Horse sculpture (first large commission)

[pondman]

Hi All

It seems like ages since I was on here and it seems like loads has been going on! Its been great going through the pics and seeing everyones new work I hope you're all well!

A few months ago I started my biggest challenge so far, I was commissioned to make a life size jumping horse sculpture. Its been a big dream of mine for a few years to make a large life size sculpture and actually doing it has been awesome!! Its taken me longer than I'd hoped it would but I'm loving the challenge so its all good.

I wanted to start this thread when I started the sculpture but didnt... so bare with me ;-)

 

[pondman]

I was a bit worried when I got the job as I though it would need a massive plinth to keep it stable but after a little digging I found a few examples where people had used small rsj's or bits of channel. so I gave it a go and created the base and then started to build it from the back hooves up...

 

[pondman]

When I get a job I always have a very paradoxical view on how it will turn out. I can see it in my mind but have no idea how I'm going to do it ( I feel positive but terrified) . I've found getting the scale right to be very tricky so I've not been able to rush or work on it for too long at a time as I come in the next morning and have to cut loads out because it doesnt look right. Its definitely tested my patients

 

[pondman]

one thing I've found that I'm slightly worried about it its a bit wobbly in the back legs, I'm in the process of trying to sort it out now but I'm still not sure what to do. Its a lot of weight coming off the reasonably thin back legs.

 

[pondman]

I always knew one of the trickiest parts of the sculpture would be making the head and face, getting the scale right was taxing on the mind, I found myself staring at this head for what seemed like ages, in fact I think I've spent more time staring at the sculpture than actually working on it. I actually found it mentally draining!

 

[pondman]

This took some time, wow it tested my patients... lots of welding and lots of grinding and welding and grinding and so on for what seemed like days!

 

[pondman]

Making the head has been the hardest part of the job but definitely the most enjoyable. I've never done anything like this so had no idea how I was going to do it. I had no idea how I was going to make the eyes and at first I thought I was going to some how shape sheet metal over the spheres I was using for eyes. turns out a mig was all I needed and I managed to do it by layering.

 

[pondman]

This is where I'm at ATM I've finished the head and now have to do the main and the tail and then go over the welds fix things that dont look right, fill in the front legs a bit and then try and figure out how to finish it. I want the head and body to be rusty and the main and tail to be black. Not sure exactly how I'm going to do this but I'm sure its possible. I know loads of members rust sculptures all the time so just got to do some digging. Any suggestions welcome ;-)

 

[magnet]

That is simply stunning a real credit to you.........................Magnet

 

[cumbriasteve]

Make no mistake I think that is a fantastic sculpture, something I would be so proud to have made it would not be for sale.

I have a negative however, sorry but best to be honest...are the ears finished? they simply don't look right to me...or is it just me who is not seeing the ears right?

 

[pondman]

Thank you Steve, you're right the ears aren't finished yet, they're further than in the pics here but I'm still undecided. I'm thinking of changing the angle but want to wait until I do the mane.

 

[strada]

That is bloody fantastic
its a bit different from your other stuff, and I bet you have had sleepless nights thinking of how to do certain things.
As regards the colour have a look at this stuff http://www.jpennyltd.co.uk/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=50
I have used the brown a few times now on some of my fish and just used it on the heron I made ,the heron looks like a bronze colour and will look better when varnished.if you lived closer I would bring you some to try. I will post some pics of the heron when I have finished the coating so you can see the colours in it.
Great work on the horse,

 

[Windy Miller]

Well done Shaun - brilliant job there Mate!

 

[chunkolini]

HI Sean
Most impressed, I have been wondering what you are up to.
Looks great, I bet the head was great 'fun'.
The sitting and staring at the sculpture state is weird. Does it achieve anything or not?
I think it does; all sorts of ideas quietly get sifted through' I was talking to Mrs C and have realised that it is a type of meditation, almost in the subconscious the idea is developing itself.
The wobbly legs thing? it might work if you partly infill the lower legs with sheet metal and put some bracing inside, if you taper the way the panels fit it could be made to look like part of a plan rather than a fix. Maybe take them from the foot to the knees and have the top edge convex. This should spread the load effectively over the surface of a tube rather than individual ribs?

Leggy idea, if you have a skin to the lower leg you could have a scaff' pole inside it, that should do the job. The load would move up to the knee, maybe small triangular plates moulded into the top of the knee?

Strada mentions sleepless nights. I would much rather have sleepless nights over this than staff management issues. Much nicer stuff to think about.

I think as well that being a bit out of depth is a great way to develop, as long as you dont sink. You seem to swimming strongly.

 

[strada]

I think as well that being a bit out of depth is a great way to develop, as long as you dont sink. You seem to swimming strongly

Well put chunko,that's a great statement.

 

[Premiershipman]

Hoping the customer appreciates handmade art with an appreciative handmade price

 

[Premiershipman]

Oh and forgot to say congratulations on the Princes Trust Award !

 

[pondman]

HI Sean
Most impressed, I have been wondering what you are up to.
Looks great, I bet the head was great 'fun'.
The sitting and staring at the sculpture state is weird. Does it achieve anything or not?
I think it does; all sorts of ideas quietly get sifted through' I was talking to Mrs C and have realised that it is a type of meditation, almost in the subconscious the idea is developing itself.
The wobbly legs thing? it might work if you partly infill the lower legs with sheet metal and put some bracing inside, if you taper the way the panels fit it could be made to look like part of a plan rather than a fix. Maybe take them from the foot to the knees and have the top edge convex. This should spread the load effectively over the surface of a tube rather than individual ribs?

Leggy idea, if you have a skin to the lower leg you could have a scaff' pole inside it, that should do the job. The load would move up to the knee, maybe small triangular plates moulded into the top of the knee?

Strada mentions sleepless nights. I would much rather have sleepless nights over this than staff management issues. Much nicer stuff to think about.

I think as well that being a bit out of depth is a great way to develop, as long as you dont sink. You seem to swimming strongly.

Hi Chunkolini

Thank you! I've had my head low for a few months enjoying some down time. Spring is here and I'm now up to my eyeballs again so no more messing about.

Making the head is by far the most interesting piece of art I've ever made, there's no way to cut corners doing this stuff, just slowly slowly day by day. I've learned loads making this piece!

You're right starring at a workpiece for ages is definitely therapeutic, although a bit frustrating sometimes when I've got so many things I need to do and am a month over my time! Hopefully only a few days left on him.

Thanks for the ideas I was thinking of doing something similar to what you mentioned to the back legs to stiffen it up a bit. I also thought adding a jump that I could secretly have fixing to might help. I just want it to look as natural as possible.

Sleepless nights thinking about art is amazing! I put so much effort into the business side of things over the last few years it's been so nice to concentrate solely on a piece of art for a while.

Jump into the deep end and learn how to swim, is the only way

 

[pondman]

Hoping the customer appreciates handmade art with an appreciative handmade price

He is a very nice customer and understands the time involved in making a piece like this. I hope to find more customers like him in the future, I love doing this kind of work!

Thank very much regarding PT award!

 

[pondman]

That is bloody fantastic
its a bit different from your other stuff, and I bet you have had sleepless nights thinking of how to do certain things.
As regards the colour have a look at this stuff http://www.jpennyltd.co.uk/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=50

Thank you very much Strada!

I love your heron! I've got a pheasant to make and have been going over in my mind how I'm going to do it, hopefully anywhere near the quality of yours!

I'll have a look at that varnish thanks!

The FB page is looking great, it's awesome to see how much you've done!