I'm making a silicon mould of rice.

Kia ora koutou,

Welcome to my last post to end my time as a 30 day artist. Above is a picture of a silicon mould I’m making of rice that will be cast in bronze. It is a bit more involved to make the mould than it looks, as the correct amount of hardener needs to be added to the rubber as will as additional additives if the rubber is too thin. It can be very messy.

I’ve also been busy finishing an application relating to my up and coming exhibition in Bangkok. That’s another aspect of an artists life, finding galleries to show artwork and finding/making the money to fund the endeavour, which all takes time.

If you’ve been checking this blog and I haven’t posted some days it’s because I have a secret to share with you. I’m excited to tell you, I’m three and a half months pregnant. So, during the past month whilst I’ve been making all this art and travelling etc, I’ve had bad day and night morning sickness and exhaustion. Although I’ve wanted to post something everyday, I haven’t managed to be able to.

I’ve posted images of my bronze sculpture, glass sculptures, and paintings over the past 30 days. Which of my artworks do like the best and why? You’re comments are much appreciated.

Thanks to those who have taken the time to write a comment and thank you everyone for looking at my blog postings. I hope you have found it interesting?

Information about me and the international The Border Crossing Art Project I’m curating and exhibiting in, which is opening in Bangkok in February 2010, can be found at http://thebordercrossingartproject.blogspot.com/, or you can find me on Twitter as “Remarque Studio”.

If you’re interested in collaborating in a project, would like to exhibit my work in your gallery or would like me to lead a workshop please contact me via a link from the sites above.

Best wishes for your life and your creative endeavours whatever they may be.

Hei konā mai, Wendy

Wendy Grace Allen

For more of Wendy, drop by her site:

http://thebordercrossingartproject.blogspot.com/

http://wendygraceallen.posterous.com/

Detail added to bronze Gong Khao (Rice Box)

Inside detail added to Gong Khao (Rice Box)

Detail of rice pattern inside Gong Khao.

I’ve found a way to “imprint” the rice onto the inside of the bronze rice box. If you look at the earlier post of this image on “Day 10″, it is smooth and shiny inside.

Bronze Casting Process – This is how I make my bronze sculptures

1. A sculpture is made in clay or wax or some other media.
2. If the sculpture is made in a medium other than wax, a mould of silicon or plaster (or a combination of the two) is made of the sculpture, then the sculpture is removed from the mould and wax is poured into the cavity.
3. Any imperfections in the wax are touched up.
4. A pouring vent and channels to allow the molten bronze to flow into the sculpture (called runners) are made of wax and attached to the wax sculpture. The pouring vent becomes the spout that the bronze is poured in through. Vents to let air escape from the mould (called risers) are also added to the wax.
5. A ceramic mould is made of the wax. The ceramic mould has to be able to withstand having bronze poured into it at 1200 -1400 degrees celsius.
6. The wax is melted out of the ceramic mould.
7. Molten bronze is poured into the cavity of the ceramic mould.
8. Once cool, the ceramic mould is cracked open to reveal the bronze.
9. The runners and risers and the pouring vent are cut off.
10. Grinders are used to remove and smooth excess metal.
11. The sculpture is checked for imperfections such as small pin holes that may need filling in.
12. A coloured patina (chemical colour) is painted on and fused onto the sculpture with heat.
13. The finished bronze is signed with metal etching tools and polished.

Here is a link to a video I took of sculptures and some of the bronze casting process at the Asia Fine Arts Foundry in Attuhaya, Thailand: Bronze Casting in Attuhaya.

Myth - Wendy Grace Allen

Here’s a mixed media artwork that’s almost complete. I have quite a few works in progress at the moment including the silicon moulds I’m making. Today, I was also working on a grant application for one of my exhibitions. Deadlines, deadlines… I also went to the printers to deliver and then pick up and for physiotherapy for my sore neck and back, which required three trips to the hospital (basically because the Dr and then the physio’s weren’t available and I had to return later). After all that, it’s time for bed.

Goodnight,

Wendy

Banpao - Impressions of Rice Paddy Fields - Wendy Grace Allen

Here’s another painting, it’s based on my experience in Banpao village in North East Thailand. The village is surrounded by rice paddy fields and the rice is the major source of income for the majority of the villagers.

I’m still working on the silicon moulds to show you.

Until tomorrow,

Wendy

Blue and Red Abstract - Wendy Grace Allen

Here’s one of my finished paintings. Tomorrow I will make a silicon mould for bronze casting and I’ll explain the bronze casting process so you can get an idea about what’s involved.

Cheers, Wendy

Red Abstract with Yellow Mixed Media (work in progress) - Wendy Grace Allen

This and the previous abstract I posted yesterday, are inspired by Chinese culture and Chinese festivals in Malaysia.

Cheers, Wendy

Red Mixed Media Abstract (work in progress) - Wendy Grace Allen

This is part of my new series where I’m experimenting with different media. It is created on unstretched canvas then stretched when complete or at the exhibition location. This makes transporting the artwork much easier.

Wendy

Arteri - Art in a Suitcase Expo stand showing my work

Me and my suitcase of 18 small artworks

Sculpture by Jesús Curiá from Spain

Autumn's Fragrance by Korean artist Yoon, Byung Rock

Malaysian artist Cheah Yew Saik, in front of his painting in the Special Tribute Pavillion to his work

Malaysian Art Expo
At the expo which is on from 19th-23rd November at Matrade, Kuala Lumpur, there are 14 countries represented. Here’s a few pictures to give you a glimpse of the work at the show. I enjoyed my visit to the expo. There was a diversity of work represented although paintings are predominant of varying quality from outstanding to plain boring. If you managed to go to the expo what was your opinion?

http://www.artexpomalaysia.com/

Cheers, Wendy

Arteri stall at the Malaysian Art Expo.

3-dimensional paintings in a suitcase - Wendy Grace Allen.

Hi. I have just got back from KL, where I took some work to be displayed in the Arteri stall at the Malaysian Art Expo. More photos tomorrow.

- Wendy