ArtMetal

Several of my artist buddies encouraged me to post this over here since you have to be a member to see the saga on the MetalMeet site. 

Last year I got a new manniquin...I'm SOOOO tired of making bowls.

I have the entire manniquin: 

The plan is to do the entire body in aluminum and then make brass, bronze, stainless, and ??? clothes. Those of you who followed the Mandy Dawn build may remember my talking about this manniquin. I got her on Ebay and she is a very high quality manniquin with very nice body tone and muscle definition. She is a plus size model...supposedly a perfect size 14. The brand is a Patina-V, Bellisima collection # BE1A Shannon, designed for a 3" heel and size 7 shoe. Her hips and legs, arms, hands, and torso are separate pieces so I won't have to haul the whole body around. At Jim's I took the torso and the first thing I did was make the flexible shape pattern. Due to the tecture of her 'skin', regular transfer tape would not stick so I used blue painters tape. Turned out ok but it was a bear to get off so for the next pattern I'll use the purple painters tape. I've seen it at Wally World and it's a little less sticky than the blue stuff but a little more than sign transfer tape.

I decided to challenge myself a little and do her belly in one piece. What a bear! SEVEN reverses in one panel!

This is, without a doubt, the most complex panel I've ever made. The flexible shape pattern kept me straight though. I just kept stretching and shrinking where the pattern told me and after about three hours the pattern fit but it didn't look like her. It was interesting how the arrangement was WAAAAY off. A few twists and bends and she's looking like herself. Here is another view. Notice the labels on the pattern. You might think it would be obvious what is what but you'll be amazed how little things look. I haven't decided yet how many pieces the upper front will be made from...at least two, split up the center. The shoulder is pretty complex. I'm using .063 3003 H14 aluminum. This will be a long term project. Some of the smaller parts such as the eyes and fingers will require reposee' techniques and I barely know how to spell reposee' but do have some pitch and crude tools.

My long suffering wife named her Monique....