WE STARTED CARVING TODAY

Today's class started with one more quick pose; however, it was not easier. This was a standing pose. The students found it difficult to make the piece stand on two feet. This is one reason we had to put a pillar or prop beside the model. This helped support the figurines. Brad worked with the students and showed them a few pointers. Then he brought out the carving tools but suggested that to begin with they only use their pencils for carving. Raheem volunteered to model next. Poor Raheem. Little did he know that Brad and Tara were going to put him into a kneeling pose. This is a pose that most likely will be part of the large piece that Brad is going to do. Everyone was asked to get more clay than before. All students began to work on their figures. They had learned by now that they must keep changing positions as they carve so that they can see the model from all angles. I even got into this exercise. I'll have to admit that the carving was quite challenging but Brad and Tara were constantly giving us all suggestions as to how to make our pieces better. Some students did try the carving tools that Brad brought with him. These tools are used to get more detail than can be obtained with the pencils. The main objective for today was learning how to work off the edge which gives volume to form. This exercise took longer than the others so we had to put them away under plastic until tomorrow. The plastic will help the clay from drying out. Just before they were covered for the evening Brad talked with us briefly about our day's work. All students and I are anxiously awaiting for tomorrow's class so that we can complete our sculptures.

Larry Hewett