Rhino Sculpture

Rhino sculpture in the making

Working on a very special Rhino.

 I am making this to support Ol Pejeta the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa. privileged to have been asked to help with the Charity. The have recently established an anti-poaching dog section. Deserve all the help they can get. They are a non-profit making organisation Ol Pejeta Conservancy

I have  blocked out the sculpture and started working on the skin to give it the right texture. A long way to go yet. The final rhino sculpture will be auctioned to raise funds. I want to make sure it is ready in plenty on time for the auction in May

New Animal Sculpture Web Site

Sitting Bear  Sculpture

Thought this might be a different sculpture to show on the blog. I have always liked bears and have been looking for a finish on the ceramic sculpture that would really suit the subject. I almost stummbled across this finish playing about with copper and a bronze glaze I like to use sometimes. When I opened the kiln there was this almost leaden black glaze which has a sheen rather than a shine. It really seems to suit the bear. A happy discovery.!

I have been busy recently creating a new web site to show the latest developments in my work. I seem to have moved in my ceramics into more often using bronze glazes. I have also begun to do more bronzes and bronze resin. It seemed to be confusing the original web site so my wife is creating a new site

http://www.hollingworth-bronze-sculpture.co.uk/

If you have time to let us know what you thnk of the developing site it would be very helpful. It is unfinished but growing rapidly.

New Animal Sculptures

Quite a lot to write about as I have come to the end of two animal sculpture commissions. It's always a time of mixed feelings as the work has been so enjoyable and now is over. I guess its the pleasure of actually making that keeps me going ! It is good to be paid for something I enjoy doing as well ! Have to be realistic I guess.

The Cockerel finally finished and patinated ! Cast by Pangolin Editions who are considered to be the best casters in Europe, if not worldwide. It has been a pleasure to work with them on this commission. Do check out their web site to see how it is done.

This is the first of an edition of 12. For more information visit my web site

I have also finished a commission for four garden hares. These were made in ceramic and finished in a bronze glaze. It works very well but of course is not real foundry bronze.

Here they are -

This is a picture taken in the studio after firing. They have all now been finished and mounted onto bases. Busy today but will get the pictures of this finished commission up later this month.

Finished Gorilla Sculpture in the Garden

Just realised that I never posted the picture of the gorilla I made to go into a garden. This silverback gorilla was life size and proved to be a very enjoyable sculpture to make. I have blogged about it before but never showed the finished sculpture.
When it was delevered the client was having the garden modified to fit the gorilla sculpture. I can make work to a clients ideas. Usually there is a detailed discussion to arrive at the design. It is always a challenge to make a bespoke piece of sculpture. I will find some more pictures and add them to the blog later.
My web site has pictures of this being made.

Garden Cockerel Sculpture in Bronze Resin

Garden Sculpture of a Cockerel

Here it is looking as if he already owns the place. I was so pleased to see the finished sculpture of the cockerel safely back and now placed in my garden. I will need to photograph it well before putting on the web site. It weighs quite a lot so had to be carried carefully. At the moment it is sitting on the wooden deck. I like the way the cockerel sculpture looks as if it has always been there and is very much in charge.

I think he would suit putting up slightly higher maybe on a wall. I am planning to visit a friend with a very splendid garden and see if the cockerel sculpture will photograph well there.

My next work is to complete a set of hares for a client. These are going to be created in clay and high-fired to stoneware
temperatures. The final finish will be using a bronze glaze that works very well on ceramic garden sculpture.

Cockerel Sculpture in Progress

The picture is work in progress on a commission to make a Bantam Cockeral. There is an armature inside the clay to support the cockerel sculpture as it is made in clay. This was a trial run just to work on the form, texture and position. It was meant just to be for fun and to solve all the problems. Turned out rather well so decided to have it cast in Bronze Resin. It should look good and would suit a garden very well. I am specialising in garden sculpture as part of my work.

Off today to collect it from the caster. I will put some pictures on the blog tomorrow so everyone can have a look. Here are some pictures of it being made - enjoy !

Gorilla Sculpture in the Garden?

I really love the wonderful world of primates. I have spent many days drawing gorillas and orang-utans at zoos all over the world. At my local zoo Twycross, I have spent so much time sketching that 'Joe' , the huge silverback, and I developed a very special relationship. Joe often hid himself from the public in his nest at the back of his enclosure when he got fed up with the noise and fuss of the many children who came to see him.

However whenever I slipped into the back of the viewing area Joe would climb down and come right up to the window, rest his elbows on the inner ledge and almost pose for his picture to be drawn. If I moved away to look at the other gorillas Joe would register his disapproval by knocking on the glass until I came back.
This interest culminated in a wonderful commission to make a life size figure of a silverback to be cast in bronze resin to go into a clients garden.
Joe was the basis and I tried to emphasis the massive presence and wonderful stillness and calm of this magnificent creature. The clay figure was moulded and then a cast made. The sculpture now sits in a secluded place in the client's garden. The mould was so good that up to 12 copies of this magnificent sculpture could be made.

 

To see more pictures of the finished sculpture visit www.animal-sculpture.co.uk

www.hollingworth.bronze.sculpture.co.uk