When I started this piece Winter’s chill was just beginning to lose it’s grip-
I’ve had this idea for a sculpture that would pop out of and glide down the wall. A sort of abstract landscape with gently rolling hills and small projections of bright green projecting out of a gray background.
Since I wanted something larger scale I figured it would be best to create this piece out of sections that could hang independently. Making a fabric and paper mache shell for each component would make for a lightweight but strong foundation for this wall mounted sculpture.
First I cut up some old paintings on canvas that I didn’t like and draped them over hill-shaped armatures. The pieces of canvas form a sort of jointed shell that when soaked in glue water and covered in paper strips form a lightweight, sturdy base.
Over the paper I applied a layer of crinkled up paper and fallen leaves to give these pieces some texture. I used random ephemera (junk mail, receipts, catalogs, etc.) that had been collecting in my paper recycling basket as the main sculpting material for these. I love making art with what is essentially garbage- I find the idea of using detritus to create very organic spring landscape appealing.
After applying the paper skin I added small spikes and knobs of paper mache clay to the “hills” Once those cure this massive piece will be ready for a coating of paint.
MJ Seal .Art 