Definition: Dominant, clean-cut forms are used to present a chiselled or modelled three dimensional effect, relying on the beauty of shape and space. There is no distinct or obvious focal area, the interest being on the whole form. The aim is to create rhythm and inbuilt vitality through the use of colour, texture, line and pattern. Although “interest” may be added by using found objects, plant material must predominate. The sculpture may be constructed using either a quantity of material of one type or a combination of different types.
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Class Title: The Red Centre
Staging: plinth, space allowed 80cm width, 40cm depth, Australian native flora only
The “Red Centre” is a reference to the centre of the Australian continent – a desert landscape.
For this particular day of competition, we were only allowed to use Australian native flora. You may have noticed I enjoy working with bark – this Class was an open invitation to immerse my design in some wonderful pieces of gum tree bark I have collected after storms.
A section of gum tree branch has been placed horizontally across the display plinth and the bark sculptural form is placed on top of this. I have let the bark pieces determine the shape, merely slotting them in to one another where there was a split in an appropriate place.
To fill out the design, there are some gum leaf sprays (grey in keeping with the “dry” look I wanted to create) in the main section as well as from one end of the base branch.
When I completed the exhibit I felt it needed some colour to offset the bark and a little more height to balance the width of the design base so added a Gymea Lilly leaf to stand out from the main structure.
Judging feedback: The judge was delighted with the sculptural effect but wondered why I had “spoiled” it with the big green blotch in the middle! She felt the dry feeling was dominant and the green leaf did not add anything to the design.
