The making of "Athena" #1 - shaping glass with a hammer
Some three years ago, I got the commission to paint a client’s favorite goddess „Athena“.
As if it wasn’t challenging enough to show her as a figure of the 21st century, I suggested to put her on the „sun wagon“. The client had been a big VIP in the car industry and his wife’s personal Tarot card is „19 – The Sun“ (which I will likely present in some 19 weeks in my weekly posts on my Tarot project 😉)
I decided to create three distinctly different versions. One was to have a rather distinguished look, not a traditional painting with a frame around it. I wanted the sheet of glass to be sort of floating in front of the wall. And I wanted it to have a different shape… not a rectangle…
Made some drawings to find the shape I wanted, and cut the glass into a rough shape
The lower part of the piece was to have an organic look and „dissolve“ in a way... a task for which a hammer seemed to be a suitable tool.
For extra thrill, you can do this with a finished painting too, although I don’t recommend it ;-)
Hammering away with a slightly increased heart rate, I finally got the results I was looking for.
Here some details of the drawing in progress
And the finished piece
For more info on the way I work, please take a look at
https://steemit.com/art/@reinhard-schmid/what-is-hinterglas
All photos/video by me from my own artwork
My power is down in the moment, so I wont upvote, but it is a joy to see the post!
Hahaha... happens to me all the time :-b Thanks a lot for the comment though :-)
Your technique is complicated and the result is amazingly beautiful. Is there no risk in time that the glass breaks?
Thank you for your kind compliments. Unfortunately the risk of breaking is always there... but, in a way I think this fact makes it valuable too.
Think of the delicate Chinese porcelain vases... one might be able to make one today of a material that won't break easily... but would it be the same?
Certainly not! :)
Exactly :-)
Your art is exquisite! I was on the edge of my seat watching you shape the glass. How thick is it? I'm sure you have a lot to clean up afterwards.
Glass is 8mm. Should be roughly a third of an inch. Yes, cleanup was a pain. One wrong knock and its all for the can... thank good I only broke 4 (finished) works in all these years 😭
Hahaha. Thank goodness that it's less than a handful!
Phew yes, thank god not more than that... its still pretty aggravating, when all that's left from weeks of work is a handful of broken glass... kind of a like watching a truck running over your ipad 😫 🚽 🌩 🍺 🍺 🍺 🍺 🍺 🚑
Hahah, yep. That would make me pretty sad since I do all my work on this thing!
that's a cool spaceship, where's athena?
As I already indicated in the text, the theme was "Athena riding the sun wagon/sun chariot" (bit difficult to translate, sorry... )
I wasn't up to simply doing yet another version of a familiar statue... and why can't a goddess have her own spaceship?
Such a genuine piece of art! I would definitely be happy to get something like that. I hope your customer was excited, such a fantastic painting:) I live in Phuket, Thailand and mostly post tropical islands, white sand beaches, and sunsets.You are welcome to stop by, followed you and upvoted, have a great Sunday, Reinhard!
Thank you for your kind words! Actually.. since I made three paintings on the subject, for the client to choose one.. it was not an easy decision for him, but he took home a different one.
On my way to my studio, but I'll be sure to visit your blog tonight 😎
I don't have enough words to express how amazing is your work, starting from brave part working with glass, exellent drawing technik, mastering colors on glass and finally great imagination, bravooo!
Thank you! Means a lot from someone with your fine talent and skill :-)
I am blushing at the moment :)
Don't worry, it will go away... happens to me all the time ;-)
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