Yesterday, I thought I'd try something I haven't done in a long time.
While in primary school (Elementary), we had this practical class where we were asked to come with the following materials
The English name we were told the practical was called Moulding. At the the end of the practical we had replica of the plates or cups we brought to school made of paper.
Just not usable.
Then in Secondary (College), we started another form of moulding, but with Clay sand because it was sticky and would last stronger when dried. My objects used to be funny looking, I dared not try moulding a human else I'll be teased the whole semester. I stuck to making Cups, African pounding mortar, chairs and tables (they were still funny looking).
As we advanced in class and concern for superiority became the rave for some people, I was bullied in school and on one of those days my pile of funny looking creative collections were broken. So I took it as a challenge and went to learn sculpturing.
Everyday after school I'd stop by a sculptor's shade and watch him create something out of mere sand and cement. I was paying with the feeding money given to me by my mum, my parents weren't even aware I had taken extra lessons. Maybe, if they had known they would have supported me.
Who knows.
However, I never wanted to become a sculptor. I just wanted to prove a point.
And I did.
Well like they say "...the rest is history. " I wasn't so bullied anymore, I mean I had the best art collections that year. Why I dropped that craft, I know not but it was fun while it lasted.
Yesterday after 20years, I thought I'd try my hands sculpting again.
Today I'm sculpting the upper part of a male homosapien (Head). A bust if I may call it so.
My tools were simple
Choose the texture of sand you want to use, how you want the finished object to feel like.
Measure a sizeable amount of cement, just enough to make it solidly strong. That way it lasts longer and saves you the stress of furnace burning.
Mix both sand and cement together and the add little water and mix well.
Make a sphere shape, doesn't need to be perfectly spherical. We'll get it into shape later.
One characteristic of art is its fluidity. Not like banking or accounting where 1+1 must equal 2,in art we could start from point A aiming Point B but ending hitting L,M,N before coming back to B.
Art has no formula.
Using the thumb and index fingers(preferably) punch in the eye sockets and carve out its nose. Again it doesn't have to perfect at your first try, practice makes perfect, with time you'll get better
Next use the spoon to carve out under the shaped nose and chisel out the neck area. Try not to make it too slip, the neck would act also like the base for your craft.
From the chiseled out mortar(sand and cement) mould its ears, not to protruding just enough to get its own attention.
Next use the spoon to chisel out its eye lips
And his Hairline.
I added a chunk of mortar to it's head to form the hair.
Another chuck to get the eye lashes.
Let's see what your sculpture looks like
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