The Alchemy Of Sculpture

A celebration of the dramatic processes through which a sculptor's original must pass before it emerges as a permanent form in bronze. It seeks to convey the atmosphere of a workplace full of sound, colour and heat. Artists featured include Antony Gormley, Eduardo Paolozzi and Sophie Ryder.

From the Artist's original through the lost wax and sand casting process to the pour of the metal and the final patination, this clear modern book guides you through a technique with a 600 year history to its 21st century application. Over 200 dramatic photographs show every aspect of the painstaking detail and dedication required to produce spectacular works of art.

Also available in an open-access, full-text edition at http://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/handle/1969.1/86080 The black sun, an ages-old image of the darkness in individual lives and in life itself, has not been treated hospitably in the modern world. Modern psychology has seen darkness primarily as a negative force, something to move through and beyond, but it actually has an intrinsic importance to the human psyche. In this book, Jungian analyst Stanton Marlan reexamines the paradoxical image of the black sun and the meaning of darkness in Western culture. In the image of the black sun, Marlan finds the hint of a darkness that shines. He draws upon his clinical experiences—and on a wide range of literature and art, including Goethe’s Faust, Dante’s Inferno, the black art of Rothko and Reinhardt—to explore the influence of light and shadow on the fundamental structures of modern thought as well as the contemporary practice of analysis. He shows that the black sun accompanies not only the most negative of psychic experiences but also the most sublime, resonating with the mystical experience of negative theology, the Kabbalah, the Buddhist notions of the void, and the black light of the Sufi Mystics. An important contribution to the understanding of alchemical psychology, this book draws on a postmodern sensibility to develop an original understanding of the black sun. It offers insight into modernity, the act of imagination, and the work of analysis in understanding depression, trauma, and transformation of the soul. Marlan’s original reflections help us to explore the unknown darkness conventionally called the Self. The image of Kali appearing in the color insert following page 44 is © Maitreya Bowen, reproduced with her permission,[email protected].

These richly illustrated articles cover the representation of alchemy in art from the late Middle Ages to the 20th century. The authors, who are artists, curators and art historians from the US and Europe, address such topics as alchemical gender symbolism in Renaissance, Mannerist and modernist art; Netherlandish 17th-century portrayals of alchemists; and alchemy as the forerunner of photography. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.

Step into the mesmerizing world of molten beauty with "Beyond Vessels," a captivating eBook that takes you on a transformative journey through the art and mastery of glass sculpting. Unveil the secrets of this luminescent craft, exploring the full spectrum from its historical roots to the dynamic contemporary scene that continues to enchant collectors and art lovers alike. Discover the powerful emotional resonance of glass sculptures, an art form where light plays with transparency, and silhouettes tell stories. Learn how to shape not just glass, but the very space around it, crafting pieces that hold time still and spark imagination. Your vision will become clear as you delve into the magical process of giving life to fluid forms, where every curve and color holds meaning. Equip yourself with the know-how to navigate the intricate world of glass artistry. Understand the essential tools that make the impossible possible – from the furnace to the marver. "Beyond Vessels" guides you through setting up a safe, functional workspace enabling you to translate your creative inklings into tangible art. Handling glass is a conversation with a volatile yet versatile medium, and this eBook will be your lexicon. Learn the types of glass best suited for sculpting and how they react under the spell of high heat, blending color and texture into expressions of pure artistry. Venture further as you master the awe-inspiring dance of glass blowing. Whether you're taking your first breath into a blowpipe or seeking to refine your skills with advanced techniques, "Beyond Vessels" will elevate your craft. From molten gathering to sculptural revelations, each chapter builds on your knowledge, growing your confidence and competence. From mold-making to kiln-casting, flameworking to cold working, each chapter is a step deeper into the alchemy of glass. Uncover the nuances of color in your work and overcome the inevitable challenges that come with this temperamental medium. Push the boundaries of collaboration, combining minds and materials to create pieces with a life of their own. With practical insight, "Beyond Vessels" will not just guide you in crafting stunning sculptures but also in presenting, marketing, and carving out a distinct presence in the glass art landscape. Embrace your passion, turn challenges into stepping stones, and watch as your art transforms before your eyes. "Beyond Vessels" is more than an eBook; it's a portal to a future where your hands shape light, and your creativity knows no bounds. Join the legion of glass artisans reinventing the ancient craft for an ever-appreciative modern audience. Your journey begins here.

Catherine McIntyre, like many fine artists, created traditional art for decades before encountering the versatility of digital imaging technology. Free of her Rotring pens and scalpel, she now uses Photoshop to create her montages. Visual Alchemy explores McIntyre’s sources of inspiration as well as her methods, offering an aesthetic guide to composition, color, texture and all of the other means of communication that artists have at their disposal. While these concepts and techniques make use of Photoshop, they will apply to any digital imaging program and indeed to any medium, whether traditional or digital. Featuring McIntyre’s own art as well as that of artists around the globe, Visual Alchemy is an invitation to discover the artistic possibilities of picture making through digital montage.

Alchemy in Contemporary Art analyzes the manner in which twentieth-century artists, beginning with French Surrealists of the 1920s, have appropriated concepts and imagery from the western alchemical tradition. This study examines artistic production from c. 1920 to the present, with an emphasis on the 1970s to 2000, discussing familiar names such as Andre Breton, Salvador Dali, Yves Klein, Joseph Beuys, and Anselm Kiefer, as well as many little known artists of the later twentieth century. It provides a critical overview of the alchemical tradition in twentieth-century art, and of the use of occultist imagery as a code for political discourse and polemical engagement. The study is the first to examine the influence of alchemy and the Surrealist tradition on Australian as well as on Eastern European and Mexican art. In addition, the text considers the manner in which women artists such as Leonora Carrington, Remedios Varo, and Rebecca Horn have critically revised the traditional sexist imagery of alchemy and occultism for their own feminist purposes.