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Karen begins with the tube for the cable run (and the centre support for the tree) having a threaded brass fitting brazed into one end, and the steel armature for the base and the centre of Karen welded on. |
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An oval base was first made from clay using a plastic former and a loop of string held by two nails at the focal points of the elipse. The former was dragged around the outside of a clay slab to form an oval with a consistent profile. A plaster mould was made of the clay structure and a concrete base cast within the mould around the armature. A clay ridge was placed in the base of the mould to leave a channel in the concrete for the cable. Wire mesh was then wrapped around the steel armature to provide a base structure for the plaster/burlap build up. The steel was all coated with three layers of shellac to seal it before the application of concrete or plaster. |
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The build up of the plaster and burlap has begun. The lower section was not going right, so I adjusted it (with an axe). |
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The body is building well. The joint between Karen's leg and the base has been reinforced with glass-reinforced-plastic (polyester resin). The base has also been given a coat of GRP (experience from Lisa shows that the base is a good place for coffee cups etc.). |
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The body and tree have been built up to almost the final layers now. The tree and arms are made from a hard plaster (Modell plaster) for strength. The body is given a final coat of softer dental plaster (without burlap) that can be sanded to a fine finish. |
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The hands are modelled from plaster. |
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Karen is now given three coats of shellac as a sealant before painting. |
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Two coats of good masonry paint are applied as a base coat. The white on the body will help to give a clean yellow top coat. |
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Three layers of top colour and two layers of a satin varnish are applied. Her glasses have been cut from copper sheet (was a hot-water tank). |
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The final lamp. Karen is on the left, Lisa on the right, and some ugly sculptor in the middle! |