Day 46, 47, 48 and 49

I did work on the wings for most of the week. Icarus had wings made from feathers and bits of cloth held together with wax. I am trying to suggest all those things without being too literal. There will be the odd, obvious feather scattered about the surface, as interest, and the rest is suggestive of dripping wax and the whole wing being held together loosely.

The wings are not symmetrical; this is deliberate because symmetry isn’t interesting to look at, and the eye looks for difference. It makes a sculpture more exciting when it isn’t too obvious. I enjoy that.

Here is the back of one of the wings. I love the loose sweeping strokes the plaster has produced, suggestive of wax and feathers.

This is a very close look at the detail on one of the wings. A feather can be seen falling away and you can see the hessian scrim.

Keeping the clay and plaster moist is a constant job. I have to spray it 4 or 5 times a day. This photo and several of the others were taken by photographer Simon Claiden.

Day 50

I worked on the base of the wings. I was making plaster and applying it all day. It was very tiring on the arms!

Day 51

This is where I had got to by the end of the week.