Progess and Prespiration

I love Thursdays! I am looking forward to the next three days of being able to focus entirely on StudioBurdick. When I work during the day I am so tired by the time that I get home that I have meager and very sub-inspired juice to give to sculpting. And by the time I eat and walk Mia, talk to my husband, do laundry etc.... I have learned to celebrate even a half hour of evening sculpting. This has been a productive week through. The gentleman from the foundry WAS out of town last week and finally called me back. He was very polite and professional so I set up an appointment with him for next Friday. I plan on looking at photos of First Bond with him and well as some of my more detailed previous work. I need to know if he is capable of producing the work that I want and well as a good patina finish. What his average lead time is. Expense. All that good stuff that will help me move further along with my business plan and finally give me an idea of what final cost will be. I should talk to the potential foundry in Canada and the one in Spokane before meeting. Just so that I am a little more educated about what the competition can provide. A foundry in Seattle would be an excellent find if it does meet the criteria.

The last few nights I have been working on the detail of the upper hand on First Bond. I have put in at least an hour each night. I feel really good about what I am accomplishing though am surprised and trying not to get discouraged about how long these details are taking. I keep telling myself..After I make it through this one, the next one is going to go so much smoother and the next after that. I am just still paving the road. : )

My sculpting hero is Bernini. His work has the amazing ability to wow and inspire me and then make me feel very small and inadequate. I try to focus on the wow and inspiring part of that but sometimes.......

Bernini's "The Rape of Proserpina" in one of my favorite sculptures. The skin seems so soft and pliable under the griping hands. The fact that those details are carved from stone without the benefit of being able to use a soft clay medium totally wows the socks off me. I aspire to be able to produce that effect of soft "give" in my pieces.