http://cjlesterart.com/images/337blog.html?cq=1 en-us Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:59:40 GMT http://cjlesterart.com/images/337blog.html?cq=1&p=293
11:57 am:
i like the more dynamic feel of the legs a bit more separated than in the original proposal and at more dramatic angles to create visual energy.
exercising artistic license.
that's all.]]> Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:59:40 GMT http://cjlesterart.com/images/337blog.html?cq=1&p=292
11:36 am:
yes, that IS a.m... it's light outside and people are moving about in the unusually frigid Utah weather (normal winter weather for most northern states).

here is an image of the legs as they are. i have 14 pages of text. in my proposal, i said i'd make the text varying values of fleshtones. not sure how clearly the text will show.
still vacillating over the base. i want it to float and be pretty reflective. don't want glass or polished marble. cliche and predictable. thinking polished wood conceptually tied to dance floors suspended by inset microlegs.
lots of coats of shiny (probably toxic) finish.]]> Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:42:49 GMT http://cjlesterart.com/images/337blog.html?cq=1&p=291
12:55 am:
I know, I know... I'm not into the school hours yet...
I think the adrenalin rush from the artwork is keeping me up.
I finished editing the text content (extracted online from dance companies'/dancers' blogs, diaries and interviews) and altering fonts for variation. I can print the text out and start layering it onto the legs anytime.
I'll use the feedback from the dancers as text as well if I can still get it.
I'll shoot the legs sans text tomorrow. I'm pleased with how they're progressing.
Tomorrow, I'll go to bed at a normal hour.
Yeah, right....]]> Sun, 04 Jan 2009 08:01:11 GMT http://cjlesterart.com/images/337blog.html?cq=1&p=289
1:52 pm:
i realized that i don't have to make the celluclay perfect and gapless, since i'm covering the legs with lots of text and thin dance tights.
they're each held up with a cheap bamboo skewer and two toothpicks.
they'll need about 2-3 days to cure. in the meantime, i'll watch the Nutcracker and maybe grab a book on dancers' thoughts so i can start writing the text.]]> Wed, 31 Dec 2009 20:55:30 GMT http://cjlesterart.com/images/337blog.html?cq=1&p=288
1:51 pm:
aah, home depot...]]> Wed, 31 Dec 2009 20:52:12 GMT http://cjlesterart.com/images/337blog.html?cq=1&p=287
1:49 pm:
i can alter and rearrange the legs without touching the actual physical legs until i've resolved some visual dilemmas.]]> Wed, 31 Dec 2009 20:50:58 GMT http://cjlesterart.com/images/337blog.html?cq=1&p=286
1:41 pm:
filling in the gaps...
these are on my easel so i can look at them to model the legs.
they make good models - they are free and don't move.]]> Wed, 31 Dec 2009 20:42:35 GMT http://cjlesterart.com/images/337blog.html?cq=1&p=285
12:34 am:

I'm getting a DVD of The Nutcracker Ballet in the mail tomorrow. I can watch the dancers' legs and feet incessantly and not feel like a total art weirdo staring at people in tights.
i have a few quirky snags pending at the moment. i'm working on several contingencies in case the snags lead to dead ends. more on that later...
approximate hours to date on this project, including coming up with the idea, writing/submitting the proposal, picking up the shoes, writing /copying/delivering surveys, image research, and fabrication: 15-20.
did you really think that creating conceptual art was a quick visceral process?]]> Tue, 30 Dec 2009 07:40:30 GMT http://cjlesterart.com/images/337blog.html?cq=1&p=284
12:07 am:
hey, it's still early...
i carved a second leg and started playing with placement. this placement is the most successful (so far) without looking at photo references.
i'm still toying with adding some girth to the legs to more accurately mimic real legs. i like the sinewy legs too, so i'm not sure what to do yet. i'll play around more with leg juxtapositions tomorrow.
the legs are held together with 2 toothpicks. i used 2 toothpicks on the back leg to prop it up. yes, the legs are very lightweight - exactly what i need at this point (or should i say pointe? heh heh... ballet humor).
perhaps punch drunkenness is settling in.
i'm thinking about papering the legs together with celluclay so i don't have to worry about upper cold connections. not sure yet. i also like the flexibility of placement if i don't.
i'm thinking long rods of allthread inserted through the shoes into legs and extended into the base for under-the-base cold connections. still haven't resolved base material. don't need to yet.
my ipod case was delivered today. i could listen to music without fear of mucking up the ipod with material debris. always good.]]> Tue, 30 Dec 2009 07:19:55 GMT http://cjlesterart.com/images/337blog.html?cq=1&p=283
3:35 pm:
yes, p.m...

The styrofoam base forms are going to work. I carved this one using a cheese knife and melon baller. I'll reshape it (especially the ball of the foot and the calf) a bit by adding styrofoam with toothpick connectors and fine-sanding the entire leg in prep for the celluclay.
i decided to work in the warmth of the studio and deal with cleaning up the styrofoam. it's not as staticky as i expected. i'm sweeping it up at the end of carving each leg and dumping it in a big trash can liner. i shake like a wet dog to get it all off of my studio clothes before i change back into street clothes.
I like the curvilinear results I have so far.
I feel kinda like the prince in Cinderella trying the shoe on the styrofoam dozens of times until I find a good fit.]]> Sun, 28 Dec 2008 22:39:23 GMT