FMD #26

New year, new camera. I managed to break my older Canon so I just purchased a new Canon EOS 80D. I haven’t had time to figure it all out yet but wanted to finally get some new photos up on the blog so I took some test photos using a 50mm lens of the final clay bust study of Fannie Mae Duncan using Chavant Le Beau Touche HM clay.

There are as many ways to sculpt as you can imagine and just as many ways to handle details such as teeth. The thing to remember is that sculpture is pretty reliant upon light and shadow for the work to be seen. That said, patina does come into play. Regardless of how the patina is applied, time and atmosphere eventually come into play. Generally, over time, the bronze sculpture will darken to the deep browns we are used to seeing, especially in older and European sculptures. The recessed areas trap more shadow as well as deepening in patina color. This is an important consideration for the sculpture, particularly with smiles and teeth - one reason why most sculptures don’t show teeth. It is relatively easy for teeth to become too defined and then look strange because they become almost comical by being outlined by the deep patinas in the crevices. It is a balancing act to show the shape and some details of the teeth without overdoing.