FABRICATION OF THE ARMATURE
Page 3
The tail has been formed in Styrofoam.
Left hind leg is glued in and the bamboo skewers
are holding the pieces in place while they cool.
The hip and tail from the left side.
60" tail on this flying horse.
Front legs have the initial piece of foam (in blue) glued on the frame.
The left hind leg from another angle.
Studio Dog; The Parson Russell, Shiner. Armed with his 52 Best of Breeds as a show dog,
he has attitude to burn. He came to our house after his show career. Although his show days
are over his interest in pulling a tug toy or examining the gopher holes in the yard isn't.
July 10, 2008 AM
Additional Photos of Progression of Model
Foam blocks on the front feet, additional spray foam added for shaping.
The pink 2" foam block under Prado indicates the area where the saddle pad
and the number pad will be located.
Another angle of the 2" additional height over the horses back.
Legs under construction.
The addition of the neck and head roughed out.
Another angle of the legs under foam construction.
Head as it's just been foamed in and planed back.
Close-up of RF and LH feet.
Another angle of legs and feet.
Close-up of LF foot.
Close-up of front legs.
Neck as attached, additional foam on shoulders.
STUDIO NOTES
Foam and more foam. Legs, tail and head and neck are the focus for this week. After I laminate the big chunks of foam I apply the spray foam and then cut it back to shape it. So it goes from oversize to just right. It's been hot here so the foam cures quicker.
I'm pacing myself to about 8 hours a day working on the model and keeping right on schedule.
All of the tack that Barbaro will be wearing should be in this week including the number pad that Churchill Downs is making up for this project. Barbaro stretches from the front of the studio to the back.
The model just fits in the space. It's about the size of a Hummer.
Jumping ahead a bit, after all the foam is on the armature and rasped and shaped to the form of the maquette then I'll apply a coat of glue sizing on the model for the finishing of the piece. The entire model will be a milky white after the glue is applied. My clay is Classic Clay, tech people call it oil clay, and it has wax in it so we heat it up with heat lamps in a big steel bucket. Then scoop it out and apply it to the model. It's brown like chocolate. I like it's texture and feel. Many sculptor's don't like it but I've used it for years.
A note on the use of industrial materials today versus clay and wood and iron for an armature in the past; clay was used by artist's because it was cheap and readily available. The same with wood lathe which was used to make plaster walls in home construction, now drywall is used instead. And, lastly plaster and burlap was used for filling out the form of the model, now we use foam. I've used all these materials. Lighter and easier to handle, they make my work easier to accomplish especially on such a large statue. Pushing a ton of clay around on a model is hard work.
Alexa King
July 8, 2008
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For more information contact:
Alexa King
1-608-836-9726
Copyright 2008 Alexa King