Blog - Page 4 of 10 - Sharon Pierce McCullough

Small Figurative Sculptures

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The weather is now getting warm enough that I am starting to design some new figurative sculptures. These are currently just designs in my head or small sketches in my notebook. But I will start up the season with some more figurative pieces, horses and men. One of my cement figures titled Tall Dark Handsome, will be in an exhibit that starts April 17th at the Susquehanna Art Museum in Harrisburg PA. The exhibit which is titled Found in Transition will be showcased in the lobby of the new Museum building.

Planned for this month will be the start of a few big sculptures incorporating glass and sections of colored glass bottles. I love bottle walls and may also incorporate the bottles into sections of low bottle wall fencing … perfect to add some fun, color and light to a garden area.

Art Inspired by Dreams of Beachy Weather

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March 25, 2015

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Here in Pennsylvania, we have had a long, cold winter. And it doesn’t seem to be getting real warm any time soon. So, I’ve been thinking about the beach, the sun and the sand … and I think it has crept into my art. My last few weeks of paintings on canvas and paper reflect more of a soft, pastel look even though my colors continue to be bright. Color is my one thread in continuity and even my thoughts for new designs in cement and metal sculpture will incorporate color.

In the meantime, my paintings will have to suffice for my beachy dreams until the days get warmer and sunnier. Beachy dreams to you!

One Fine Day, 32×45, Acrylics/ wax crayons on canvas.

Garden of Hope, 14×17, acrylics, wax crayons on paper.

Happy Art

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March 25, 2015

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Over the winter I have been painting more and dreaming of the warm, sunny weather. While my palette of colors remains bold, I find myself thinking of beachy scenes and my colors are getting a bit lighter and brighter. I’m anxious to get back to the outside studio and start on some exciting new cement sculptures. Stay tuned for some fun stuff.

Cement Sculptures

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August 26, 2014

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During the past few months I have been playing around with more cement. I am into my next phase of cement artwork and the one in progress, titled the Entertainer, is almost completed. There are just a few finishing touches and then she will be done.

Although I am continue to work on two dimensional paintings, I am still enamored with cement work. August 2014.

Making Cement Sculptures

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June 30, 2014

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When I first started working with portland cement I had no idea of how hazardous the material could be. Naively, the first few times I started slathering on the cement mixture, I wasn’t wearing long pants, long sleeves or the proper gloves. Actually I was very fortunate. Cement can be rather nasty to work with and I now am taking excellent precautions. If you have any desire to work in this medium, be sure to always weara respirator mask, eye protection, long sleeves, long pants and nitrile gloves. The nitrile gloves guard against chemical cement burns to your skin.

That being said, I do love working with cement, mortar and versabond. I also love the natural materials you can pair with cement, such as glass, stone and metal. Ever since I was a child I gathered rocks, pieces of glass and odd objects. I’ve always gravitated towards anything made of tin. But one of my grandest obsessions has been my love of hand tools. I have the hardest time leaving behind any old tool made of wood and metal, especially if it is of a small variety … something that fits a woman’s hand. There, I’ve said it … I love tools … I’m the perfect woman to take to the hardware store!

When you are making a cement piece, whether it be a sculpture, wall or patio, you always need to make sure it has structural soundness. Usually a sculpture will have things like rebar, metal lathe, hardware cloth or chickenwire giving the piece good support. It might be a combination of all of the above. It is essential to make sure your armature is very much one strong piece. Only after that is constructed can you think about adding any cement.

Some of my first cement pieces are actually pretty major pieces, standing over 5 feet tall. I am now experimenting with some small gallery-sized sculptures. Truthfully, the small pieces are as much work and time, if not more, than a large piece. It all depends on the complexity of the piece.

One of your first considerations, of course, will be the base and how your sculpture will stand and be supported. Depending if it will be an indoor piece or outdoor sculpture will determine what type of base you will want to make.

To be continued.

Abstract Art – Color Me Happy

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May 21, 2014

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It’s been a whirlwind week. After setting up my solo exhibit at the Adams County Arts Council two weeks ago, I then headed right down to Virginia Beach for business and family. The show will hang for the rest of May 2014 and then I will have two other abstract pieces, in more muted tones in another juried exhibit. Here is a photo from the Artist reception on May 2nd.