There’s something about the shape of an Inukshuk that has always stuck with me. Even though it’s built from such simple forms, it carries a real sense of presence; quiet, steady, and human. Earlier this year I decided to create my own interpretation of one as a small mixed-media sculpture, mostly as a personal creative project to experiment with texture and materials.
The piece stands just under six inches tall and depicts a classic Canadian Inukshuk planted firmly in the snow. I wanted it to feel solitary and weathered without becoming overly realistic. More like a small object that suggests a landscape and a feeling rather than literally recreating one.
I own a 3D printer and as anyone who also owns one can attest to, it creates a fair amount of waste plastic. I have managed to use most of this plastic in one project or another and this is one such project. The body of the sculpture started as thermo-formed plastic using a heat gun. After shaping individual pieces I then joined them together, again using heat it, I spent quite a bit of time refining the surfaces by hand so it wouldn’t look overly manufactured or clean. Once the form felt right, I painted it in layered black tones with touches of gold worked into the finish. The gold isn’t meant to dominate the piece, but instead catches light in certain angles and gives the sculpture a little warmth against the darker surface.
The base was designed separately and 3D printed, which let me create a clean foundation for the sculpture while also embedding my name, city, and the date underneath. I’ve started doing this with some of my work because I like the idea of each piece carrying a permanent record of where and when it was made.
Like a lot of handmade pieces, this one took considerably longer than expected. There’s always a stage where you think something is nearly finished, only to spend another evening adjusting textures or repainting tiny details. That part can be frustrating, but it’s also usually where the personality of the piece starts to emerge.
It’s one of those pieces that taught me a lot while making it, and I suspect I’ll revisit the idea again in future work using different materials and finishes.
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Third Dimension Jewellery with HandEye Originals 