Not to be beaten I contacted the Royal Society of Sculptors for advice and they came up with a specialist casting studio for me so off I went. After much deliberation they said it was right on the edge of what’s possible to cast because it was so multifaceted but they were up for the challenge!
They gave me some homework to do so I had to get rid of some undercuts and build up and strengthen the base. The finished piece was perfect and I was delighted with it.
The icing on the cake was that the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition that year was entitled ‘Light’ and my piece was featured. David Mach had curated the sculpture for the show and in the information alongside the show he said my heavy piece appeared so lightweight and transient that with a puff of wind it would drift off like a feather, which was exactly what I had been aiming for. I was really pleased with the recognition from someone I admire and that he had realised my intent.
Coelenterates Floating 2 by Carole Andrews
So my advice is to just keep talking to other sculptors, it’s a rewarding experience in so many ways.
As artists we all need inspirational places to spark off our imagination and I find Iceland ticks all my boxes from the massive basalt rock faces to the awesome power of the geysers, diversity of lava fields and different types of volcanoes. It’s no wonder so much of Harry Potter was filmed there.
Walking through lava plains stretching as far as the eye could see and covered with thick luxurious moss looking like velvet was an unforgettable experience.
One thing that may surprise you about me is I am a pretty mean shot with a rifle.
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