What I Brought Home from Florence
Monday, October 1, 2012 As I mentioned previously, I spent ten days at a sculpture workshop in Florence led by sculptor Simon Kogan. Here are some lessons I took away from this experience:
1. It is valuable to draw. I usually make my sketches in clay, since the composition of a sculpture is 3-D. I d discovered that sculptors like Marino Marini drew a person's portrait before he sculpted them. Drawing helps us to understand what we're seeing in a new way.
2. I was challenged to try a new medium. I typically sculpt in oil clay and cast in bronze, but this workshop inspired me to seek new avenues of creativity by discovering the potential and limitations of other materials like plaster.
3. An artist community is important. There were twelve other students in the workshop–all women–and we worked, walked, ate, and experienced art and life together for eleven days. Though very diverse in age, education, profession, religion, and residence; we quickly found camaraderie and learned a great deal from each other.
4. Some things in sculpting are difficult to teach and to comprehend. We reach a point where we go beyond technique or principle of design, to something that is more nebulous. In the classroom we used models, and made many quick, small sketches, seeking to express the essence of the forms. Simon pushes us beyond our formulas into that place where fine art is born.
Reader Comments (2)
Karen,
This sounds like it was a wonderful experience. Thank you for sharing what you learned, the new mediums you're experimenting with and your photos...I'm a bit jealous. I love Florence.
Very entertaining information. found a lot of things for yourself useful. Thx!!!!