Study and progress

Close up of the developing back leg, more work to be done on the joint

The back leg bones and muscles studied and then gradual build up

The back muscles and down into the back leg developed

The Shoulder muscles have been studied

Making progress

How much better the sculpture looks as we see the steel covered with clay and start to have the shape and outline of the head take form. The throat has been built out towards the lower jaw, and more work is needed on the top of the Collies head. This is only the profile and the Sculptress has to fill out the ribs and shoulder and neck.
I am thinking about the work to come and the positioning of the legs, even as I am hands on the throat and back of the head

The armature for the head has been fixed securely and the steel rods trimmed to be within the sculpture.

The top line is extended up into the neck, and the breast bone up towards the lower neck. You can see the shoulders beginning to show development. Just visible are the mapping pins on the clay, which JOEL places in different points as key references ~ here for example top of front leg, point of shoulder and shoulder on back line, also one at the hip socket.

In the background on the right you can see some of the images of Ruswarp.

JOEL is working towards the head, and also adding to the thorax, soon it will be time for the back legs.

Building up to the topline and out to chest

Many hours have passed since the last photo record.
The profile has been built up towards the Collies top line and also much of the abdomen is in place, and the thorax out towards the keel of the chest.
Some fine tweaking has happened to the Shoulder and you can see a piece of wire resting in the place where the back leg will be.
A life sized print of a local collie helps inform this stage - a beautifully well behaved obedience trained dog...but he has more coat than Ruswarp so we shall have to find a dog closer in appearance.
JOEL is studying the video footage of Ruswarp and the skeletal structure of dogs, especially of the shoulders.

Building out the main core

Now comes a time of little by little addition to the central core - the main trunk of the seated Ruswarp. Lots of work and little shows. An alternative to building up like this is to form a frame of wire mesh to support a thinner skin of clay - this would be quicker, but the sculpture would have become more vulnerable to movement and cracks.

Another addition has been the wire to strengthen Ruswarps tail.

You can see the heel of one front foot and a hint of toes gives a feel for the positioning of future work on these places.

Note that the shoulders are not yet in their final positions and the wire is in place to hold the clay, not in the exact place of the shoulder bones.

Building out the central core

The first main addition of clay builds out the central core and means the central core is now properly balanced and in line. This is not quite in the same place as a real backbone, but the concept of support is the same.

Leg armature and clay base

The armature is progressing, with special box section sculptors wire being used to support the clay for the front legs, and the extension rod added that will hold the head and ears.





You can see the base of clay that has been added to the board - Ruswarp will sit on this - A local collie was obliging enough to allow the Sculptress JOEL to draw round him as he was sitting on a sheet of thick paper - and this gave the shape.

Seeking a Collie like Ruswarp

The Sculptress JOEL is looking for a Collie of the same build and coat type that she can study to help inform the sculpture.
It is so helpful to watch and study Collies move, turn and sit.... details of muscles help make the sculpture more lifelike. The old documentary is very helpful...but there are some close up areas I would like to study, says JOEL
If you can help with this aspect of the special project to make Ruswarp the Collie, please contact JOEL