Friday, May 31, 2013

All ready for Gomboc Sculpture Survey

I had intended to write a little as work was in progress - but I have been so busy getting it all done
The opening is this Sunday, 2nd June 2013 - here's the link for more info:
http://www.gomboc-gallery.com.au/ 

For the last 4 weeks or so I have been very busy making work, I did start about 3 months ago but there's nothing like a deadline to have you pick up the pace. The completed work consists of over 150 pieces, it's funny, it looked like so much in the studio, but there's nothing like the scale of the great outdoors to make it all feel diminished

Finished the installation last Sunday - began on the Thursday, I was thinking it might take me 2 - 3 days for set up, but it ended up taking 4. It's always the way isn't it? these things always take much longer than you expect

Action shot of me placing work in the site at the end of day 2

Here's an image of the final work:

I think its quite tricky to capture a good photo when it comes to some 3D work and this is certainly true with this work
If you would like to see more images of the work close up and in progress here's the pinterest link: http://pinterest.com/oohollycourtney/gomboc-sculpture-survey-2013/

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Encaustic Glaze Application

 Around August last year, I was thinking I wonder if you could use wax as medium to apply glaze, instead of a resist. It got added to my "I'll have to try that sometime list"
It was serendipidious when, at Potober here in Perth WA last year, New Zealand artist Royce McGlashen demonstated making underglaze crayons. I thought "well now that I know wax works as a medium, I definitely have to give encaustic glaze application a try now"
It still took me till December last year to get on with it. All these have been done low temp, I am yet to attempt experimentation with high temp glaze.

This first one was heated and then applied with a brush, which results in a quite thick coat, and as you can see it resulted in an interesting melted effect. It was then refired with a satin glaze applied over the surface.
(it has to be done in two firings because the wax in the colour would act as resist on the surface) 



The following images are of works where the wax/glaze or wax/underglaze has been applied with heated tools; far easier to do on a flat surface, quite a bit trickier to get a good effect on a 3D surface, but early days of experimenting

 


 (This photo is courtesy of Cher Shackleton)


The following images are surface close ups:




I am very interested to know if there is anyone else out there experimenting with this technique, as far as I know I am the first 


Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Check out my pinterest

I've just finished loading up a whole lot of images of my artwork to pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/oohollycourtney/
Please take a lookie and let em know what you think.
Still have a lot from this year and last year to upload...
Getting there
But for now I must get back to work, far too little time until I need to get my work installed for Gomboc

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Hello again

Well it's been a very long time since I have posted.
I have been spend the last few years focussed on learning and developing my skills; and on making.
The unfortunate upshot of that is I have so many beautiful objects without a home so it's well overdue that I take the time to get online and talk about my work, ideas and techniques. 
It is my intent that from now on you will find at least 1 or 2 posts from a week telling all about what I am up to.