David Hancock - Artist Research

David Hancock

David Hancock, is a contemporary artist who's main medium is pencil. In this series of works he focuses on depicting people transfixed in the world of video games. The style of drawing is very similar to my own. I like the white space around the subject, as it highlights the idea of the 'being', focusing solely on the personality and character of the individual as they are absorbed in the state of 'gaming'. David Hancock, was interested in the construction of an escapist fantasy, looking at how people begin to become the character in the real world. This idea can be seen in the following coloured pencil drawing, 'Sam as Zero' where the person has transformed into the character in the game she is playing. This concept of 'escapism' is the main idea that I want to get across in my own work.

 'Hero'

'Callum'

'Aaron'

 

'Sam as Zero'

Sculpture Process

Sculpture Process (Stages up to the wax finished figures)

Step 1
Mould/carve figures onto a framework, which is constructed using a wooden MDF base with wires drilled into place to act as a guide to construct the clay around. I then sculpted the free marching figures, which was taken from a previous drawing, of a study of Salvation Army.

Step 2
I added/took away and vice versa, until I was happy with the finished details.

Step 3
Next, I took each figure, and detached from my wooden base, I trimmed down the bottom wires and placed onto a flat surface, lying down.

Step 4
I built clay around the figures along the halfway line around their bodies. I then constructed a clay wall, to act as a barrier, to secure the liquid rubber, which was then poured into the clay mould. It was then left tot set for 24 hours.

Step 5
The next day, I was left with a rubber casting, concealing the figures. I gave each figure a light coating of Vaseline over the surface, in order to prevent sticking.  I then folded a plastic sheet around the walls of the clay to act as a holding point, to which I would pour my plaster of paris.

Step 6
I mixed the plaster of paris, ½ bucket of water, and sprinkled the plaster powder, till the water could not hold any more substance, then mixed and gently poured into the centre of my mould, it was then left to dry for a further 3 hours.

Step 7
I turned the dried plaster of paris around, for each figure, and then repeated the process on the opposite side. This was then left to dry for a further 3 hours.

Step 8
The two connected plaster of paris sides were now dry; I removed the clay sculptures from the moulds, which revealed the imprint of the figures.

Step 9
I then melted and poured wax into each of the moulds and clamped into place. The wax was left to cool.

Step 10
After all the wax figures had dried, I removed the figures from there moulds, revealing replica figures, now in wax.

Step 11

Using small carving knifes, by heating with a heat gun, I was able to carve into the wax surface, added further details to the figures, including the instruments and the music book. The surface of the wax was then smoothed for a fine aesthetic finish.

Sculpture Workshop

Sculpture Workshop

Initial idea

Practise Model, constructed from Clay

In order to experiment with the idea of my drawing, of the marching figures. I wanted to bring the characters of the subject matter to life. I felt by been able to make a sculpture from my drawing, I could capture more of the personality of the people in the image. I undertook the sculpture workshop, with the two initial ideas above. I wanted to create three figures in Bronze, set on a marble platform.

To practise constructing in clay, I practised by creating one of the figures from my 'Marching to Mars' drawing. I created an armature, in order to build my sculpture around. Using an MDF sheet, I drilled and secured wires into the base, to act as a framework to build the clay around. I then roughly placed chunks of clay around the wires in order to build an outline of a figure, I then took away the clay, with small sculpting knifes, in order to add more detail, and form the shape of the figure. I thoroughly enjoyed the process of creating the figure, and would like to create the full sculpture of 'Marching to Mars', using the same process.

Art Research - Jeff Rowland and Alexander Millar

Jeff Rowland

Jeff Rowland is a contemporary artist that depicts people. This is his more profound subject matter; he focuses on couples, creating romantic scenes in which the viewer can relate. I like the way he tells a story and narrative through his paintings. His work is similar to my own practise.

“After drawing out the work and ensuring that I am happy with its progress, I am hooked. When I start to paint, I am transfixed on the progress. To me, it is rather like reading a good book: when you read it you become lost within the story and forget where you are. That is how I am with a painting, even though I paint standing at all times.” (Jeff Rowland)

I've chosen this quote, as I am interested in the structure of how Rowland creates his paintings, which is similar to me. I can also relate to the process of creating a piece of art, where one becomes lost in the production of the work.

ForYou by Jeff Rowland

Hand in Hand by Jeff Rowland

On our Travels by Jeff Rowland

Four Minutes to Midnight by Jeff Rowland

Heart of the city by Jeff Rowland

   Meet me on the bridge by Jeff Rowland

Alexander Millar

Alexander Millar creates painting and sculptures based on the same figure, which occurs in all most all of his images. His inspirations are from childhood memories of ‘Gadgies’, which were humorous, character-full people. I am interested in the way he creates paintings and transforms them further, by creating sculptures based on the images. This then brings the subject to life even further. I like the style of his works, which also brings the character of the ‘Gadgies’ to life.

"Everyone seems to be taking notice of these solitary figures I create. I'm continually surprised to see the effects my paintings have on people, on many occasions I've had women moved to tears absorbed by a painting that evokes memories of their father or grandfather." (Alexander Millar)

The quote above describes the effect what art can bring to the public. I would like the same reaction with my subject matter and art work. The idea of people's memories been evoked by the subject, definitely is an area in which I would like to take further, to create a narrative where an observer will be absorbed in.

                                                                                          'Youll never walk alone'
                                                                             

'Whee'

'The Rat pack'

'Come on you reds'

'A river run through it'

'Suprise Suprise', Bronze Sculpture

'One man and his dog', Stainless Steel

                                                       'The Angel', Bronze Sculpture