the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 23-back on track?

In my latest work and research, it became clear that "Simplicity is complexity solved" (Brancusi). I have never wanted to sculpt this way but it seems that I am pushed towards clean lines, simple shapes, …essence of reality. a new sensibility evolve into a new sculpture...

I am reading about modern sculpture and loving the discovery of artists I didn't  know, understanding about concepts and ideas and this makes me see differently, open my mind to new directions. I am also finding new inspiration in artists that I really like such as Francois Pompon, Calder, Marini, Lynn Chadwick but also Henry Moore, Dick Marcusen and Picasso.

Couple of the artist who I can probably relate the most are Pompon and Brancusi... 

Pompon 's preoccupation in his art is to express the movement with the strength of the lines that defines the animal. Volumes are defined in space by the purity of the lines. The more a sculpture is removed from details that tied it up to the reality and more the form capture the essence of the subject.

But to do such requires perfect anatomy knowledge. I have been studying anatomy for a while now and I wouldn’t have been able to move in those directions without that knowledge but I still feel that I need to continue studying anatomy as much as i can and continue to develop traditional sculptures. 


“Reality lies in the essence of things” said Brancusi ‘ and not their external forms hence it is impossible for anyone to produce anything real by merely imitating the external form of an object ”

"for me a work must first have a vitality of its own, i do not mean a reflection of the vitality of life, of movement, and so on but that a work can have in it an intense life of its own, independant of the object it represent." Henry Moore.

am I back on track? not sure yet....

I am still also fascinated by construction, and I have been around piling objects of all sort  in my studio...i have idea to do some work with hem but don't really know where to start...one day!

my website changes

I am in the process of updating my website and organize my galleries in a much different way. Before the changes my work was organized in category of work ( i.e canine, horses,drawings,etc) but I feel that it is more important for an artist to organize its work in a chronological way.

I have therefore changed my website accordingly: 2005-2007 works, 2008-2009 works and 2010, I have also added my "big cat project".

www.ackers.biz - still ongoing changes

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! little break before day 23

For the last few days, I was in Paris for an exhibition so my challenge has been postpone for few days.

some modern sculptor that I like:
Calder: http://www.calder.org/
Lynn Chadwick: http://www.lynnchadwick.com/index.htm

Some interesting stuff:
look at the fantastic sculptures at Lugano sculpture park: http://starswebworx.lc-stars.com/swiss_photo/Lugano.htm


some stunning and very inspiring sculptures:

Quantum Man is a modern sculpture created by Julian Voss-Andreae, which is located in the City of Moses Lake, Washington, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_Man

Jeddah daily photo blog

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 22

Architecture is still something that inspires me ... the legs of the horses are getting longer, like a skyscraper

Mare and foal - clay and oxide sculpture

Mare and Foal
Clay and oxides

Dog portrait example

This is a latest example of a dog portrait in bronze

Cow studies- Etude de vaches III

Voici une terre!
here is the clay version

See my blog http://marieackerslittleclays.blogspot.com/ for purchases details

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 21

Yesterday, I spent sometimes finishing an earlier work - it is now 99% complete ( few bits to sort out when the wax is colder!)

I am quite please with the feel that I get from this pice , there is something about it which incorporate the grandiosity, majestic, power and elegance of the horse...

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 20

Raku day today - here is one of the result
I need to pick up the rest tomorrow morning so will post pictures tomorrow on them.
Raku is a very funny and exiting process with some unexpected results:)

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 19

It was too late last might to take a picture of the work  but day 19 was to finish a previous work.

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 19

Abstract figurative woman -ongoing clay - the clay is too wet to remove the bottom...

some previous life modeling - terracota

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 18

a busy day 18...

I have now finished to glaze the sculpture for Raku next week so see the result soon!

next work has been done on an abstract composition - clay and broken glass. The clay I am using is very special and turns black during the firing. The glass will melt and hopefully , there will be some funky results with this little experimental piece, the glass will melt and run along the clay...hopefully:)

composition number 1

Also working on a new little figurative piece....result tomorrow.

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 16-17

Day 16 and day 17 has been spent working on this new sculpture, similar to a previous clay.

this is a work in progress in wax

SCULPTURE CLASSES - BERKSHIRE -UK

Sculpture classes available mornings or evenings, contact marie@ackers.biz

new clay works -little foal study

stoneware clay - copper oxide

new clay works -Trojan head

stoneware clay, steel nails, staples, copper oxide

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 14-15

Looking into Raku.. As part of my classes, I will be facilitating a Raku day so I am also looking into this.  I love the unpredictability of the raku ( well, it is when you start with it, I am sure that experienced ceramicist can predict a lot more!).
had a meeting with a friend artist to talk about the raku session , talk about it before hand and also start to glaze work to see the result soon. few layers of glazes is needed.

starting to glaze for Raku

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 13

There is something about this sculpture that I really like, it is a bit in the same style of the extended trot study II.

more little designs "scribblying"... more clay to come soon like this one!

this little back leg is becoming my trademark!:)

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 12

I am still trying to find new medium to work with..I have been collecting more cans! some redbulls, diet coke, beer, tonic, monster, etc so I start to have a good range of them. I will soon start to see what I can do with them.  Cans are in alluminium so need to see how I can use them, welding? glue? ...thinking! this one will take a bit of time.

mixed media sculpture is quite an interesting subject and so much out of my comfort zone. Mixed media sculpture can be done using all sort of materials such as wood, plaster, paper, recycled materials, etc but the way to mixed materials and put things together is yet another science.

With this one, Clay fired bisc and "papier mache"

series of dog sculpture to finish!

Sorting out my studio and I found a set of dog sculpture that I started a while ago:). I will be finishing them over the next few weeks.

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! the work so far...

The work so far