When someone asks you to create a God, you say yes."
Elijah Strongheart Evenson
|
Elijah Strongheart Evenson is an extremely talented artist in Seattle, who assisted our Co-Founder and Creative Director Kim Beaton back in 2017, in making a large sculpture in Renton using our weatherproof sculpting medium Pal Tiya Premium.
Elijah was there at our booth in 2017 at the northwest Flower and Garden Show with his other Pal Tiya Premium made pieces on show (see bottom of the page), when we sold essentially empty boxes of our sculpting medium. We had people asking us if they could take away our demo product because they got quite excited. So excited that it enabled us to pre-sell enough orders to manufacture our first batch in the USA! When watching him share his beautiful new Pal Tiya Premium piece Anubis recently on Instagram, we just had to reach out and ask if he would write us a guest post about the making of this gorgeous sculpture. He kindly agreed and so here it is. We think you’ll love watching the process from this incredibly talented and kind hearted man. |
|
Words: Elijah Strongheart Evenson
In September 2019 I got the call to create a 5 foot tall anubis as I was about to visit a Giacometti exhibit in Vancouver, Canada. I very quickly learned that Giacometti, one of the most successful sculptors in the early 20th century, was heavily inspired by Egyptian poses. I drew up a sketch to send to my patron, using the most traditional Egyptian poses. I chose Anubis to hold the scales and the ouroboros, which is a snake eating its own tail. It was approved very quickly and turned out to be exactly what they wanted. The next step was to make a maquette 1/10th the size. This was done using oil based clay. |
I knew right away that Pal Tiya Premium (PTP) was going to be the best material for the project. It works fast, and is sturdy enough to be outside if needed. I also like the way it can have an ancient feel to it.
On a project that is 5 foot tall I prefered an Iron armature. There are other ways to build up, but I really wanted the strength that the iron rebar provides.
On a project that is 5 foot tall I prefered an Iron armature. There are other ways to build up, but I really wanted the strength that the iron rebar provides.
The next stage was to build up with Tin foil. The foil can help me understand the form, and in areas that don’t need to be solid it can be used to build up volume.
Once I got a good foundation of Pal Tiya Premium on the surface, I began to see the final form coming together, at this moment the reality of the god Anubis started to creep into my subconscious. I began to dream that I was Anubis. Standing at the end of a long hallway, weighing the souls of the dead.
When the PTP has cured, I sanded and carved areas that I didn’t get perfectly sculpted in the wet pass. This is especially helpful with the more geometric parts. For this I used serrated knives, sand paper, and chisels.
Once I got a good foundation of Pal Tiya Premium on the surface, I began to see the final form coming together, at this moment the reality of the god Anubis started to creep into my subconscious. I began to dream that I was Anubis. Standing at the end of a long hallway, weighing the souls of the dead.
When the PTP has cured, I sanded and carved areas that I didn’t get perfectly sculpted in the wet pass. This is especially helpful with the more geometric parts. For this I used serrated knives, sand paper, and chisels.
I affixed the iron base to a large square stone that I didn’t need to sculpt since they are not very expensive. I also placed the stone on a dolly with wheels so I could easily rotate the statue.
The entire piece took around 120 hours of sculpting and sanding. I spend a lot of time looking at Anubis from a distance making sure that it reads as a powerful God.
The entire piece took around 120 hours of sculpting and sanding. I spend a lot of time looking at Anubis from a distance making sure that it reads as a powerful God.
|
|
After all the sculpting was done I used a cement stain to paint Anubis that jet black. Now the end product really begins to show through.
Finally I give Anubis a set of brass scales. This completes the concept. I have a reception with the patron and we celebrate with champagne.
Everyone is happy.
Everyone is happy.
|
|
Life Enraptured in Pal Tiya Premium by sculptor Elijah Evenson
|
Temple Of Light Sculpture in Pal Tiya Premium by Sculptor Elijah Evenson
|
ELIJAH STRONGHEART EVENSSON
"Compares to the high end water based clays...It's very elastic, lots of flex, it doesn't break or shatter."
After a day of use " ...the clay was fantastic, very immediate, exciting, kind of exhilarating."
