Natural Habitat and the Gull
A gull needs a place to stand. But preferably a place that reflects his natural habitat.
It you go back to my previous post on this subject you saw the gull standing on a square base (shown here also). So ask yourself when was the last time you saw a sea gull standing squarely on a square block? Still a base of some sort is required here, or my bird will not stand on his own. So a device is necessary. I need to devise a means by which the gull will stand, and yet look natural. To accomplish this I use carved “simulated stones”, or pebbles as you might find them on a beach. And this is what I have done, as you can see in the second picture. This lends a natural feel to the sculpture, and your mind accepts the gull in a more realistic way.
The Natural Continuity Norm
In addition to the continuity of an animal being portrayed in natural surroundings, material continuity also bears significance in presentation. Oft times there is a proclivity to push reality by introducing other materials. As I mentioned earlier when proposing simulated rocks as a base. One could use actual stone for mounting this shore bird. Or perhaps a piece of driftwood as a base. What could be more natural?
But sometimes more can be too much. And in this case it is. Introducing materials from other sources, is a road once traveled that cannot be returned upon. And this is a case in point. Because using real stone would serve to make the rest of the sculpture even less real by contrast. It would cry out for equal treatment in the bird.
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