Works In Progress and My Studio

Current glass sculptures at different stages

People ask if I sketch design ideas on paper. The answer is, “I can’t draw at all.” I have never been able to convert my 3-D mental images into 2-D pencil drawings.

With all my pieces (whether glass or wood), I’ve always sketched the outlines of the design I “see” in my mind

onto the material I will sculpt.  The lines are merely guidance. The creative process continues through rough sculpting.  These photos are meant to give you a better idea of my process – and a sneak preview of the what’s currently in progress.
 

creating-odetomorph-1 creating-odetomorph-2 creating-odetomorph-3 creating-odetomorph-4Ode to Morph, glass sculpture in the rough, back from the foundry, awaiting grinding and sanding

This is my #20 piece — from rough sculpture to finished wax and cast piece from the foundry.

The “bullet holes” (first photo, far left) are a new technique I tried for extracting cores of wax with a drill from the solid cylinder. It proved helpful as an excavation

process where I wanted huge negative space across the entire width of the piece.

I need to do some cold-working on the cast piece.  Then I’ll grind, sand and finish it. The completed sculpture will measure 1′-8″ high x 1′-1″ wide x 9″ deep. The name is Ode to Morph.

creating-t-with-tude-1 creating-t-with-tude-2 creating-t-with-tude-3T with 'Tude, final wax

 

 

 

 

 

When I tell you the name of this piece – my #24 glass sculpture – see if it captures a sense of my direction. T with ‘Tude. What do you think? How am I doing so far?  When I melded the upright cylinder to the “cap,” they weighed a total of 60 lbs. The finished wax (far right), now weighs 12 lbs and measures 1′-3″ high by 1′-8.5″ wide and 9.5″ deep.  I’m delivering it to the foundry today, 18 April…anniversary of that famous ride!

Back from the foundry…two more weeks to go!  In emerald green, Pollitt glass sculpture back from the foundry, awaits completion

Pollitt wax cylincer for #25 glass sculpture with sketchy design lines Pollitt's wax form begins to take shape for his #25 glass sculpture Wax form revealing potential sweeps and curves of Pollitt's #25 glass sculpture creating-#25-4

 

Here is #25 – a work in progress from the wax blank with a few design lines (left) to the complete rough sculpture – 20″ tall, 10″ diameter (far right).  I had this idea/feeling about a pile of ribbons that break out and roar vertically.  I started with 55 lbs of wax.  By the time it was down to 15 lbs, it looked like it was not going to “make it.” 

I said on the Home page that if  I’m not a little bit scared, I’m not doing good work.  This one had me scared.  It wasn’t until I got down to 9 lbs that it really started to “make it.”  Somehow it’s the scary part that really drives me.  Waking up at 3:00 a.m. and having to go “chase it.”  That’s what I did this morning.

Pollitt Studio – my work space

Sculpture studio (left) and morning break with Raven, our precious Portuguese Water Dog.

 Pollitt in design studio Harry Pollitt and Raven

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Santa Fe Studio (below) and my view from the portal, where I often sculpt on beautiful days like the one pictured.

Pollitt Studio View from Pollitt Design Studio

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