Matchbox Studio
(06/10/16)
I admit to being a few days late updating the school results...
Anyway, In Screenwriting class I got a big thumbs-up for the Act I adaptation of my novel 'Banjo Strings,' with the recommendation (from a teacher who's other job is a professional script doctor) that I pitch the story as a cable TV series! Now that I know how to format a spec script, this is a goal that's possible with a lot of writing, and they loved my writing. Got an A. In Casting, I nailed down the processes of mold-making, investing and lost wax casting as they apply to sculpture, even though my studio isn't equipped for investing or melting metal. Yet. Earned a B...
In Sculpture class I now have a functioning studio for modeling figures and carving stone, and the confidence to take my abstract ideas and bring them to 3-D reality. Selling those pieces is another matter to tackle after I have pieces to show in a year or so. To that end, my final show and tell was bringing in my three stones:
"Genetic Algorythm No. 17" - Alabaster. This stone has a big obvious crack running through it and many occlusions I obviously missed when buying the stone - even after wetting it. It held up, though, through the carving of lots of negative space out of it....
"Spelunker's Choice" - I've been calling this Raspberry Wonderstone, but teacher said it's another Alabaster because of those powdery occlusions that look like chisel bruises. My largest stone so far has a beautiful color, but because of those occlusions, I decided to go with half the stone smoothed and sanded, half raw, with many paths and holes for an imaginary explorer, and a cave.
The piece is in the middle of sanding, and will show it's deep colors once it's polished and sealed. There are many liquid and paste sealers out there, but I'm gonna start with the most accessable - Kiwi brand Neutral shoe polish...
"Neutron Bloom" - Chlorite. When I first got this stone I saw a mix of a flower blooming and a splash of black ice. And I couldn't see how to start it until I turned it over and began with the base. The basic carving out of elements took a lot longer than expected due to this being a harder stone (yet brittle enough to lose significant sections). Working the stone with power tools helped a great deal in finishing it, while filling my studio with dust. The sanding has barely begun, but wiping it down with a sponge shows what the piece will look like after it goes through sanding and sealing. This piece was the class favorite; teacher said this one could win a prize if/when I show it at CSS. Very cool...
So, after a brief vacation I'll get back to finishing the stones, looking for an exhibit to try to enter, and buying more stone...
(06/26/16)
Ok, I've been slacking here while working on the podzine, but things are still moving. Aside from reorganizing the studio and taking a breather, I'm doing a bit of art market research as well as looking for show opportunities for next year. Re: the screenplay, I went to Final Draft's website and downloaded a couple sample 'One Hour TV Drama' scripts to see the slight ways the format is different from a movie script...
The stones have been untouched while I searched the city for one last crucial tool - the all-important sealer and color enhancer for my stones, an element as vital as the right base. Anyway, after much research I settled on Tenax Ager...
I got this specifically for 'Neutron Bloom' because the stone itself is very porous and must be sealed, and the piece requires a wet look. Anyway, this 8-oz can is said to cover 150-200 sq. ft. of surface (it helps if you have a blow dryer or a heat gun to warm the stone up first)...