Wednesday 26
th November 2014
Session Review
Today's session was a surprise for I was expected to present the book I had chosen to Omid, then negotiate whether the book and extract were suitable; However, instead, the only mention of the book was whether we had produced initial sketches from the extract we have chosen; Although, in the brief, it clearly stated the book and extract must be negotiated first so I will still keep this in mind for next weeks session on Wednesday.
Instead, the class and I proceeded to experiment with clay and start creating the first stage for our character models, which was a wireframe with resin applied to the key joints. Thankfully Omid gave us the option of either creating the animal character from the first brief or the character forms our novel extracts; I had chosen to create the character Abraces from The Last Days of Pompeii since ancient Egypt interest along with the character himself.
Once the wireframe was built and the resin was applied trying to make the character stand on the CD stand was aggravating because of his tall structure he he fell on what substitute for a backside. So thanks to Omid I applied some wire as stands and some clay to stand to support him while the resin dried.
Overall this session was tedious, but enjoyable because the lesson felt like a refreshing new taste compared t the sketches we normally construct and present. I am still disheartened that the novel was not negotiated because I had originally expected this over the Worcester week.
By Sebastian Jones
For today's session I traveled to my local river and searched for a log that would serve as Abraces new stand. The reason why I wanted to change the CD disk stand is firstly because I had to break it in half to fit the Abraces model into my toolbox while taking him out of university. Secondly I feel that a wooden model stand once cleaned and sanded down would have a more professional look to the finished clay model. 
Today I have applied additional clay to the Abraces model, in areas such as his left leg which was showing his wire frame skeleton. Also, I have finally cut off that strand of wire pocking through the top of Abraces head and smoothed his head down.
So next session besides creating a lengthier loin cloth for Abraces, I will proceed to further improve his face and limbs.
I have continued to sketch some initial sketches of Abraces tall anatomy using basic shapes; These shapes will be a good reference to follow or fall back during the clay flesh creation. I have also proceeded to some secondary research, since despite the old gods and ancient Egypt in particular, being a long fascination of mine; I need to know in depth how priest and priestess worshipped the goddess since Abraces has a cult to Isis in the city of Pompeii.
Following from last Wednesday's session I have chosen the novel "The Last Days of Pomepeii". The novel features a character named Arbaces an Egyptian sorcerer who is the most personally intriguing for me. So since my train to Worcester was delayed for hours which would last throughout the day, I went to the Birmingham museum to look once more at the Egyptian and Greek exhibits.
However, if I decide to stick with the lion and further develop him, it will be a good animal mascot to use to promote the endangerment of the lion species; which would provide a strong reason to place that certain animal on the cover of a branded product.
Today's session went well for after sketching out five pages of drawings from my mind , I feel it is time to look at existing characters and mascots for advertising and paste any images I preferr in a mood board.
I had received and carefully accepted the feedback given by Omid and sketched some simple drawings , using shapes to create some very nice designs of animals and other bizarre creatures.
