2023-2024. Season 12
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10. Snow debaters
Sunday, February 18, 2024.
I had some fun in our backyard creating some little people.
At first they wanted to pretend they were debating on the CBC radio show "The Debaters". Later they demanded to be taken to the front lawn to hang out with their dragon. It was family day and they wanted to be together.
And as they enjoyed toboganning next to the dragon, the dragon got hungry and tried to eat me!
I had some fun in our backyard creating some little people.
At first they wanted to pretend they were debating on the CBC radio show "The Debaters". Later they demanded to be taken to the front lawn to hang out with their dragon. It was family day and they wanted to be together.
And as they enjoyed toboganning next to the dragon, the dragon got hungry and tried to eat me!
9. Snow Dragon
8. One night only
Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
The rain was coming but there was time for a one night build. I put the tower up and carved it the same day. It was warm which meant very little if any sinter time was needed. I had separately carved a little house and decided to attempt to place it on top of the 9’ tower. I carefully placed a stepladder and up I went. It worked! For lighting I installed a battery powered LED light.
The next morning I trimmed the tower back as it had developed quite a lean.
And then rain continued.
The rain was coming but there was time for a one night build. I put the tower up and carved it the same day. It was warm which meant very little if any sinter time was needed. I had separately carved a little house and decided to attempt to place it on top of the 9’ tower. I carefully placed a stepladder and up I went. It worked! For lighting I installed a battery powered LED light.
The next morning I trimmed the tower back as it had developed quite a lean.
And then rain continued.
7. Sutton Tower
Sunday, January 21, 2024.
I stacked a few pails of beautifully sintered snow and carved a tower without a plan. It was a magical medium as the consistency and density of the snow was perfect for smooth lines.
I stacked a few pails of beautifully sintered snow and carved a tower without a plan. It was a magical medium as the consistency and density of the snow was perfect for smooth lines.
6. My Little Winter Chateau
Saturday, January 13, 2024.
My gosh, can you tell how terrible the snow condidtions were?
I knew the temperature would drop from above freezing to very very cold and the timeframe would be quick.
So I got out first thing and threw together the pails. They were falling apart as I smashed them together on the snowbank.
There were many voids in the snow that I shovelled into the pails. This was partly due to the nature of packing snow--the worst. And my rush to get it done meant I skipped perhaps better compaction that might have helped.
I was ok with the tradeoff--speed vs improved compaction.
After letting it sit for a bit, I went out to carve. I had made a maquette (model) for ideas but didn't really use it as my unique pile of snow would demand a different approach. This was my first carve of this type and I quickly realised that the position of the stairs would drive a lot of the design. So I went at it for about 2 hours and had a blast. Such a creative opportunity.
As usual, I had great visits with those walking by and caught up with some neighbours.
In the coming days I would add one structure per day to the front of the Chateau. Please see details below.
It is perhaps important to note that each of the additional structures were carved from a single (tall) pail of compacted, sintered fluffy, dry, non-packing snow. A joy to carve because of the consistent quality and perfect density for manipulation with snow sculpting tools.
Key tools for these little buildings included: hand saws x 2, grapefruit knife, small squared off loop tools x 2 and a fat plastic straw to blow snow out of windows. Always use great care with tools--safety first. My Youtube video on the build of the last of these little homes provides a 24 minute visual of the entire carve. See the link below.
Let me end by saying that you too can create something like this.
The absolute key is using non-packing snow.
The medium you end up with is fun!
My gosh, can you tell how terrible the snow condidtions were?
I knew the temperature would drop from above freezing to very very cold and the timeframe would be quick.
So I got out first thing and threw together the pails. They were falling apart as I smashed them together on the snowbank.
There were many voids in the snow that I shovelled into the pails. This was partly due to the nature of packing snow--the worst. And my rush to get it done meant I skipped perhaps better compaction that might have helped.
I was ok with the tradeoff--speed vs improved compaction.
After letting it sit for a bit, I went out to carve. I had made a maquette (model) for ideas but didn't really use it as my unique pile of snow would demand a different approach. This was my first carve of this type and I quickly realised that the position of the stairs would drive a lot of the design. So I went at it for about 2 hours and had a blast. Such a creative opportunity.
As usual, I had great visits with those walking by and caught up with some neighbours.
In the coming days I would add one structure per day to the front of the Chateau. Please see details below.
It is perhaps important to note that each of the additional structures were carved from a single (tall) pail of compacted, sintered fluffy, dry, non-packing snow. A joy to carve because of the consistent quality and perfect density for manipulation with snow sculpting tools.
Key tools for these little buildings included: hand saws x 2, grapefruit knife, small squared off loop tools x 2 and a fat plastic straw to blow snow out of windows. Always use great care with tools--safety first. My Youtube video on the build of the last of these little homes provides a 24 minute visual of the entire carve. See the link below.
Let me end by saying that you too can create something like this.
The absolute key is using non-packing snow.
The medium you end up with is fun!
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5. Modern Art: (The great crash!)
4. Gnomes for a day
Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
I went for a hike in Waterloo Park being a bit concerned about the snow conditions. Would there be enough to make a few gnomes for people to enjoy? I had my long shovel and orange bucket system over my shoulder ready for action.
I stopped at the Perimeter to make a gnome. I was able to make one, but scooping snow off the grass was a challenge. Each scoop had to be about 20' long to even fill the shovel halfway.
I then walked over to the cricket field in Waterloo Park and made a second. The conditions were so bad that I stopped at that point. There was little snow and the surface just on top of the warm grass was wet and included leaves and dirt.
As usual I had a few nice conversations with people. So two gnomes for the outing. Life doesn't always provide ideal conditions.
I went for a hike in Waterloo Park being a bit concerned about the snow conditions. Would there be enough to make a few gnomes for people to enjoy? I had my long shovel and orange bucket system over my shoulder ready for action.
I stopped at the Perimeter to make a gnome. I was able to make one, but scooping snow off the grass was a challenge. Each scoop had to be about 20' long to even fill the shovel halfway.
I then walked over to the cricket field in Waterloo Park and made a second. The conditions were so bad that I stopped at that point. There was little snow and the surface just on top of the warm grass was wet and included leaves and dirt.
As usual I had a few nice conversations with people. So two gnomes for the outing. Life doesn't always provide ideal conditions.
3. Eye on William
Monday, January 1, 2024.
We received an inch of snow!
I knew it would be a challenge, but out I went.
I had placed a big tarp on our backyard the day before but the first precipitation was a light rain which was not the ideal base for snow collection. As I went out to create some buckets of snow, I started on the driveway and was able to create one. Then I went to the backyard and got 2 from the tarp--they were a bit wet. Next, I was able to shovel enough off our back deck to make 2 more. And finally, I got another from the scrapings off the cars.
I let them sinter for a while, even though this was likely not necessary as it was warm.
I went for a nice walk and returned to get to work. I transported the pails to the front snowbank and stacked 3 on 3 for the main wall. I then put two more on the front for a nose. Doing the math I guess I scrounged another bucket or two. I then jammed snow in between the joints and pressed hard to get it to bond. The towers were rocking a bit--when I pushed snow in the back, the front would crack. I messed around until I had a good situation and then left it for a few minutes to bond.
I then got to work using my maquette as a guide. A maquette makes it so much easier and allows for a confident carve.
Midway through the carve I realised I should place the iris I had made--everything would revolve around the iris. It was a good plan as the final carve started to emerge. I included many lines to give the carving an aged look. Old man winter is going to keep his eye on us!
On my hike I had collected a few little sticks--I used them for eye lashes. I think it will look better if I insert MORE eyelashes.
We received an inch of snow!
I knew it would be a challenge, but out I went.
I had placed a big tarp on our backyard the day before but the first precipitation was a light rain which was not the ideal base for snow collection. As I went out to create some buckets of snow, I started on the driveway and was able to create one. Then I went to the backyard and got 2 from the tarp--they were a bit wet. Next, I was able to shovel enough off our back deck to make 2 more. And finally, I got another from the scrapings off the cars.
I let them sinter for a while, even though this was likely not necessary as it was warm.
I went for a nice walk and returned to get to work. I transported the pails to the front snowbank and stacked 3 on 3 for the main wall. I then put two more on the front for a nose. Doing the math I guess I scrounged another bucket or two. I then jammed snow in between the joints and pressed hard to get it to bond. The towers were rocking a bit--when I pushed snow in the back, the front would crack. I messed around until I had a good situation and then left it for a few minutes to bond.
I then got to work using my maquette as a guide. A maquette makes it so much easier and allows for a confident carve.
Midway through the carve I realised I should place the iris I had made--everything would revolve around the iris. It was a good plan as the final carve started to emerge. I included many lines to give the carving an aged look. Old man winter is going to keep his eye on us!
On my hike I had collected a few little sticks--I used them for eye lashes. I think it will look better if I insert MORE eyelashes.
2. Don!
Wednesday, November 29, 2023.
The Moai was fun but I was eager to attempt a charicature face with inserted irises. I turn the wooden irises on my lathe and then paint them to give my sculptures a bit of a pop.
The weather was going to warm up in hours--I had a window to try something.
I took my hand saw and cut the top off the moai! A few short hours later 'Don' appeared on our snowbank!
He had a great day or so and then melted off to a better place.
The Moai was fun but I was eager to attempt a charicature face with inserted irises. I turn the wooden irises on my lathe and then paint them to give my sculptures a bit of a pop.
The weather was going to warm up in hours--I had a window to try something.
I took my hand saw and cut the top off the moai! A few short hours later 'Don' appeared on our snowbank!
He had a great day or so and then melted off to a better place.
1. Moai!
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
My first carve of the season was a surprise as I was not thinking we would received 4 inches of snow.
I thought there might be enough for a little tower but as I kept filling my form I kept finding more snow. My neighbour`s driveway was a perfect source! I had to be careful not to shovel leaves as the ground was still not frozen.
I placed a little contraption of plywood on the front so I could build out the nose a bit. It was not an elegant look, but at this stage that was of no concern. It was simply about having enough snow for a good sized portruding nose.
I pounded the non-packing snow and let it sinter for about 2 hours.
While it was sintering I got dressed more warmly as I always do for the carving portion of the work. A lot of standing around can lead to a chill.
The next day would lead to a dramatic transformation!
My first carve of the season was a surprise as I was not thinking we would received 4 inches of snow.
I thought there might be enough for a little tower but as I kept filling my form I kept finding more snow. My neighbour`s driveway was a perfect source! I had to be careful not to shovel leaves as the ground was still not frozen.
I placed a little contraption of plywood on the front so I could build out the nose a bit. It was not an elegant look, but at this stage that was of no concern. It was simply about having enough snow for a good sized portruding nose.
I pounded the non-packing snow and let it sinter for about 2 hours.
While it was sintering I got dressed more warmly as I always do for the carving portion of the work. A lot of standing around can lead to a chill.
The next day would lead to a dramatic transformation!
I've carved many Moai's.
Years ago I wrestled with the issue of cultural appropriation. I ended up having a great conversation with a gentleman from the island of Rapa Nui who is working hard to preserve the language. The whole story can be found under the SPECIAL FEATURES menu item above.
Years ago I wrestled with the issue of cultural appropriation. I ended up having a great conversation with a gentleman from the island of Rapa Nui who is working hard to preserve the language. The whole story can be found under the SPECIAL FEATURES menu item above.