Daphne
Someone drew my attention to Daphne in regards to my latest sculpt, Dryad (Thanks, Pat!). I did not previously read Bulfinch’s story of Apollo and Daphne, still the dryad has a striking resemblance to her. The story is so beautifully written, I have decided to make my version of Daphne. The unresolved vine issue also motivates me. The story goes like this: Apollo bullies Cupid over his bow and arrows, teasing him to leave the “warlike weapons” to him. Apollo’s arrogance makes Cupid angry. As a revenge, he strikes Apollo with the golden arrow of love. Then he takes a lead arrow meant to repel love and strikes the nymph Daphne with it, daughter of the river god Peneus. Apollo falls desperately in love with Daphne, but she resists his love. He chases her relentlessly until Daphne, exhausted and in despair, cries out to her father to open the earth and change her form. Instantly, her feet transform into tree roots, her hands into branches and her hair into leaves.
Apollo, amazed, gives in: “Since you cannot be my wife,” said he, “you shall assuredly be my tree. I will wear you for my crown; I will decorate with you my harp and my quiver; and when the great Roman conquerors lead up the triumphal pomp to the Capitol, you shall be woven into wreaths for their brows. And, as eternal youth is mine, you also shall be always green, and your leaf know no decay.” The nymph, now changed into a Laurel tree, bowed its head in grateful acknowledgment.” (from Age of Fable by Thomas Bulfinch, British author). His description is so wonderful, it’s worth reading the whole story: http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_text_bullfinch_3.htm
I have decided to capture her last moment of surrender in my work.
Here is the sketch, but the work might change as it progresses. It will be a free interpretation, so she won’t have the exterior described above. I’ll be concentrating on ’surrender’.
This is how she looks now. Removed half of her legs. What do you think. Can I get away with it like this? Or should I put back the rest of her leg as tree bark. I think she doesn’t look right, now that I see the photo.
What can I say? Not too happy with it and I can see the mistakes and where are adjustments needed, but what I can do at this point is limited.
This is another good idea and drawing. I’m sure you’ll make a great Daphne. I see you’ve made her compact (no parts to break off except the leaves, careful) and there’s a plinth this time. Good girl.
Isn’t it great how one idea flows into another? Maybe these will make a nice grouping in a fancy schmancy art gallery some day soon.
Swallows, I had a bad feeling about this. Sure enough, lots or problems. Firstly, isn’t enough support at the base, she constantly wants to collapse. Looks like a good armature is a must, and that’s a problem for me. Secondly, the usual drying too fast thing. With waterbased clay I had no such problem if I kept the work wet. With this air-dry clay doesn’t matter how much you spray. I don’t know if I can show a pic today…will see later.
Kim, you made me laugh…fancy schmancy, eh? haha…next to your pieces!
erica, try saran wrap over the areas you aren’t currently working. So like, if you’re detailing a hand, (which can take a long time) cover up the rest of the peice in saran. Also, I don’t know how large the piece is that you’re working on, but I often use cocktail skewers from the grocery store to support arms and legs while sculpting and I use a very simple homemade armature which is a board with a stick in it basically. Just remove it after the clay has begun to harden a bit.
Great tips, Kim. Yeah, I need one of those armatures. I think she looks mutilated in that bark, so I’ll put her on a tree stump.
That was a good idea to put her on a tree stump. That’s quite a hairdo. Is she finished or will you put on a leaf or two?
Swallows, her hairdo reminded me of your Roman lady, when I saw the pic, but didn’t have enough motivation to take it off. Now that you mentioned it, I had to.
No, no leaves, tried, too much. Tomorrow I’ll be doing the finishing touches, as I am getting phisically sick ot it. Did you feel like that when you were sculpting?
beautiful
[...] Daphne finished! For story and progress see http://erikatakacs.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/daphne/ [...]
Everyone, starting with Vasari, says the way to keep from getting sick of your work is to have more than one going at the same time and switch. I always get obsessed with one idea and can’t leave off–but the several things cooking makes sense.
I agree, but it’s not possible with this clay type. And I don’t like to have unfinished work lying around for long.
Nice!don’t you like to use colors ?–I would paint it down part with dark sap green to yellow green then upper part pale green–I don’t know how it would be with my idea.I love your work very much–in your work I can feel many story in each of your sculpture.Hope every one in the world see your sculpter.