Sculpture Process
Gillie and Marc love creating beautiful sculptures - pieces of art that take up space in your home to make it more vibrant, interesting, and personal. With every piece created with love, the artists allow you to take home a little bit of the passion they have inside them, whether that be for one of the beautiful animals in the world they strive to save, or their iconic lovers, Rabbitwoman and Dogman. Gillie and Marc work in a range of materials for their sculptures including bronze, resin, fibreglass, stainless steel, and ceramic.
Sculptures and technology
As artists, Gillie and Marc love to embrace both the past and the future. They love to study and incorporate ancient practices, learning from the great artists and perfecting their techniques. On the flip side, they love to embrace new technologies, especially when it helps to boost their creativity and complete more creations.
With technology, they have been able to create 3D designs that can be converted into 360° files, detailed with all the proportions and dimensions of the sculpture. This has allowed them to create huge monumental sculptures, encouraging them to push far beyond their normal limitations. It also reduces the cost of expensive steel and excessive amounts of plastics and clay, lowering their environmental impact.
In the past, large-scale sculptures needed a lot of clay. This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the environment. As eco-warriors, Gillie and Marc were very concerned about this so jumped at the chance to test out this new technology. Occasionally they will need to add a very thin layer of clay as they create their sculptures. But because of this technology, the amount is only a fraction of what it would normally be. Also, with the move towards iron frameworks, clay is no longer as necessary as it once was.
They are also mindful of their carbon emissions and are always on the lookout for new technologies to reduce this. Gillie and Marc are ready to embrace new technologies as they believe they are the key to unlocking both creativity and potential. They see digital technology as the future of art.
Creating a sculpture
There are many steps to creating a sculpture, whether it be a monumental bronze sculpture or a miniature resin to go in your home. Every step is crucial and cannot be skipped.
- The artists create a sketch in pencil or pen. This is what the design will be based on and is a great opportunity to really go into detail.
- The idea is developed as a 2D design in photoshop. This step is focused on finding the correct proportions and texture of the sculpture.
- The design is then converted into a 3D file using Z-Brush & 3D Max, digital sculpting programs.
- Using a top-of-the-line 3D printer, the sculpture becomes fully realised as a foam model which is made structurally sound. By using foam, the environmental impact is reduced as steel is no longer needed to support what would have been a very heavy weight.
- A thin layer of clay is added to the foam model by hand, giving detail, texture, and nuance.
- A cast is made from clay. This is the final step before it is sent to the bronze foundry.
The intricate production process involves casting the sculptures in a suitable foundry, utilizing the skilled craftsmanship and expertise of local artisans, and finishing them with meticulous attention to detail in Australia. This collaboration not only produces exceptional works of art but also fosters a beautiful exchange of culture and knowledge, exemplifying global collaboration and cross-cultural exchange. Gillie and Marc's sculptures are a testament to their artistic talent and serve as a symbol of the beauty that can be created when cultures come together.