandoned the rules that had guided a century of artists before him. They had idealized the human and religious experience.
He was born Michelangelo Merisi on Sept. 28, 1573, in Caravaggio, Italy. As an adult he would become known by the name of his birthplace. Orphaned at age 11, he was apprenticed to the painter Simone Peterzano of Milan for four years. At some time between 1588 and 1592, Caravaggio went to Rome and worked as an assistant to painters of lesser skill. About 1595 he began to sell his paintings through a dealer. The dealer brought Caravaggio to the attention of Cardinal Francesco del Monte.
Through the cardinal, Caravaggio was commissioned, at age 24, to paint for the church of San Luigi dei Francesi. In its Contarelli Chapel Caravaggio's realistic naturalism first fully appeared in three scenes he created of the life of St. Matthew. The works caused public outcry, however, because of their realistic and dramatic nature.
The Calling of Saint Matthew
The Inspiration of Saint Matthew 1602; Oil on canvas, 9' 8 1/2" x 6' 2 1/2"; Contarelli Chapel, Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Despite violent criticism, his reputation increased and Caravaggio began to be envied. He had many encounters with the law during his stay in Rome. He was imprisoned for several assaults and for killing an opponent after a disputed score in a game of court tennis. Caravaggio fled the city and kept moving between hiding places. He reached Naples, probably early in 1607, and painted there for a time, awaiting a pardon by the pope. Here there was a in his painting style. The dark and urgent nature of his paintings at this time must have reflected Caravaggio's desperate state of mind.
Early in 1608 Caravaggio went to Malta and was received as a celebrated artist. Fearful of pursuit, he continued to flee for two more years, but his paintings of this time were among the greatest of his career. After receiving a pardon from the pope, he was wrongfully arrested and imprisoned for two days. A boat that was to take him to Rome left without him, taking his belongings. Misfortune, exhaustion, and illness overtook him as he helplessly watched the boat depart. He collapsed on the beach and died a few days later on July 18, 1610.
David and Goliath undated; Oil on canvas; Prado, Madrid
Medusa after 1590; Oil on canvas mounted on wood; Uffizi
The Fortune Teller 1594-95; Canvas; Louvre
Bacchus c. 1597; Oil on canvas, 37 3/8 x 33 1/2 in; Uffizi, Florence
Judith Beheading Holofernes c. 1598; Oil on canvas, 56 3/4 x 76 3/4 in; Galleria Nazionale dell'Arte Antica, Rome
The Sacrifice of Isaac 1590-1610; Oil on canvas; Uffizi
Supper at Emmaus c. 1600-01; Oil on canvas, 54 3/4 x 76 3/4 in; National Gallery, London
The Crucifixion of Saint Peter 1600-01; Oil on canvas, 90 1/2 x 70 in; Cerasi Chapel, Santa Maria del Popola, Rome
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas 1601-02; Oil on canvas, 42 1/8 x 57 1/2 in; Neues Palais, Potsdam
The Deposition 1604; Pinacoteca Vaticana in Rome
The Death of the Virgin 1605-06; Oil on canvas; Louvre
© 19 Sep 2002, Nicolas Pioch - Top - Up - Info Thanks to the BMW Foundation, the WebMuseum mirrors, partners and contributors for their support.
Caravaggio (1573-1610). Probably the most revolutionary artist of his time, the Italian painter Caravaggio abandoned the rules that had guided a century of artists before him. They had idealized the human and religious experience.
He was born Michelangelo Merisi on Sept. 28, 1573, in Caravaggio, Italy. As an adult he would become known by the name of his birthplace. Orphaned at age 11, he was apprenticed to the painter Simone Peterzano of Milan for four years. At some time between 1588 and 1592, Caravaggio went to Rome and worked as an assistant to painters of lesser skill. About 1595 he began to sell his paintings through a dealer. The dealer brought Caravaggio to the attention of Cardinal Francesco del Monte.
Through the cardinal, Caravaggio was commissioned, at age 24, to paint for the church of San Luigi dei Francesi. In its Contarelli Chapel Caravaggio's realistic naturalism first fully appeared in three scenes he created of the life of St. Matthew. The works caused public outcry, however, because of their realistic and dramatic nature.
The Calling of Saint Matthew
The Inspiration of Saint Matthew 1602; Oil on canvas, 9' 8 1/2" x 6' 2 1/2"; Contarelli Chapel, Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Despite violent criticism, his reputation increased and Caravaggio began to be envied. He had many encounters with the law during his stay in Rome. He was imprisoned for several assaults and for killing an opponent after a disputed score in a game of court tennis. Caravaggio fled the city and kept moving between hiding places. He reached Naples, probably early in 1607, and painted there for a time, awaiting a pardon by the pope. Here there was a in his painting style. The dark and urgent nature of his paintings at this time must have reflected Caravaggio's desperate state of mind.
Early in 1608 Caravaggio went to Malta and was received as a celebrated artist. Fearful of pursuit, he continued to flee for two more years, but his paintings of this time were among the greatest of his career. After receiving a pardon from the pope, he was wrongfully arrested and imprisoned for two days. A boat that was to take him to Rome left without him, taking his belongings. Misfortune, exhaustion, and illness overtook him as he helplessly watched the boat depart. He collapsed on the beach and died a few days later on July 18, 1610.
David and Goliath undated; Oil on canvas; Prado, Madrid
Medusa after 1590; Oil on canvas mounted on wood; Uffizi
The Fortune Teller 1594-95; Canvas; Louvre
Bacchus c. 1597; Oil on canvas, 37 3/8 x 33 1/2 in; Uffizi, Florence
Judith Beheading Holofernes c. 1598; Oil on canvas, 56 3/4 x 76 3/4 in; Galleria Nazionale dell'Arte Antica, Rome
The Sacrifice of Isaac 1590-1610; Oil on canvas; Uffizi
Supper at Emmaus c. 1600-01; Oil on canvas, 54 3/4 x 76 3/4 in; National Gallery, London
The Crucifixion of Saint Peter 1600-01; Oil on canvas, 90 1/2 x 70 in; Cerasi Chapel, Santa Maria del Popola, Rome
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas 1601-02; Oil on canvas, 42 1/8 x 57 1/2 in; Neues Palais, Potsdam
The Deposition 1604; Pinacoteca Vaticana in Rome
The Death of the Virgin 1605-06; Oil on canvas; Louvre
© 19 Sep 2002, Nicolas Pioch - Top - Up - Info Thanks to the BMW Foundation, the WebMuseum mirrors, partners and contributors for their support.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)