It’s fun to watch an animal sculpture take shape. I’ve been building a new piece with a frog on it for a totem that needs to be about a foot taller for the place that will be its forever home and have enjoyed each step of its progress.
When Ann called me to see if I could make my ‘Frog and Lily’ totem taller to fit the spot she’d picked out for it I, of course, said yes! We decided I’d make one more frog peeking around a piece from the right side to add both balance and another playful element to this delightful totem.
It’s always a bit of a challenge to go back in and get everything matching up as I never remember exactly what I did when I made the first pieces. In hindsight I always wish I’d taken detailed notes but I never seem to do that. I think I’ve come pretty close with this new piece though.
I generally build from the bottom up when I sculpt animals because that’s how they sit on my work table. This frog was a little different because it is mounted onto the side of a bead rather than sitting on the top. I made the egg-shaped bead first. Then I added the leaves to create an environment for the frog.
Next, I added a coil to form the outside line of the frog – kind of like I would do if I was drawing it with a pencil. From there I added more coils to form a shallow body. I cut out holes behind the frog into the egg-shaped part to lighten the weight a bit on that side. The frog would cover the holes and be adding extra weight so the plan was to even the weight out a bit.
Once glazed and fired it fit seamlessly into the totem! I think the totem is even better with the extra frog – kind of like having one more friend join a party. I hope Ann thinks it’s perfect now too. I can’t wait to see pictures of it in its new home!
I always enjoy a good commission project. I know not all artists do but I like working with people to create pieces that are very special and personal. I think this is a throwback to my training as an architect – there is always a client when designing a custom home. So, while I never got my architectural license, I did learn to love that relationship.
If you’ve ever thought about having me create something special for you, I’d love to kick around the possibilities. I know it takes a while to take that leap of faith but the talking time gives you more to think about. Let me know if you want to talk and we can schedule a call.
If you could have something made especially for you, what would it be? Not necessarily an art project, just anything that you’d like ‘bespoke’.
