To One Thing Constant Never

I have decided not to place a deadline on my sculptures anymore-it's just not going to work that way. So, I will still post my stuff, just not with an obligation. I am tired of History plays, I think I will make Ariel from The Tempest next. This one should be fun.
Cheers.

Henry V

Katherine, Princess of France, is complete. In the play Henry V, Katherine appears only twice, however, she is destined to become a French queen to an English king and country. She recognizes the fact that if France loses the war with England, at the peace negotiations she is likely to be given in marriage to the eligible English king. In spite of that, Katherine throws the English king hurdles to his wooing, such as, not allowing him to kiss her because it is the fashion in France. Shakespeare gives her all the force and wit of one of his major heroines, even though she plays a relatively minor part in the performance.
"O bon Dieu! les langues des hommes sont pleines de tromperies."
Translation: O good God! the language of men is full of deceit.
Very apt.

Update on Henry V

Front view of Katherine. She has no feet as of yet; I meant to take in progress pictures of her, but I couldn't find the camera.

When my mom looked at Princess Katherine, she said, "I really like the back part of it." I hope my specialty does not become bustles. She looks a bit peaked right now, but after she is baked and colored she should look better. I think I need to fix that chin too. The skirt of the dress turned out well though, I do believe; it is always difficult to make folds just right. I couldn't give her curly hair because the hair styles back then were rather...tight, if you know what I mean. I hope she looks corseted enough, I had a bugger of a time trying to make her look corseted- a thing I have never done before. The seat is holding up, hurrah! I hope it doesn't collapse in the oven. Well, time to make some feet for her now.

TLS'ed and Bak'ed and a'

I changed tactics, and although I did TLS and bake it, that is as far as I will go until the final baking; after which I will add detail in paints for bringing out the grain of the wood, paint the ribbon, and make the nobbins some sort of metal color, and gloss it. All that has to wait until I bake it the last time, however. Now, for some reference pictures...

Seating Object

It still needs more details, such as the grain of the wood and making the legs look better, but I added a few more elements, such as the ribbon tied to the leg by idle fingers and metal embellishments. Once I finish it I'll brush some diluted TLS tinted brown to try to create a varnished look. I will bake it once for about 30 min., then I will sculpt the Princess sitting on it, and bake them both (sufficiently supported!) for probably an hour. I have enough clay to start Kate, but I will have to wait to finish her until more clay arrives. Meanwhile, I will look up some reference pictures of dresses, headdresses, hair styles, etc. But even before all that, I have to finish some homework, make supper, and finish the object of repose!

A Stool or a Table?

I am working on what I planned to be a stool, unfortunately it has four legs and looks like a table. I am loth to give it three legs because of sturdiness issues. Here is what it looked like at first:

And this is what it looks like after I added a couple details:

It doesn't look too great yet, but its all in the details. I will work on it some more this evening and try to make it look more "finished."

From England to France

Next sculpture will be (as I stated earlier) Katherine, Princess of France, from the play Henry V. Here's the plan, Kathy will be sitting on a stool. I have never made a stool before. Fingers are crossed, lets hope this stool turns out, otherwise royalty will have to submit to sitting on the floor; I sure hope I am skilled enough to prevent such an atrocity from happening. Of course, she could always stand, but that's boring, and I would have to make an armature for her skirt, which is complicated. Thinking of Katherine makes me feel like I'm making a little Shakespeare character family, which is odd. Anyway, stand by for stool news, I'll try to keep this blog better updated.

Henry IV part two

Prince Hal is done! In the play Henry IV, Prince Henry is the King's prodigal son, he means well but doesn't quite do well. Since Hal is the King's oldest son, he will inherit the kingship, which is a great worry to the old king, for he does not want the kingdom to fall into idle hands. Near the end of the play, Hal, when he sees his father supposedly dead, takes the crown as he would take a burden, which killed his father and which he is glad to keep, that it may poison him like it did his father. However, the old king did not die, he just fell asleep. The ensuing conversation is my favorite in all of Shakespeare's work, my paraphrasing cannot do it justice; read the play, it is worth it! In short, Hal reforms and the king dies content with his son.
"My gracious lord! my father! This sleep is sound indeed, this is a sleep That from this golden rigol hath divorc'd So many English kings. Thy due from me Is tears and heavy sorrows of the blood, Which nature, love, and filial tenderness Shall, O dear father, pay thee plenteously. My due from thee is this imperial crown, Which as immediate from thy place and blood, Derives itself to me. (Puts on crown)." Thus speaks Henry, thinking his father is dead, but he is only very ill, and sleeping soundly.

Henry IV part two update

Alright, so I am almost done with Prince Hal from Henry IV part two, I just have to touch up the paint job, make a base, and take his picture. It's taking me longer than I expected already, too much homework! But I should get him up pretty soon, I am so close to finishing him. On a sad note though, his legs are too long. A quarter of an inch too long. I'll have to be more exact next time, but it is so annoying since I can't change it now. Next character will be Princess Katherine of France from Henry V. Hmm, I think she would look good in a red dress, curly hair maybe, and a tall headdress? I have to finish Hal first though, and buy more clay. These people are so well dressed they take up too much of my clay! I can't wait to make some dressed-in-rags plebs...or not.