Visual Symbols Clay Portraits

Visual Symbols Clay Portraits

Figure #1: A Happy Idea (Clay and chalk pastel; Size - 2 x 8 x 3 in)

Figure #2: A Happy Reality (Clay and chalk pastel, Size - 7 x 4 x 11 in)

Artist Statement:

“The visual symbols sculptures entitled “A Happy Thought” and “A Happy Reality” was inspired by Elise Segal, Melvino Garrett, and Ebitenyifa Baralaye.“My intent

is to visually communicate how the mind can discover a sense of happiness when it is needed.” I wanted to focus on the tension between the figure and semiotic

symbols because of the cohesion that offers to express emotion. I decided to include chalk pastels to make the semiotics and figures voice an expression to the

audience. I felt the work was not producing the results I wanted with chalk pastels. I should next time use paint to emphasize color to make the value range obvious

to the viewer. I want to keep exploring clay as an art form because of its ability to be a free-form creative exercise. I want to learn more about color theory in which it

can emphasize the ability to express a narrative to audiences. This piece allowed me to explore skills to work with clay and chalk pastels. The making of this work

exposed new ideas such as my ability to form a purpose to express the emotional theme for my messages.

 In-Process Photos:

Forming the figure's upper body

Finishing the figure's upper body

Creating the figure's head

Upper body of figure

Holding the upper body of the figure

Research:

Jethro Crabb - Donald Trump Wax Portrait: http://www.sculpturecommission.com/

A group of artists created a clay and wax portrait of Donald Trump by measuring the proportions and painting clay over and of a human body. 

Phillipe Faraut - Sculpture Gallery - "Mister": https://philippefaraut.com/collections/portrait-sculpture/products/mister

A group of artists created clay sculptures of famous symbolisms that represent worldwide, personal, and cultural emotions. These sculptures consist of time periods that range from centuries, to decades, and to current issues. 

Johnson Tsang - Colossal, "Dream Worlds Imagined in Contorted Clay Portraits by Johnson Tsang" - "Here and There": https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2019/02/lucid-dream-johnson-tsang/

Johnson Tsang created clay portraits that inspired the emotional attitude of the viewer. He told the viewer how his mind felt about the world through his internal thinking process. 

Inspiration: 

Elise Siegel: https://elisesiegel.com/

Melvino Garretti: https://parkergallery.com/artists/melvino-garretti  

Ebitenyifa Baralaye: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/sculptor-ebitenyefa-baralayes-ceramic-vessels-pay-homage-to-his-ancestry