I started out by making a form out of chicken wire then filling the whole thing with wadded up newspaper...this will help me shape it.
Then I cut a piece of styrofoam from a cooler box lid and fashioned a bottom for her...needed to do this to keep all the newspapers from falling out the bottom
The second day I finished the rough shape, added some breast using a couple of cheap paper mache bowls I bought some where. They were the perfect size "D" cup so I used wire to hold them in place until I could get the plaster on them. You can see the styrofoam bottom in this picture.
After all that was done I had time yet to work so added some plaster using linen scrim from an old curtain and some dry plaster of paris. I had planned to use Rigid Wrap as I usually do but decided to try making my own by using strips of the fabric and very wet plaster mixture. After a couple of trials I found the best way was to dip the moist fabric in the wet plaster and then treat it just as I would the Rigid Wrap. This is a very economical way to do it so glad I tried it.
March 3...Today I added more bulk to the bottom and some plaster to hollow spots..Tomorrow I think I am going to add a suggestion of arms to the figure before I start the concrete layer...otherwise it is ready for the first layer of concrete.
March 10th...Added one more layer of plaster to her today...filled in some of the hollow spots...one more day of plaster to smooth her out a tad and I will then start the concrete layers...
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| Unfinished bottom |
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| Finished bottom |
March 14th...turned her over and covered the bottom with concrete mixture to seal it.
March 21st...Looking good! Here is the bust covered with one layer of concrete. After applying I used a soft brush to go over the whole figure to smooth out some of the rough edges from the trowel. When it drys I will go over it again with a thin layer of thinset brushed on so I make sure to get all the little pin holes filled. Next step is painting it with a sealer made up of water and Elmer's glue
March 24th..The weather got damp and chilly so I moved everything into my garagio to be able to work each day regardless of weather...so finally on Tuesday I got the mosaic started.
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| Face |
March 25th...Today I finished the face
March 26th...Made good progress today...I have a few larger spaces to fill in but will do all of it at one time...easier that way.
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| Left side |
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| Right side |
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| Back |
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| Top |
March 27th...Finished a little more on her..it is slow going when I am not sure what I want to do but here is what happened today...Not exactly what I envisioned but it will have to be okay..to late to change it but I did learn a little more about cutting and fitting.
March 29 - April 4...I decided her front was pretty busy so making the rest of it less cluttered...Used river rocks on the bottom to denote bottom of ocean bed and added a few sea shells to fill in gaps and add interest...trying to make the water in waves but not having much luck at it...Need to be able to cut better plus I do not have a lot of white tiles to work with...also filled in some of the larger gaps with tiny rocks...I like the rocks on bottom...Hope I have them anchored good.
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| Finished front |
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| Decided I wanted a tree so broke a plate to make one going up her spine. It is The Tree Of Life and has a meadow of grass around it and below it with yellow flowers blooming throughout |
Plate I used for tree
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| Then I added an orange and yellow sunrise with the sun rising over a lake. |
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| Added the flower just for fun |
Here are photos of the last side with a mermaid added along with mountains and water..I also extended the sunset to the mermaid side..I think it is finished now and just needs the grout and sealer.
Here is my finished statue which has a new name thanks for a friend on FB...she is now called Pixelated Woman
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| Finished and sitting in place in the garden! |
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| My 'garagio' |
Very, very nice. Every aspect of Woman is a surprise every time I see it. I watched her grow and every step along the way surprised me. Now that she's there, she's a surprise everywhere. Congratulations. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tj...she has become a surprise to me as well...I am most pleased with her and hopefully tomorrow I will get the grout done or at part of it...I want to get her set up in the garden some place...
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