marie ackers Sculptor

EQUUS 2013 - Evolution

2012-01-15T02:00:00.000-08:00

A new project

EQUUS 2013 – Evolution

A project of experimentations leading to an exciting exhibition of cutting edge equestrian art.

The purpose of this project is to gather a group of leading equestrian artist working in different style sharing ideas, creating a common story of experimentation. Those artists will be challenged to present new visions and new fresh approach to equestrian art over a year. So far, some incredible artists will participate to the project:

· Judy Boyt, sculptor : http://www.judyboyt.com/home.php

· Tessa Campbell Fraser sculptor: www.tessacampbellfraser.co.uk

· Julieann Worrall Hood sculptor: http://www.woho.co.uk/

· Sally Martin painter: http://sallymartinfineart.com/

· And me www.ackers.biz or www.marieackers.co.uk

We will also start a blog that will run for the duration of the project with the stories, the progress, ideas and sketches. Artists will meet up few times during the project. The project will be online for a year via a blog with the final exhibition (Location TBD) where sculptures, paintings and sketches will be displayed.

…but check out all the latest information on the project on the website or the blog:

www.equus2013.co.uk

http://equus2013-evolution.blogspot.com/

This is only the start so follow us….

Happy New Year 2012!

2012-01-14T02:00:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,
I have been quite quiet for a while and I think it is time for me to get going:) New year and new year resolutions... sounds familiar?:):)

Actually for a change, i haven't made any new year resolution , no for any other reasons that I was quite busy preparing new projects and a new schedule of exhibitions for 2012.

To get the latest news, register now to my newsletter: http://www.ackers.biz/Newsletter.html

Racing sculpture

2011-12-15T11:18:00.000-08:00

Christmas online art fair

2011-12-05T11:26:00.000-08:00

http://www.ackers.biz/Christmas2011.html

http://www.ackers.biz/Christmas2011.html#raku
Check out my latest Raku and especially my new little family of cheetah. They are not glazed yet but you can re-order yours now.

Afterwords- Description of the project - 1

2011-12-02T07:27:00.000-08:00

Well, I have just received a project description for an exhibition at Arlington center in May/June 2012 and THIS will be a challenge for me but I am willing to try.

here is the project description:
We would like to invite you to take part in our exhibition AfterWords at Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury, in May/June 2012. The exhibition will be in association with the West Berkshire and Hampshire Open Studios

We hope that, given enough notice you may wish to create new work for this exhibition. The theme may direct you to seek inspiration from text – so your work can be related to a book, or found text, might include text – it’s essentially open to interpretation.

Well it would be interesting to see if I can do something .....

Gosh...I am not great with words or books......THIS is going to be challenging!

new sketches and experiments

2011-10-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

few new quick sketches and few experiments

New domain for my website - coming soon!

2011-09-25T07:41:00.001-07:00

my current website www.ackers.biz will be moved soon to www.marieackers.co.uk , I will also have a new email address. contact me on marie@ackers.biz to make sure you receive the latest news and updates...

An exhibition not to be missed - Judy Boyt Sculptures and drawings

2011-09-06T00:37:00.000-07:00

exhibition of drawings and some sculpture at the Mill Gallery, Worton Nr Devizes, 9th - 18th September 2011

Little cheetahs - Sculptures- Work finished

2011-09-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

LIttle cheetahs - Raku fired - about 20cm high

Loft living @Selfridges- London 7th-11th September

2011-08-30T15:16:00.000-07:00

I will be exhibiting from 7^thuntil the 11^th of September at Loft Living Selfridges.

I will be present during the launch of the new Kelly Hoppen range of furniture and accessories at Loft Living, with the presence of Kelly signing her latest book and I will be presenting a selection of Raku work as well as my new contemporary equestrian sculptures as part of the Loft Living Urbana Collection launch.

Meet me at the launch and enjoy a glass of champagne on the 7th of Sept from 6pm to 7.30 pm. The launch evening is on invitation only with limited number so please reserve your invitation.

About Loft Living

Loft Living is at home on the 4th floor of Selfridges, offering exclusive interior furnishing and accessories with timeless elegance and understated luxury. Carefully selected pieces showcase the very best in design and materials. More information on the website: www.loft-living.co.uk

LIttle cheetahs - Work in progress

2011-08-21T23:24:00.000-07:00

I love cheetahs! I have worked on new little cheetahs in clay that I will hopefully Raku. Here is the work in progress

Other works that I did around cheetahs are:

Running cheetah - Bronze, about 20 cm high - edition of 8 only - contact me for the price

Drawing - SOLD

Lying cheetah - To be cast in bronze - edition of 8 only

Sketch book - 15/08-life sketching -

2011-08-15T09:57:00.000-07:00

Sketching is something I really enjoy.But it wasnt always like this. When I started my career as a sculptor, I use to sculpt from life so I didn't really need to sketch ( to my opinion). last year, I decided to start sketching from life but it took a while before I understood what was sketching about.

I am a sculptor...so I need to sketch like a sculptor and feel the volumes. I like to be standing in the field or in the middle of the arena where people are riding and interacting with their horses. Of course one of my main issue is to capture a scene with few seconds to spare! not easy but it is so much fun! I had some good days, where I didn't really sketch much but ended playing with the foal! some foals even attempted to eat my sketchpad!:)

I also do a lot of exercises in the studio before I go in the field and one of the book I would highly highly recommend is:
The Allen book of painting and drawing horses by Jennifer Bell
All of Jenny's examples in that book are great and I usually have a special sketchpad where I redo some of those examples on and on and on.... and on and on and on!! the sole purpose of this exercise is to feel the proportions, the shapes, and create some habit in drawing those forms. This is an important step, as once in the field..there is no time:)

Some of todays sketchbook

Horses grazing

Work in Progress

2011-08-11T23:59:00.000-07:00

This one is about 60cm tall!

latest sketches from life - quick studies- June/July

2011-07-27T03:25:00.000-07:00

Ascot Races on Friday 22nd July

2011-07-23T01:57:00.000-07:00

Friday, the 22nd of July, I went to ascot to watch the races. One of my latest Raku (ceramic) equestrian sculpture was the prize for a race.

Race: Thirds race 3h20 - The Woodcote stud Valiant Stakes.

presentation ring just before the race

After the race in the winning enclosure.

The winner of the race:

Sooraah

The prizes

Barry and Fiona Reilly - Woodcote Stud - Epson

What a great day and my husband and I ,We also picked up the 1st and 2nd in our bet!

Ascot: http://www.ascot.co.uk/

Woodcote Stud: http://woodcote-stud.com/

the artist (me): www.ackers.biz

Next Exhibition - Selfridges -London

2011-07-20T23:49:00.000-07:00

Loft living at Selfridges 7^th -11^th September

I will be exhibiting from 7th until the 11^th of September at Loft Living Selfridges (7^th evening is a private launch on invitation only!).

About Loft Living

Current exhibition in Tourgeville

2011-07-20T23:26:00.001-07:00

Gallerie de Tourgeville – Deauville – France

Few bronzes are exhibited at the Gallerie de Tourgeville – Deauville (France) during July and August.

http://www.galeriedetourgeville.com/expositions.htm

Ascot Races on Friday

2011-07-20T23:25:00.000-07:00

Ascot – Friday the 22^nd of July

One of my work will be the trophy for the Valiant Stake at Ascot this Friday. Barry and Fiona Reilly from Woodcote Stud in Epson sponsor the trophy.

reflection on an artist work: it is only a piece of the puzzle...

2011-07-16T05:55:00.000-07:00

I have few works in my studio, sketches more exactly, a bit hesitant and heavier but those works are a very important piece of the puzzle, they mark the transition in my work. I regard those works as very important and although they are not right, not perfect and I almost threw them in the bin! I now see them with a different eye. It allows me to look back and understand how my vision and my work developed. Each work of art of an artist is a piece of the puzzle, each works good, lesser good or even bad is important as this is what’s defines the artist and the route taken to achieve its vision.

Extended trot 4 and 5 - Acrylic

2011-07-09T00:23:00.000-07:00

Extended trot number 5- Acrylic

Extended trot number 4 - Acrylic

Latest Raku - King and Queen 4

2011-07-04T02:04:00.000-07:00

Latest Raku

work sold recently

2011-06-08T09:13:00.000-07:00

here is some of the Raku that sold recently, few more as well but I dont have the pictures:)

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Days 69-100 the 31 missing days revealed...

2011-05-30T15:07:00.000-07:00

During the last few months, I have also been working on a new project which i did keep a bit quiet until the work evolves and mature a bit more. This is probably the most "out of my comfort zone" type of work and it took me a while to actually feel comfortable with the ideas.

The initial idea came from a little sketch in pastel above combined with the wax model below. Taking the picture of the work allowed me to rework the shapes involved. Some similarity started already to show from the beginning.

One of the few works I did after that ( see below) were not right but the idea started to form. This one was the start from the Raku collections but also the start of a very different route.

Raku collection examples:

I still was very curious to push the boundaries and take those ideas a step further

after a large number of sketches from the wax model, here is a sketch that I wanted to take a bit further.

I am not sure how I came to think about the medium but i was looking for something more current, ....a symbol of the modern world.

so here is the first maquette acetate

and here is the finished result in Acrylic

Acrylic gives the work extra dimensions.

Transparency makes the sculpture become part of its environment.

The light gives it a different feel.

Outside, the variation of the weather will give it a different mood.

Man-made material in synchronization with nature.

A sculpture enhance its environment but also interact with its environment.

Open studios - 2 weeks to go!

2011-05-09T13:51:00.000-07:00

I have started to re-organize my studio and my work in the view of my open studios, I have also been catching up on some of the work and maquettes.
It was an amazing feeling to put some of the work in order and at the right place and it made me look at it in a new way! so far the maquettes and sketches have been piled in each corners of my studio and to put them all together, nicely presented near the associated sketches made me look at them again and without realizing...it was 9h30 at night !...and i was doodling few more sketches, looking at areas that still doesn't quite work yet.

here is a little mosaic of stuffs......

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 69 -Reflection on Simplicity

2011-05-04T16:37:00.000-07:00

Simplicity is hard to achieve.

I have been working out of my comfort zone for a fair few numbers of months now and I am still fighting against adding those little details to my work. It is amazing how uncomfortable simplicity can sometime makes you feel and how difficult it is to achieve, how easy it is to get lost in the details..
Does details in a sculpture makes people feel more comfortable...feels the gaps?... it is comparable to a silence vesus too much talking....which one says more?

What type of artist am I? ....read this article and find out:)

2011-04-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

There is another article worth reading.
http://faso.com/fineartviews/30198/the-crossroads

What type of artist am I?

Arlington Art centre exhibition - invitation

2011-04-12T11:31:00.001-07:00

Open studios - invitation

2011-04-12T11:30:00.001-07:00

King and Queen - Raku day today

2011-04-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

Exhibitions 2011 so far - Equestrian exhibitions

2011-04-05T15:19:00.000-07:00

Exhibitions

March has been a very exciting month but very very busy! The days are getting longer and the sun shines a bit more! The studio start to be busy with work to be done for exhibitions and there are a fair few exhibitions planned for the next few months.

Haras de St Lo (France)

I will be exhibiting 14 pieces (Bronzes, Raku and Ceramics) from April until end of September.

http://tourismeharasstlo.e-monsite.com/rubrique,exposition-estivale-2011,681708.html

The Life the gallery

The Life Gallery is a fantastic contemporary gallery in Farnham. The exhibition “Equine life” is running from the 8^th April until the 18^th May – review is the Thursday 7^th from 6h30-9h30

Website: www.lifethegallery.com

Art@Delamore

I will be exhibiting one of my new contemporary sculpture during the art exhibition at the Delamore estate. Check the details in the website www.delamore-art.co.uk

Arlington Contemporary Art centre in Newbury

I have been kindly invited to exhibit few of my new contemporary works during the exhibition in May. www.arlingtonarts.co.uk/visualarts/comingSoon.php

My Open studios – 21^st/22^nd May

And…don’t forget my Open Studio in May (21^st and 22^nd of May from 2pm until 5pm) in Merryfield Studio, Upper Basildon Berkshire/UK so I hope that you will be able to join me for the afternoon and a glass of wine.

Dogs in art Gallery – Stockbridge

This stunning gallery displays some of my work all year around - www.dogsinart.com

Gallerie de Tourgeville - Deauville– France

I will be exhibiting in Jul/Aug/Sept at the Gallerie de Tourgeville during the equestrian exhibition… more soon.

Equestrian sculptures inspired by architecture

2011-04-04T01:58:00.000-07:00

Clay versions.....

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 68 -little horses -experimenting with glazes and techniques

2011-03-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been experimenting with glazes. Raku, glazes altered with a layer of copper oxide underneath, smoke firing an already earthenware glazes piece is also interesting and even more interesting if you sprinkle some copper oxide in the bin just before smoke firing.

More Raku - little horse heads

2011-03-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 67 -more Raku experimentations

2011-03-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

Today, had a Raku day:) what I like about Raku is the level of unpredictability which really suit me as it is experimentation with no limits:)

here is few of the results:

This piece called 'homage to Modigliani" is a special work for me so i have bigger plan in the future for it ( you will have to wait and see). I decided to do few in Raku first.

here is a little shape with some new colors...humm strange, red and orange turned orange and yellow!!! thats why Raku is fun, you are not 100% in control:)

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 66 -Visit to the affordable art fair and more stuffs

2011-03-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

The affordable art fair - London

I have never been to the affordable art fair before so this year as part of my journey I decided to visit the fair and see what is out there in the "contemporary world of art" and hopefully see something unusual:)
I didn't like all the art there but I can say that I really enjoyed visiting the fair, I can't really say that I was bored! so many weird and unusual artwork to see.
I saw a difference in the way I was approaching the artwork, whether i liked it or not, I was a lot more open to look at it and appreciate the technique or the finishing, etc so i can definitely say that all the "art history" books that I read and all those experimentations really opened my mind on new and different art and way of thinking and seeing. I could relate to some of the artwork and understand which movement or artists it was inspired from.

The other positive point about the affordable art fair is a good boost of confidence. My work has changed so much during those last few months that I am sometime not too sure about what I am doing or why I am following those strange ideas:) but I think it is important that I do that work and embrace all my ideas, some may not work out but hopefully some might eventually.

Feel comfortable with the disasters , masterpieces will come

Avery strange things happened, you know when sometimes you receive a comment, an email or an article JUST at the right and perfect time?

I have subscribed to a fair number of newsletters on art history, contemporary art news, marketing your art, etc, etc. Today I received an article written by Lori Woodward " Give yourself the permission to fail", Such a great article! here is the link to the article: http://faso.com/fineartviews/28774/give-yourself-permission-to-fail

For those who have read my blog and my journey so far, you will understand why I love this article as it really helps me to understand and also feel better about what I have been working on so far.

Here are some of the points of the article (Lori agreed for me to quote her):
1)"Ideas are great, but unless you actually acts on those ideas, nothing gets accomplished. Do experiment and try something in order to grow"
2) "You will undoubtably make many disasters"
3)"You can't get to the masterpiece stage unless I'm willing to feel comfortable with the disasters"
4)"When you decide to take your work to the next level by working out of your own box, be prepared for what feels like backward movement"
5) "you'll be better off in the long run"
6)"Don't be afraid to experiment! Experimentation leads to new ideas and eventually to mature works of art"
7)"Be brave enough to make a flop, or several until you arrive at something that's well beyond your usual work. Have faith that each experiment is contributing to your eventual masterpieces... something beyond the ordinary, in fact... extraordinary."

I did feel so many times that I was moving backward rather than forward and I still many many times question some of the artwork that I currently produce - I suppose "my disasters":):) But Lori is right, feeling more comfortable with those disasters makes you able to see the good points in them and take them to the next level. Also I have to accept that at that stage of transition in my work, not all works is good yet and this is something sometimes hard to accept especially when the previous work was great:) (i say that ,of course - lol)

Moving out of my comfort zone is not an easy tasks, it is hard work and risky and hopefully, I will be better off in the long run but it can also be confusing sometimes. It is a bit like being in a maze, you start to open few doors then more doors open, and so on and it is very easy to get lost and confused, not knowing anymore which direction to take.

For the time being ,after my visit to the affordable art fair and reading this great article, I feel like i have drunk 20 coffees and about 30 red bulls!!! SO I feel great with all my experimentations and I am looking forward to my disaster and............my masterpiece of course:):)

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 65 -Re-working the King and Queen sculpture

2011-03-09T14:51:00.000-08:00

This is the latest maquette for King and Queen, I think I am rather happy with it and I have decided to scale it up...

I did have some paper...but not big enough:) so what better place to do the drawing of the new large maquette than on the floor of my studio!!!:):) I am hoping to have those new maquettes ready for my open studio... a bit of a challenge.

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 64 - experimenting with Raku glazes

2011-03-08T01:49:00.000-08:00

some finished result! I have been experimenting with different raku glazes as we as organic shapes.
here is some of the results

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 63 - moving few projects forwards

2011-03-04T11:23:00.000-08:00

Studio projects are ongoing and I am for the moment concentrating on finishing those little horses. experimenting on glazes to see which one will fit the sculpture. I was really please with the Raku ones. will see what the ceramics looks like.

Next project is " homage to Modigliani" - few of those little ceramic heads are going soon to France for an exhibition at the Haras de St lo. I have 3 more in the studio for my open studio in May.

Last but not the least, my new "king and Queen" from the "horse and amazone project. I really like this piece and I will try to scale it up in chicken wire and plaster ready for my open studios...this is a big challenge. I have not decided yet if this piece will be in ceramic or Rakued.

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 62 onwards

2011-02-24T16:41:00.000-08:00

The days are spacing between each days of this challenge that started as an experimentation process and also to question and push the boundaries of my current body of works.
There is a reason for that as the deeper I go into the experimentations, the questioning, the thinking process and the longer I spend on working on the projects, the sketches become maquettes and the maquettes becomes sketches again, and so on. I feel that some few of the projects, It is time to build the artwork now:)

With this challenge I didn't necessarily expect to move my work to a very different direction , I didn't really know what to expect but the only things I set myself for was to experiment with new materials, new processes and think around my concepts and ideas and push the boundaries. I had to forget about realism and details to free myself and start to raise the right questions and find the answers without any pre-conceived ideas.

As well as my work, my way of working have changed a lot. I wouldn't say that I had an artist vision as such when I was sculpting to represent reality with meticulous details , looking at the subject , capturing the essence ( I thought it was) of the subject, true to life...for me, copying reality is not having a vision, it is just copying reality. nothing wrong with that ...but what is next?

Anyway, at the moment, I am updating my website and re-writing my artist statement as it is a bit "shaky" at the moment and it describe more my journey than my statement of work...and to have to put in words what your ideas, concepts and inspirations are is actually quite hard work! I have been re-writing it few times already!
The website is starting to take shape and the statement will end up ok, hopefully. To write the statement is a good exercise as it helps to gather and focus my ideas.

Anyway to talk about the challenge, The last 38 days will be spreaded much longer as there are few little project I want to take on, still with the same concepts.... I just bought a tin of tar from the DYI shop :):) so I have the intention to experiment with that material to sketch, will see what I can get from that. As the days look better,I will also start drawing again.
Also I really would like to go to a course of stone carving but this will have to wait for the moment. I think that some of the maquettes that I am working on at the moment would really work well in stone, will see as well. I want to rework some of the maquettes again , scale some up.....

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 62

2011-02-10T06:41:00.000-08:00

Still working and experimenting on those modern lines and curves

here is my next maquette...

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 61

2011-02-07T10:05:00.000-08:00

A little sitting pug in clay ready for raku!

Raku Horses -Horse and Amazone I

2011-01-29T01:32:00.000-08:00

Raku - Crackled white

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 60

2011-01-28T07:29:00.000-08:00

It is amazing what a glaze can do!

Raku - simple cracked white

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 59

2011-01-25T06:03:00.000-08:00

following the day 58 and finishing some of the shapes ( you need to read the day 58 to understand how those shapes have been created and read the story)

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 58

2011-01-24T14:50:00.000-08:00

Over the last few days, I have been doing a very different exercise. I wanted to sculpt without an agenda, without any restriction of sculpting a specific subject, let my mind go the way it wants. Sculpting a specific subject, even trying to move away from the reality has its restrictions. Sculpting something that is not suppose to represent anything specific could be fun and liberating....

The best medium that I find for this type of exercise is clay as it quick to build and can be moved quickly as well. It is quite amazing the shapes I came up with, something I wouldn't have imagine sculpting! I am trying to think about how I came up with those shape? because I was sculpting with no pre-conceived idea or agenda those sculptures are not representational at all, yet there is a deep meaning behind those shapes.

I will be putting pictures later on when those sculptures are in a finished stage.

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 57

2011-01-24T13:36:00.000-08:00

Last week I went to a wire sculpture course ( one of my Christmas presy! it was on my list at the top of the list:) ). I really enjoyed working with this material and had a great day!

I will very very probably try to explore this material a bit more in the near future so keep looking!

The course was provided by Julieann Worral Hood , details on her website http://www.woho.co.uk/events/index.htm

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 56

2011-01-14T03:36:00.000-08:00

Day 56, I have been working again on the next maquettes of horse and amazone.

The more that I am working on those maquettes of horse and amazone and the more i think stone would really suit those pieces. Stone would give them a stronger architectural presence. something to think about....

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 55

2011-01-14T03:32:00.000-08:00

Day 55 was a very quiet one as I only decided to work on angel maquette number 2. I just like this simple shape that show the elegance of the horse.

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 54

2011-01-10T14:53:00.000-08:00

I am still working on those new work and did another few maquettes and some 2D work as well. I wont be posting pictures yet but you will be able to see the maquettes of my work during my open studios in may/June (TBD).

The interesting part during that process is when the initial subject becomes irrelevant and the material become the new subject.

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 53

2011-01-07T01:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a great day as I build a maquette of something very very new. I wont take pictures of that yet as I keep a bit of mystery around this piece of work:)

Another bit of thinking was around the little installation of those little 4-5 inches horses. I have been thinking and experimenting a bit with glazes and i think white glaze will be a bit too bland so I am changing this a bit. For the moment, I have not yet decided on the glaze. Also 100 of them will not work so I might be tempted to push the number to much higher... not sure yet. or may be a lot less.

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 52

2011-01-05T13:39:00.000-08:00

I am back after the Christmas Holidays and back on track on my journey. It was very good to have a break in a way as it gave me time to look again at my sketchbooks and also read few books, some of them are still not finished.

one of the book was " Henry Moore: on being a Sculptor" , very very good. This is the type of book you can probably read more than once.

This little break also allowed me to check on my progresses, for example with my little installation of 100 little ceramic horses. I thought that I was progressing quite well but noticed that only 20 were done...80 more to go!! I have been also experimenting with glazes and rethink this installation a little bit.

One think I am aslo going to start again is life drawing! I am going to concentrate a bit on my little bulldog as he is now fully grown and full of character! back to my charcoals and pens.

for day 52, I have been looking again at my horse and amazone, geometric/architectural work and produce another maquette

Latest maquette -Horse and amazone 3 - clay

Horse and amazone 2 - clay - bisc fired ready for glazing! or Raku? will see

Horse and amazone 1

Part of the same idea is the skyscrapers, still thinking about also doing more maquettes around this idea, using also different materials...

The new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Half Way

2010-12-23T03:31:00.000-08:00

My 100 days into the unknown has stopped for the moment but will resume right after the holidays.

I am now half way into this process and this is the most interesting part of it. This research that started with a bit of experimentation because I felt I needed it into my art has become something much deeper than this, it as become my inner artist.
Earlier in the year , I did also a little bit of experimentation but at this stage, it didn't really bring me anything very new to my work so may be at that moment in time, I wasn't ready for the discovery.
This time, when I started this new experimentation phase, i didn't think again that it would change my work much although I started to feel different about my work and started to question more but I can now say that it will. I am not too sure what is the difference between the earlier experimentations and this one but my vision and my direction in my artwork is changing.
At the moment, everything is a bit shaky ( in term of the work produced) but ideas are forming in my head faster than they are in producing the work:) I am still faced with learning new method of working, new materials, new ideas and how to form them and I think that will take a bit more time but I am making sure that I keep my sketchbook updated my my thoughts and ideas, even if I am not ready to make the pieces yet.
For the moment, I need to reflect on how I am going to use this other half of the challenge. I am still reading few books to help me in that process, mainly technical books. I need to go through my sketchbook again and reflect on that first 51 days of experimentation and see how I can take this further....

......so in the meantime...

I wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS and Happy New Year 2011!!

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 51

2010-12-10T14:21:00.000-08:00

few days have been since day 50!

I have been waiting to receive some new tools and some new materials, little samples of some very funky new material but i will reveal those much later.

I also need to consider getting a wood burner for my studio next year ! too cold in there to work..can't do below freezing temperatures, in fact can't do below 5 degrees:) so didn't manage to do too much over the last couple of week.

I am still reading my book about Barbara Hepworth but I also bought a new book about graphic designs techniques as I feel this will also hep me a lot in my research.

a fair amount of little works came back from the kiln...nothing broke! will be testing different glazes next...

another little maquette
shape number 1 in clay ( red clay that once cooked becomes black!)

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 50

2010-11-26T11:45:00.000-08:00

IS IT ABSTRACTION? (Part II - reflections)

It is quite difficult to explain the process that is happening at the moment with my sculptures and I don't think that "abstraction" is enough. For few years now, I have been concentrating to learn the "knowledge" of the subject, from anatomy to study of the movement. As a result, the subject representation( by that I mean the copy of the reality) gave my sculpture its strength.

"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, independent of the object it represent." Henry Moore.

This is such a great quote that really helped me to see a different dimension in sculpting. I was concentrating so much on the anatomy that my idea didn’t manage to show through. I needed to strip my works from all the details to be able to find its inner strength. This is the reason why I moved away from the details, not for a conscious need to abstract but to find “its vitality of its own”.

See “Is it Abstraction (Part I – facts and definitions)” here http://marieackers.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-challenge-100-days-in-unknown-day_21.html

latest life drawing class

2010-11-26T03:13:00.000-08:00

latest life drawing classes - quick poses- longer poses- exercises, etc

I am really enjoying the life drawing classes.

Life drawing classes by Jane Whitaker: check her website here: http://janewhitaker-painter.com/tuition_workshops.html

Looking for a christmas gifs?

2010-11-24T09:22:00.000-08:00

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 49

2010-11-23T02:11:00.000-08:00

a little maquette / sketch with potential

original drawing sketch for that above

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 48- more

2010-11-22T11:09:00.000-08:00

Skyscrapers 1 and 2- clay maquettes

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 48

2010-11-22T03:44:00.000-08:00

I am almost half way of my journey and it is amazing how things seems to fall in place slowly. I have been experimenting so far with few different projects an materials and I still have a long way to go but ideas are shaping in my head and they also feel right at that time.
I have collected a fair amount of recycled materials from can of cokes, old metals and pieces of wood but for the moment, although I really love those materials, they don't inspire me to build anything so I will keep them in my studio for the future just in case.

Architecture as well as clean shapes and lines are really inspiring me at the moment, probably from my scientific background. In the other half of my journey, I will carryon this experimentation but also concentrate in completing the few projects that I have in mind at the moment.

still inspired by architecture and following the Horse and Amazone pieces ( inspired by the oxford architecture), here is the first maquette for the skyscrapers. I am not 100% happy with the result so far but working on it.

This work is in the same line as the Horse and Amazon pieces, inspired by architecture, clean and sharp lines.

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 47

2010-11-21T03:20:00.000-08:00

IS IT ABSTRACTION? ( Part I- facts)

I have been asking myself a little bit more about the new direction that I am taking at the moment.

Few people have mentioned 'abstraction' to me but I am very reluctant to use this word as many artist have used it under false justifications.

Taking the definition of wikipedia of the word 'abstraction'

Abstractions may be formed by reducing the information content of a concept or an observable phenomenon, typically to retain only information which is relevant for a particular purpose.

I suppose that when I read this definition, this is what I have been trying to do in some extends but this is not the only way my art is going as I am also trying to define the main components of a movement or attitude and this is not defined by abstraction? or is it?

Taking another definition about 'Abstraction' in IT- computer science,

The mechanism and practice of abstraction reduces and factors out details so that one can focus on a few concepts at a time. One can regard the notion of an object (from object-oriented programming) as an attempt to combine abstractions of data and code. The recommendation that programmers use abstractions whenever suitable in order to avoid duplication (usually of code) is known as the abstraction principle. The requirement that a programming language provide suitable abstractions is also called the abstraction principle.

It is quite an interesting definition to understand the direction that I am taking with my art as before becoming an artist I have spent over 15 years working in IT and with a master degree in computer science, abstraction has always been part of my work, decomposing in reusable objects.... Has my scientific and IT education is influencing my art? if I look at the the english definition of abstraction

abstraction - a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance

This definition does bother me a little bit about the possibility to call this direction 'abstraction' as all my idea and concepts are associated with a very specific instance, the horse and for some of the work it is associated with the essence of the movement and the rhythm.

I could also call the all process of this new direction 'derivation' although part of it is also an 'abstraction' for some instances...

According to definitions, derivation in mathematics is the development of the theorem. In Linguistics the derivation is a set of forms including the initial form, intermediate forms and final forms showing the successive stages in the generation of a sentence as the rules of grammar are applied to it.

some interesting definitions of abstraction and derivation , mathematical concepts that are helping understanding were my work is going and what is influencing it. I need to reflect more on that subject....

I am currently re-working one of my work called extended trot 2 to redefine the shapes that makes the piece but also working on few projects, one influenced by architecture and the other one by the concept of space.

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 46

2010-11-20T13:12:00.000-08:00

I am currently still working on some of my drawing and new materials but all the pieces are still ongoing at the moment.

also finished my new version of Horse and amazon. After this version, I notice that I am still very inspired my architecture so I am preparing another piece inspired by modern architecture - sketches to come soon.

here is the next version of horse and amazone -

Horse and Amazone2

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 45

2010-11-15T06:04:00.000-08:00

Building this design using new material - still ongoing

little works for SALE

2010-11-14T23:26:00.001-08:00

small works for sale here http://marieackerslittleclays.blogspot.com/

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 44

2010-11-10T01:14:00.000-08:00

Reading a book about Barbara Hepworth....

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 43

2010-11-08T02:52:00.000-08:00

Still trying to rework the extended trot piece.
I think I am now happy with the rhythm of the piece!

top- initial version
middle - yesterday's version
bottom- todays version- much happier with the rhythm of the work

I will eventually rework it using a new material, much larger as well.

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 42

2010-11-07T10:06:00.000-08:00

I have been reworking this piece ( see original picture commented below). Still unsure but I will try to take another picture of it using the same angle as this might help but I am still not 100% happy with it.

original work

re-working the sketch

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 41

2010-11-03T14:36:00.000-07:00

Still working on my installation.

so more little horses for it, since i have decided to do 100 of them , I have a bit of work!:)

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 40

2010-11-02T07:55:00.000-07:00

I am currently re-working on my my work called extended trot 2

I have also been thinking around the concept of abstraction so will soon be posting something about it.

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 39

2010-11-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

My work is still going on with the multiples...
few new little horses being built.

A little bit different from the initial plan.

I was suppose to built about 16 of them but I have now decided that this installation will be bigger and I think I will try to built about 100 of them!

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 38

2010-10-27T14:26:00.000-07:00

well.... what an interesting day!

Started playing a bit with the new material. I need a big saw machinery but this will have to wait! ( cant afford it:) ) so got little saw instead and other little little tools... if you want to see the result then you wont ...not quite yet! not quite grasp the new stuffs yet:) but one thing I did manage to make is a BIG BIG mess in my studio:) I think I was a bit too ambitious with what I was trying to make to start with. so tomorrow, I will have another go but i will be sensible and start with simpler shapes.
For that I did few little maquettes in clay and will try to reproduce them using the new stuff ( starting with the small one!). here is my little "organic forms" to use.

The multiple project is going on well, few more little horses on the go ( very small ones) but will be adding pictures tomorrow.

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 37

2010-10-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

today I was so exiting to start working with the new material... and OH NO!! missing some of the tools:(

so off to B&Q tomorrow to get few of them! in the meantime, I had a bit of fun with shapes here!

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 36

2010-10-26T03:08:00.000-07:00

new sketches

....and new material (YEAHHHHHHH)!

I wont tell you more for now...keep watching!

Reflections- 2 years on....

2010-10-26T03:06:00.000-07:00

I have been sculpting for over 5 years now but only 2 years as a professional artist.

There are no manuals on how to become an artist. Before becoming an artist, I used to work in IT for over 15 years and although you always decide your own career, there is always along the line someone to give you advices if they feel you are going the wrong way or doing any mistakes. I remember those famous yearly reviews at work ( they used to drive me mad!) where your boss used to tell you the good and bad points about you, what you needed to improve and work on, and what training you required... There is nothing of such for artists, you have to think it for yourself with nobody asking you for it.

Developing techniques, understanding materials and understanding anatomy are important tools to hep artists expressing their vision and develop their identity. To find the right technique or material to communicate our vision accurately is a journey of experimentations, discoveries and can be difficult.

Yesterday I was visiting one of the Top UK artist ( who does the most amazing contemporary work!) and learned about new materials to use so I am so exiting to apply it to some of my sketches.

latest sketches

As difficult it can be to learn new techniques, they can be taught and can be learned and it is probably the easiest part of the journey of an artist.

Picasso ”I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them.”

Finding your vision and your identity is a much harder task. Finding your message, that something special that defines you can not be taught! We are alone in this part of the journey and I think this is probably the hardest part of all. Many artists spend so much time developing their techniques to perfection that they forgot an important element that defines us as artists.

Abstract american painters Richard Diebenkorn said, “For every artist that has something worthwhile to say but lacks the technical ability to communicate his idea perfectly, there are a thousand artists with all the technique in the world and nothing to say”

I am sure that there are a lot of different interpretation of Richard Diebenkorn quote but for me this sentence gives me hope to becoming a good artist one day.....

My new books

2010-10-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

Couple of new books...
Barbara Hepworth and the biography of Elizabeth Frink!

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 35

2010-10-24T07:14:00.000-07:00

Finishing the maquette for Angel

Silver Commission- Levade between pillars

2010-10-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

The silver piece is now completed and delivered.

This is a magical piece...

few of the pictures I took at the foundry

here are some picture kindly provided by Sgt Ian Vernon.

Pictures kindly provided by Sgt Ian Vernon, vooster@hotmail.com

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 34

2010-10-24T02:23:00.000-07:00

Busy day tis one

Raku day -

Finishing the first couple of piece for the multiple project

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 33

2010-10-22T14:22:00.000-07:00

The multiples/ installation

I have still been thinking about this project but I think the first 3 pieces that I did for that are not right at all so I need to re-think how I am going to do this project. recently , I have been doing small maquettes that could work better for this project...

The purpose of such a project is to create an impact of masses, an installation of sculptures where one sculpture is only a small part of a larger scale piece.

I did a such of what an art installation means and this is what I found so far:
1)Installation art describes an artistic genre of site-specific, three-dimensional works designed to transform the perception of a space.
2)Installation art uses sculptural materials and other media to modify the way we experience a particular space. Installation art is not necessarily confined to gallery spaces and can be any material intervention in everyday public or private spaces

Those little sculptures are very small and by themselves, they are not having much of an impact but a lot of them would change the perception of the same space.

a very bad photo montage to show the difference

Just to quote an artist that I really like and respect: "I think I understand something about space. I think the job of a sculptor is spatial as much as it is to do with form. (Anish Kapoor)". I discovered Anish Kapoor's work while watching a show on TV about his exhibition at the Royal academy. During his interview he said that he wasn't doing art to shock but because he enjoyed making beautiful objects...those words made me look at his work.

Anish Kapoor is right , being a sculptor is not only about understanding forms, it is also about understanding the space.It could be the space that the sculpture occupy, the space created by a sculpture, the feeling of a space created by a sculpture or even the feeling created by a sculpture in a space....

I can just imagine that the effect of a large group of the similar sculpture in one room would have a very different effect than a single, tiny little sculpture on a very tall plinth in the middle of a huge room!

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 32

2010-10-21T12:24:00.000-07:00

Busy day today! half the day at the foundry..

anyway, I have been working on miniatures works this morning just to try to help me progressing some of my sketches....ongoing works

maquette for "Angel", about 10cm high

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 31-I am back!

2010-10-20T06:41:00.000-07:00

I am back!!
yesterday, I had some training ( that I book for a while back) and that gave me the boost I needed so hopefully I am back.
I have completed this little clay

Also did rework a bit a sketch. The piece Horse and amazon is too short and I think It would be so much better much higher, like a cathedral.

latest life drawings

2010-10-15T09:44:00.000-07:00

2nd and third week life drawing class

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 31-blockage! blank blank blank....

2010-10-14T15:24:00.000-07:00

well, I thought it would be easy to get inspired for 100 days but IT IS NOT:)

going out of the comfort zone of what I usually do is quite tiring and there are days when I am quite happy with the result, some days when I think that it is terrible and now: BLANK! total blockage of inspiration!!
It has been 7 days with no artistic and creative work! looks like I probably needed a little break, yet again:)
Anyway, I had my 3rd life drawing class this evening and I am quite happy with few of the drawings, looks like I start to get a crack-on those drawing skills! I will be posting the pictures tomorrow.

About my "multiple project", I have been doing 3 pieces now ( out of the 16!) but I have been thinking around the ones that I have so far and I will have to re-start this one again as this is the wrong type of piece for this particular project that I have in mind.so this one will have to be re-thought:)

anyway, as I am typing, I have few ideas...so the 100 days will resume soon. It is 100 days but not consecutives ones:)

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 30

2010-10-06T02:26:00.000-07:00

First set of the multiples project ( they are not finished yet but the clay is too wet)

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 29

2010-10-05T05:41:00.000-07:00

This is a little quick design for a project with multiples. I think the sculpture will work well with 16 different pieces ( not shown on the design).

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 28

2010-10-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

Looking at multiples.

I am currently looking at multiples. The first time I cam across multiples was when I wen to the museum to see the terracotta soldiers. It was amazing to see so many work all together. The effect was very strong, much stronger than having one single piece displayed.

this is not the one from london :)

Since that, I came across few other example of multiples: Anthony Gormley with the European Field, Anthony Gormley with the Iron Men, Allan McCollum with Over ten thousand different works. Mauro Perrucchetti with his jelly babies sculptures...

During an exhibition, I did display once a lot of little pugs and I must say they looked so great! better than f there was only one piece or even the pair.

It is very easy to see the difference here. Visual effect in sculpture is as important as the work itself. Whether the work is displayed on a different base, or with other sculpture the effect that the viewer is experiencing is very important.
Would that then become an installation......where sculpture alone is not enough. Sculpture becomes part of the installation,an object to serve the installation.
I already have a great idea for a project with multiple sculpture:) which I will reveal later on in the course on the 100 days.

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 27

2010-10-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

Almost finished building this little clay-

Just bought another book about modern sculpture. to my surprise, this is the second book on modern art where there is no mention about animal sculpture ( wildlife or equestrian). where is the place of animal art in the big world of modern art?

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 26

2010-10-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

Starting to build a clay version of one of the design... construction ongoing:) it is a bit slow as the clay doesn't dry as fast in winter. the big blob in the front is only to support the front .... it is not part of the sculptu ( just in case some of you think it is)

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 25

2010-10-02T11:14:00.000-07:00

My first class of life drawing..
just to give a bit of a change. I wil lalso start again to sketch a lot from life animals...when the weather is ok-ish..

the new challenge: 100 days in the unknown! Day 24

2010-10-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

I am a bit stuck on those shapes so I think I need to start building

as I am sure that they will also evolve then!

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

2010-09-28T15:54:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-26T02:17:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-21T14:39:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-15T15:55:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

Mare and Foal
Clay and oxides

Dog portrait example

2010-09-15T03:27:00.000-07:00

This is a latest example of a dog portrait in bronze

Cow studies- Etude de vaches III

2010-09-15T03:23:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-15T03:21:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-13T06:54:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-13T06:51:00.001-07:00

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

2010-09-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

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

some previous life modeling - terracota