Vertebrae Techniques and Materials

Here I have experimented with the techniques that I would like to incorporate in my final major. I chose to create a test vertebrae following the measurements that I had planned. I used a newspaper base in which I layered mod-roc to create natural bumps on the surface of the vertebrae that I have studied from life. After the mod-roc had dried, I applied a base layer of a dark brown acrylic paint. Using a dry brush technique, I added texture using  beige/light brown tone in which I based on the tones that I observed from life on a human skeleton. I feel that this technique was quite successful in creating natural tones and textures that create a sense of aging and fragility (almost fossil like) in which I wanted to capture within this spine and ribcage sculpture. I feel that I would like to use these tones within my final piece bit I feel that incorporating a variety of tones may create a greater sense of realism with the subtle graduations in tone alongside the textures created with the dry brush technique. For the rib pieces of the sculpture, I feel that I would use a similar technique with a dark base coat but incorporating lighter tones in general as while I studied the human skeleton, I noticed that the spine and vertebrae featured overall darker tones which I would like to incorporate within my sculpture to add a subtle gradient within this piece. Although I created this single vertebrae as a test model, I feel that I would like to create the sculpture as a single piece but I may be unable to do this as due to the quarantine I cannot enter the studio and work in the environment that I had chosen, so I feel that I would like to wait to hear confirmation of when I can return.

Here I have tested the experimental vertebrae in the environment that I had selected for my final major. I realised that the measurements were too small for the area and the piece becomes 'swamped' within the vastness of the white tone around it. To solve this problem, I feel that I would at least double the measurements but as I am currently unable to enter the studio due to the quarantine, I am unsure of how the pieces would fit within the space. I feel that I could use a corner wall of my house as a baseline for the wall that I have chosen for the final major piece at the studio but I am worried about the differences in size and angle and I am quite reluctant to guess without properly measuring the environment.