Elephant

[seanhwilliams]

Hey Ya'll, here are a couple photos of my latest sculpture. I've been doing it at a temple in Thailand on an island called Koh Chang. When I make the mold and two castings I will give them to the temple.

Materials are hard to come by and I had to make the clay myself from a local source (hillside) and the only silicone I can find is the one in tubes... so I am about to my first mold using a calking gun! Should be fun...

[seanhwilliams]

Whoops.. big photos again... I guess I need to link to a smaller URL??

Also, I have the whole process of making the sculpture on my blog:

www.seanhwilliams.wordpress.com

[fritchie]

Congratulations, but yeah, those pics are pretty big. About 728 Kbytes. We recommend under about 100 K as I remember.

However, given the difficulties I can't complain too much. Nice looking clay and fine work.

[rika]

I enjoyed your process through your blog pictures, there must be something very satisfying in taking advantage of this low tech approach, use what you can materials. Love your determination, and the result looks great. Your sketching with the live "model" is priceless. Best of luck in bringing your idea to fruition!

[obseq]

Germany, now Thailand-- Where are you headed next?
Really enjoying the glimpse into process from your blog!

Let us know how the silicone-caulking mold goes--
I've heard that it's deceptively effective... More than anyone would expect.

[seanhwilliams]

so far so good with the caulking mold. the key is not to use the gun on the first coat to avoid air bubbles. instead, you squirt it into a dish soap and water solution, make it into a ball and apply it that way. you have more control of the thickness and can really press it into details.

no problems with delaminating so far. i'll take pictures tomorrow. i've cut off the tail, ears, trunk, tusks, and two legs. the locals tried to get me to use latex, and I did for the smaller stuff... it sucks. and no one told me you can re-enforce it with cotton to make it more rigid... live and learn.