Garden sculpture

[mark sanger]

HI all

I have got some work to do on this one yet with the plinth and other bits and pieces to refine it. Approx 5 ft tall.

Oak. Off set turned, carved, sanded. Will be finished in numerous coats of oil.

 

[cornucopia]

hmmmm i'm not so sure about this yet mark- i dont need to tell you where my mind intially went as yours is already there :roll: :lol:
but after that intial thought ahem......for my garden i would have to add some arms- or somthing that gives the idea of arms

 

[mark sanger]

hmmmm i'm not so sure about this yet mark- i dont need to tell you where my mind intially went as yours is already there :roll: :lol:
but after that intial thought ahem......for my garden i would have to add some arms- or somthing that gives the idea of arms

Hi George

Thank you for your comment.

Ah phalic reference. I hear what you are saying but for me I am happy with this. Or at least I think that is what you are thinking of.

I enjoy now making simplistic sculptures with as little reference to the subject as possible, so that the onlooker can make up their own mind based on what there thought process involves. If they think phalic then that is fine. If due to this they find the sculpture offensive due to this that is even better. ( not that this is my intention at all) but it shows that the on looker is making up their mind and thinking for themselves when they look at it.

I will not for one minute think that I am there with these as yet as I am very much still in the experimentation phase with regards to shapes and ideas. For this reason I post them so that I can see what sort of reaction I get.

Tanks for taking the time to comment.

 

[laird]

I like it, and my steroids must be low this afternoon 'cause I don't see it as phallic

 

[cornucopia]

you have a dirty mind sanger :lol: thats not what i meant at all

 

[mark sanger]

you have a dirty mind sanger :lol: thats not what i meant at all

oops perhaps I am the one that needs to get my brain washed out.

 

[Bodrighy]

Very african Mark. Makes a change from your smaller oriental work. I was asked to do some garden sculptures but am still trying to get my head around them. Not used to doing anything that big. I love the simplistic aspect of this and personally would leave well alone. What would you finish these with so that they are weather proof or would you leave them bare to weather and change with time?

pete

 

[mark sanger]

HI all

Laird George and Pete

Thank you for your comments.

here it is with the plinth scorched.

The sculpture will crack after time and this is part of the organic effect I am after. I was unsure about finishing as was going to use tung oil but a friend said to use organ UV oil which will make the water bead off. I will when I sell these give a after care pack including a tin of oil.

If I sell any that is

 

[Bodrighy]

That now looks really good. Hope whatever finish you use doesn't change the colour too much as the stark contrast is really striking IMHO

pete

 

[Paul.J]

Great turning again Mark :shock:
How did the lathe cope with a piece this size :?:
I always look at this piece,which is similar to your wall hanging figures,as been sad
Do you think there could be a way of having a happier looking figure,and don't go painting a smile on this one :lol: :lol:

 

[mark sanger]

Great turning again Mark :shock:
How did the lathe cope with a piece this size :?:
I always look at this piece,which is similar to your wall hanging figures,as been sad
Do you think there could be a way of having a happier looking figure,and don't go painting a smile on this one :lol: :lol:

Hi Paul

Thank you for your comment.

the lathe coped well but did start to move across the work shop. Mind you I have not bolted it down which I now need to do.

I have to say that you obviously can not turn these sort of pieces at mach 6 but you do not have to turn them too slow either.

But it is not for the faint hearted, just take it steady, better to take 5 cuts than 3 and have it fly off of the lathe.

I am am not too worried if it looks sad as it is for the viewer to interpret. From my perspective adding a smiley face would again be too reprsentative.

I will play around with the next one to see if altering the head angle/shape makes any difference.

Thanks for your comment much appreciated.

 

[mark sanger]

a different angle

 

[skeetoids]

I think this will look beautiful in some ones garden.

I feel that you have the form just right, enough to hint at the human form but lacking in any real detail (the essential bits that should be in the viewers mind).

If you apply the same finish as you did to your smaller one then I feel that it will work equaly well.

Just my thoughts but I find the piece wise, peaceful and celestial. It's great or as we say in Edinburgh, it's barry by the way!

 

[cornucopia]

The diffrent angle makes all the diffrence Mark =D>

 

[Dan-K]

Well, I do think Barry looks a bit sad too, but I'm sure someone will love him :lol:
I wish I could come up with something half as thought provoking - great work

 

[stevebuk]

not sure if you have done a face on this, but i can definitely see it. I have seen some thing similar at Rufford Park, only in stone, i actually love yours, well done
:lol:

 

[CHJ]

He, and it's definitely a He, looks sad to me also, I guess it's the "Hands in pockets" stance. Will/would be interesting to see how and if his mood changes with the weather/weathering.

 

[Oakbear]

The scorched base makes a huge difference for the better imho, and lifts the whole piece.

I am a bit ambivilant about this as it stands tbh, but have a sneaky suspicion that as it weathers it'll look gorgeous.
As it's oak i don't think it'll need a finish at all.

 

[mark sanger]

Hi

all

thank you for your comments.

When I make these I tend to go with the flow. The initial design is drawn on the blank in black marker pen and can be seen as the piece rotates. I cut to this but may decide to alter as I go along. Working in the "here and now" so to speak I find very satisfying and at times the piece will change.

This is the first large one I have done and I now have the bug to get bigger and bigger as it gives the pieces a presence and a more life like feel.

I like the contrast of this piece but as Oak Bear has said I think over time the ageing of the oak will add to the piece.

Thank you all again for your comments.

 

[mark sanger]

here are another few pictures in a slightly nicer location.