sculpting – Ellen Cooper Art

I have been having great fun recently working on some bird sculptures in various styles and using different techniques. They range from more or less realistic to complete fantasy! Here are a few in various stages of production:

Decorating with underglaze after first firing

pair of hens mounted on wood — Good Friends

Rook. This one is not finished yet. The clay will turn black when fired and it will be mounted, probably on a post or block of wood.

Drying out, texture has been used to add detail

“Hatchling” after final firing. The choice of base is important

close up of hatchling sculpture — Detail adds character.

Texture and a tuft decorate this one. There are holes underneath to add legs later.

Underglaze has been applied to add colour

Tufftty Bird — Tufty Bird has a wooden stand, a natural small log

tuffty bird mounted on wood — Texture and colour are important

And here are some completed birds:

Hen With Egg, there really are bald hens! 30x20x25cm

fantasy hen — Fantasy Hen. Sculpture for inside or outside. £80

head of ceramic bird — The eye has a glossy glaze.

More pictures can be seen on the Ceramics: Animals page: https://ellencooperart.com/gallery/

and also in my Etsy Shop:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/EllenCooperArt

Cow and Calf

This little calf is proving to be a popular piece at Wyndcliffe Court Sculpture Garden’s 2016 Summer Show, where it can be seen the gallery. It was sculpted in the cow shed on a dairy farm in Broadwoodwidger in Devon. They were captive models so a little easier than the cow, although the biting flies were pesky! Here it is drying out in the holiday cottage.

The cow proved more tricky; note the sculpture stand on the left, and the models did not hold a pose well.

sculpting the cow — Sculpting in progress.

Dairy cow in wet clay — Finished and drying out.

Packing for the journey home was not easy either and while waiting to be fired the cow’s legs got broken and had to be painstakingly rebuilt before it could be completed and cast in bronze resin; it was certainly a labour of love!

holstein friesian cow — Holstein-Friesian Cow

But worth it!

The calf is also available in bronze.

Tag: sculpting

Rook

Rook

The rook is sculpted in black and white clays with a touch of glaze giving a glossy sheen. He is sitting comfortably with a full crop and watchful eyes. The clay is stoneware so can be kept inside or out.

The whole sculpture is just over 50cm tall.

Birds

Birds

Cow and Calf