Photographing my sculptures

I haven’t been doing sculpture for very long, a few months, but I’m really enjoying the creative process. It all started when I was visiting my young nephew who had some DAS clay that we both played with for an afternoon. The bug had bitten. Next stop more DAS clay on a lazy holiday on Mull with friends, three of us in the group had a go.

Then I noticed a 3-day portrait sculpture course was taking place with Andrian Melka just south of York. I took the plunge and nervously applied thinking I would be way out of my depth. However, both the participants (more experienced than me) and the tutor were great so I learnt loads.

A ceramicist friend, Sarah Cawthray, kindly put me in touch with a highly experienced York-based sculptor, Vincent Lyles, who I’m looking forward to meeting next month. He’s aleady pointed me in the direction of sculptors who I’d never heard of – Adolfo Wildt, Rudolf Belling and Medardo Rosso. The latter made photographs of many of his sculptures (this sadly contributed to his early death but that’s another story!)

Rosso’s photographs lead me this morning to pick up my camera (been a while) and make some images of my little group of sculptures. Just to see what happens really.

So here’s a selection:

Nothing like this to spot errors – that left nostril for instance! Never mind. Setting my aperture at 1.4 on my 85mm lens allows for plenty of drop off. This sort of reflected Rosso’s methodology where he only detailed a small part of his sculptures – the viewers fleeting impression (vision of a moment) – seeing just a small part of the face with the rest a blur. Of course he created sculptures like that and I’m just emulating it somewhat with my camera but plenty of food for thought.

Rosso apparently was very directive to viewers of his sculptures, where they should stand to get that moment – he didn’t subscribe to sculptures as 360 degree objects to be walked around.

Here’s some more images:

Red filter light.

This is my favourite. I like the angle, with the focus on the nose and eyes.

This is the portrait I did on Andrian’s course, lighting him as I would do with a real human portrait for plenty of shadow. On the course we learnt how to measure the model to help create an authentic, life-like bust. My hunch is that I don’t have the temperament and ability to persevere along these lines but will aim for more impressionistic work but it’s early days – we’ll see.

This and the following were inspired by looking at the work of Alberto Giacometti.

And finally, a couple of quick creations.

So interesting to see these as images.

Much to learn. Really grateful to Vincent for pointing me in the direction of these greats as I bumble along on my own personal creative journey.

It’s been a fun morning as the November rain lashes down.