I’ve been busy finding 1930s era attire. So far I have found a jacket and now I am just looking for some shoes.
The vest is going to have to be made since I can’t find any vests that start so high up on the chest.
It has been an interesting experience going back in time – back in time looking at Men’s Fashion!!
Details of Lonsdale’s Shoes
Here are a few pictures showing the progress I’ve made in the last few days.
I’ve gone from measuring my models to building an armature (5/16 scale) and adding clay. I’m just at the very beginning stages of things taking shape.
The armature of the dog after a few changes. I started putting clay on and found out my armature had to be modified to take the weight of the clay…. so the clay you see piled on the right was pulled off his back so I could make those changes. It is NEVER to late to hack at it and get down to the armature and fix things since you will only be paying for it later!
(I did a little neck adjustment last night – armature was too close to the surface so that is why his head looks funny. It certainly never hurts to have something to do first thing the next day)
Just some quick pictures of where I am at in the sculpting process this beautiful Friday morning. It is about time we started out with a sunny morning! The hasn’t been the best of summers here in the Northwest this year so I am soaking it up. I have all my doors open and it is beautiful!
Odin is the model for the C.W. Lonsdale Commission. Odin represents many of the German Shepherds Lonsdale had over the years and has a beautiful head! Lonsdale typically had two dogs (male & a female) through out his life time. The dogs sat with him in his office as headmaster or followed behind him as he oversaw the comings and goings of Shawnigan Lake School. The reason I chose to do just one dog instead of two is I feel that by adding another dog, it would over power the sculpture (as seen in photo below). The focus needs to remain on Lonsdale, the founder, who managed to start a boarding school in 1916 in a remote area of B.C. Canada (Vancouver Island) and now it is a thriving school of 400 students! What an amazing accomplishment!
SLS Archives
Two of Lonsdale’s Dogs – Taken Circa 1948 – SLS Archives
Odin is well trained and did a fabulous job sitting for ‘cheese’! I managed to measure his ears, paws, snout, etc…
He will be a great model for the sculpture!
Here are just some quick sketches on paper and in clay. I’ve just been trying to getting ideas out of my head and into some coherent form. They are rough but I am finding direction as I play with gesture and placement.
You can see some of the armature sticking out. That dog is going to add a lot of character and interest to the piece
Dimensions : 9.5 x 5 x 5″
Charcoal sketch on paper.
I’m now ready to bring the dog in my studio and start measuring him. I went to meet him today (Odin). He is owned by a lovely family in Port Orchard and I think we will be a perfect model as one of Lonsdale’s dogs.
New Sculpture Commission of C.W. Lonsdale – Founder of Shawnigan Lake School!
Here are a few of my favorite photos of Lonsdale.
Here is a great photo of C.W. Lonsdale taken Circa 1927 after the fire of the original school building. He is shown here rebuilding the “main building” which is presently the offices of Shawnigan Lake School, B.C. Canada
Here is Lonsdale standing in front of the main entrance doors.
THE PATINA:
Below are a few pictures of the Oehmcke Commission – “Candice & Jackie” getting a traditional patina (consisting of blacks & browns). A patina takes the bronze piece which is a gold color, and changes the color by use of chemicals that are applied when the piece is cold or hot. If the piece does not get a patina it will change colors by exposure to the outdoors and air similar to copper. For “hot patinas”, a propane torch is used to heat the metal surface to the appropriate temperature to achieve the desired effect. Different chemicals (e.g. nitrates of copper, silver, iron, etc.) and application techniques (e.g. brushing, squirting, spraying, etc.) can be used to achieve a broad range of colors and effects.
The sculpture is hosed down with water and then the Liver Sulfur (base patina) is sprayed on which makes it a dark black and seeps into the crevices. (more…)
I’ve been working on the hand today, and tomorrow I will start working on their portraits again as I slowly bring everything to the same level of completion. I’ve been playing with the gathering at the sleeves since it is those details that make the piece! I can’t wait to see what is next.
