Ben McCarl
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Paper Bag Princess gets a Foam Core, Wire Mesh and First Winterstone Application

2/21/2012

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The spray foam kept falling off the metal frame, inspiring me to roll a cardboard tube around it to contain the flow.  This worked great, although the foam expanded out the top far more than anticipated.  No worries, it'll be easy to cut off.

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Stripping away the cardboard revealed the foam core which was ready for carving.    At this point the sculpture looks more like a missile or robot or submarine on its end. 

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Shave off some foam with a sharp knife then go away for a while to contemplate.  Return and repeat again and again until the princess emerges.

Some artistic deviations from the original picture are evident: the sculpture's feet are toeing inward rather than outward like the picture.  I'm not sure which direction the final sculpture will be.  The non-waving arm in the picture is crooked in front of the princess but I prefer the open impression of having it hanging behind her back instead.

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After more shaving to reduce the princess' head size her foam feet were removed.  The build up of future layers of wire mesh, Winterstone and icing would have made the feet far too large if starting with a foam core so I start by cutting off the foam and building the feet from wire.

A difference: For my previous Celebration sculpture donated to the GYMC I pulled the wire mesh tight to the foam core but for the princess I'm trying a more relaxed fit.  This should provide better structural strength by having ample Winterstone on both sides of the mesh.  As a bonus, looser mesh was easier to install and saved my wrist from being hurt again.  I damaged the lunate bone alignment in my right wrist while making the Celebration sculpture and it still hasn't quite healed. 

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The first application of Winterstone went well.  The princess was sprayed with water and covered with a plastic bag to let the stone cure hard.

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The Paper Bag Princess Sculpture Begins

2/2/2012

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After taking some time off of art for Christmas and to convert Sondra's bedroom into an art studio - sorry Sondra but you moved out and I wanted the space :)  it's time to start the next sculpture project.  

I spoke with Kitty Pope about creating and donating one for the Guelph Public Library.  She was ecstatic.  I proposed creating a sculpture in tribute to a Guelph author and suggested Robert Munsch.  We selected The Paper Bag Princess as the character of choice and will place her near the entrance of the new library building.  (She'll have a temporary home at the present library until the new building is ready.)  To make her easily identifiable to children I want the sculpture to be similar to an illustration in the book.  The picture of her waving goodbye to the dragon as he flies around the world will be perfect.  

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First step: A trip to Canadian Tire to buy threaded rods, nuts and a piece of angle iron with holes.

Second step: find some wood in the basement and make a base.

Third step: Cut and bend rods and angle iron then assemble the pieces.  Can you see the princess' form?

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    Ben McCarl

    Thousands of potential sculptures lie within each and every uncut stone.  Sometimes the destiny is obvious when I see a stone and sometimes releasing the sculpture within is a long journey following countless hints and inspirations.

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