I did some more work on this model today, still not quite firm enough to do much more than rough modelling, but I expect this week I can finish it up and refine the details by next weekend and finish it then. acanthus2-9-2014 by fb210

I am finishing my large model at this time that I had started a couple of weeks ago- the acanthus leaf frieze panel, once I finish that and it’s removed from my studio easel, I think I’ll make a reduced size mock-up of the design I had in mind and see how it “works.” When I have that started, maybe next weekend- I’ll take photos of it and post them here. I also had plans for quite a while to purchase a larger kiln for my larger models but with one thing or another I put it off, however, I found just the perfect size kiln and the dealer has…

After several days of back and forth phone tag the seller of this ca 1893 terracotta plaque made by the Union Pressed Brick and Terracotta Co of S.F. Calif we came to a meeting of the minds on this and for it’s shipping. The panel measures 16x24x4″ and is made from red clay mined in Valejo where the factory had their brick production plant. The company history was interesting to read about, the founders happened to notice some high quality red clay by 5th street and Solano Ave in Valejo. One thing led to another and in 1889 they acquired 35 acres there and broke ground to build the new…

I did some more work on this model today, the first day I could (or felt like) working on it this week due to my schedule, still roughing out the form but I am starting a little refining now that the clay is just starting to get a little firmer. I also made two videos which I’ll upload to Dailymotion. Cable Building Acanthus Leaf Frieze 2-1-2014 by fb210 Pt 2 (no narration) Pt 2 cable building acanthus by fb210

Now that the clay model is dry, I really wanted to get a picture of it on the wall, so I used a hangar on the wall in my bedroom which formerly held a very heavy sculpture which is now on the wall in my gallery, it was just right for hanging this model on the wall for some photos.

Now that the clay model is dry, I really wanted to get a picture of it on the wall, so I used a hangar on the wall in my bedroom which formerly held a very heavy sculpture which is now on the wall in my gallery, it was just right for hanging this model on the wall for some photos.

Starting on this model today The Cable Building Acanthus Leaf Frieze by fb210 Cable Building acanthus frieze 1-25-2014 by fb210

I wanted to touch on the topic of this sculptor again after working my way through the book on him “Christian Petersen remembered,” specifically I wanted to address the part of the book where the author mentions that the various terracotta works were “refurbished” and repaired or restored around the 1980s after “40 years of exposure to the harsh Iowa climate” there was deterioration to the terracotta she stated. I find that very puzzling that these terracotta panels and sculptures were showing deterioration after only 40 years! I have had hundreds of pieces of architectural terracotta from the 1880s and 1890s that were on building facades  in New York City…

Now that the Commodore mask is done, I figured out the size of the model I will make for the Cable Building acanthus leaf block, it will start out in the clay master model at 20-1/2″ x 26″ and after shrinking when that’s dry it would wind up about 18-3/4″ x 23-1/2″, but if I make a plaster mold to hand-press clay into those would start out at 18-3/4″ x 23-1/2″ and shrink to about 17-1/2″ x 21″ which I have calculated out in reverse so as to wind up with a dry pressed sculpture that will fit my 18″ x 23″ kiln. I could make the model a couple…

Now that the Commodore mask is done, I figured out the size of the model I will make for the Cable Building acanthus leaf block, it will start out in the clay master model at 20-1/2″ x 26″ and after shrinking when that’s dry it would wind up about 18-3/4″ x 23-1/2″, but if I make a plaster mold to hand-press clay into those would start out at 18-3/4″ x 23-1/2″ and shrink to about 17-1/2″ x 21″ which I have calculated out in reverse so as to wind up with a dry pressed sculpture that will fit my 18″ x 23″ kiln. I could make the model a little…