While blogger locked me out today, I spent that time looking up concrete artists. OMG! Look at THIS site I found, that stuff is amazing! I am enthralled by the primitive look, the whimsy and colors. I could do my own version of this on my ugly clothes line poles..if I knew how. I drug out all my concrete and sand and now I'm just staring at it wondering how to get started. I've looked everywhere and while I've found cool sculptures, no one really explains how. They all want you to fly somewhere and take classes. Yeah, right. I made those big leaf birdbaths last year and they've held up nicely, so it makes me want to try something bigger. I assume this stuff has some sort of support, a wire armature or something as a base? If anyone out there works with concrete, please tell me how to start so I don't have 200 pounds of scraps to haul off. Anyhow, this is cool stuff, huu?
16 comments:
i would assume---guessing here---that you'd make a wooden frame and then use chicken wire to hold the concrete.....
This doesn't tell you how but thought you would find it interesting. My kids and I visited this place last year and it was just too cool!
http://www.garden-of-eden-lucas-kansas.com/
i would love to learn how to do that. If I find any plans or ideas online pat, i will let you know.
side note. we found out from the groomer what Lulu is breed wise (my avatar dog). She had another dog come in that was identical.
She is a hybrid Pomeranian and Maltese. Some people call them Malti-Pom and others call them Pomanese.
Pat, Try searching WIRE ARMATURE. I think that may help. Most of my cracked cement animals have a wire armature, for instance. Pink Flamingos and Budhas. Oh, chicken wire too? luv ya. bima
DD try here:
DIY Creating Concrete Sculptures
http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60565
You can likely contact the artist in this article & he will give you some tips. T.J. Neil.
an excerpt
"The process begins with an armature of rebar rods covered with galvanized lath wire. This serves as the skeleton of the structure. The wire mesh is secured to the rebar with black tie wire. Before building, Neil cuts hundreds of 8-inch pieces of black tie wire and keeps them in a coffee can. Every 3 inches on the armature, he bends the wires into an S, hooks them through the lath and around the rods, and twists them tightly."
There's plenty more. Hope you have a ball doing this & can't wait to see the results or the process! It does look like an interesting work to tackle.
DD, those are too cool. I hope you figure out how to make them. You need a concrete scarecrow in your garden.
Heidi, whatever breed your pup may be, I call her cute!
Hey guys, thanks! I am familiar with Niels work, but, had never seen the process before. Those photos make it clear.
Thanks to all of you. I'll start out with something small, 3 feet or so high and I'll blog it. Even if it's a mess. I guess I can learn as I go. The mosaic work is cool too.
My mom just did some work on her house and there's all kinds of PVC pipe left over. I'll bet that would work for an armature too. Hmm. It's free. Free is good.
Those pictures are too cool. Love to have one of those in my yard.
DD - keep us posted on your progress.
Pat;
Please check your email.
Read it..thank you SOOOO much. My readers amaze me.
When I worked with cement for a project years ago, I fell in love with it. I've always wanted to do something with it, not sculpture, but patio bricks, kitchen counter, etc. It seemed so forgiving and versatile.
I would mix small amounts (DON'T inhale the dust) and play around with it. Chicken wire would be too lightweight but wire mesh works.
I've always wanted to mix cellulose in to make a lightweight cement for patio pots or something. I don't have the time or place right now but it's on the back burner for me. I couldn't find a good diy site either.
I'm gonna try some free form stuff, I'll let you know. It's raining today though, I had to haul my supplies inside.
It's a heavy hobby, I know that from last years efforts. I'll have to plan carefully.
i'd like to make little easter isle type statues! :)
I like those too!
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