Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Michael Demeng Anatomical Man Class

So Sunday March 2nd I headed out for a long awaited Michael Demeng Class in Berkeley.
It was an odd start for me. Missing my bus, missing my transfer train & then another bus. Arrived 15min. in, and took me a while to wake up & jump in the game.
(my creative time is normally around 11pm till daybreak)... so attempting to create at 10 in the morning was interesting. It wasn't until after lunch that I felt alive & really settled into creating... of course at that time the class was nearly over & ready for the overview.

Michael was friendly, funny & had some good advice for techniques in collaging my plastic Anatomy figure into a work of art.


My Horned Ancient Guardian of the key was unfinished... and though Mike had said the piece looked finished as it was. I continued to create after I got home. Then went out and had a fabulous Mexican meal with the hus (who had bought the class for me as a Valentines gift ).
Then back for Sweet Honey Mead wine & final creation.

I realized in adding extra chains & wired caging around the open chest area... it really changed the overall feel of the piece. Maybe even less emphasis on the Large Onyx horns. But in the end... it was what I wanted to do. So I stepped away from the work & let it be what it is.

(michael & I after class)

Technique/concepts & flow:

-Plastic Anatomical Figure... innards taken out. Face sliced down with dremel. NouVeau Stamp attached.
-hands drilled & chest ridge drilled for future wiring & chain attachments
-Wired feet down to base (base found object Heavy Brass almost like a gauge)
- Gold glass rays button with color wash over.
- Gold plastic bead trim frame body of the piece (drawing eye inward says 'michael' :)
-Horns: Carved Black Onyx wired into place
-Key & Skull attached to innard well
-coated in white dap kwik caulk for texture
-Painted over in varying effects: Carbon Black, Paynes Gray, Dioxane Purple blend/wash
-More colors included Permenant Bronze, Ant. Silver

Midnight at home design continuation included:
-painting accents of Bronze & wash over face & details of mask.
- more wash & darkened details on body, & accent glow hues inside chest well.
- Wired Darkened Brass with black glass teardrops around chest.
- Chain sweeps & tiny black glass heart with tiny accent Bronze painted heart hanging chest center.
- Long Chain sweeps & Waterfall of asymetrical chain drops & tears from hands.
- left over wire around base used to accent sweep for one side of drops. Drops sit inside coil.
- repaint over brass base with Bronze & dark wash accents.

*DONE*

any comments welcome. Sorry I did not get the name of the other students in class, so I do not have names next to pieces by others.
Luckily I got a ride home from 2 of my table/classmates Deborah & Daniel. I took a few pics of everyones pieces...Will post pics of others work.

~X~



All together now...


My horned Guardian before Final Wired cage & drops.
Love the pic with Mike in the background... Almost like mike is a giant next to all the collaged creatures.

~

5 comments:

~*~Patty S said...

WOW!!! Love your Anat. Man, it's just too cool for school!!! The horns and chains and the whole shabang = awesome! I took Michael's altered lightbulb class at Art&Soul in Hampton VA last May. He really is good about creating an atmosphere to create in. Ours was a huge class too. He's so talented and generous! That was before I had a blog, I really must post a pic, I was really pleased with the outcome! YOu must be really jazzed about what you created!!!!

Unknown said...

I love the finished piece, Phyll! I still haven't had time to finish up my pieces from the classes that I took. But I have been using the caulk texture technique on my shrines and even on canvas and paper.

I checked out your jewelery site the other night and I love your custom work... I bookmarked it for further perusal.

Take care, Lady!
xoxo
jul

Brighid's House O' Masks said...

That is absolutely amazing! What is Michael's full name? I'd like to learn more!

~~~Eyescream~~~ said...

to Brighid's House O' Masks,
His name is Michael Demeng. Which is in the title of this post. As well there is a link at the top of this post just click his name highlighted. As well as links under 'Other Artists' & 'Books I covet' on the right side bar.
Check out his book, it's pretty inspirational. He also has a blog that you can follow the links to.
much luck.
~X~

Meghan McKee said...

you might want to check out Mihail Chemiakin... He's a Russian sculptor. Your piece reminded me of his stuff. I worked on a bunch of his stuff when i worked at an art foundry. Hope you find good inspiration from it