The technique known as bas relief meaning “low relief” is an ancient technique dating back to Classical Greece and even earlier in some Mesopotamian civilizations. They are a form of low sculpture usually carved as these are...directly on the wall.
Bas relief in its most refined state, is a bit different than simple
"carving" in that detailed attention must be paid as to where
light falls on the contours and planes of the material being used. Angles
cut at varying degrees, capture and reflect varying amounts of light relative
to each other and their light source. In this sense bas relief sculpting
resembles painting more than sculpting in that while the traditional sculptor
"captures" the true 3-dimensional form of his subject, the bas
relief sculptor must "trap" light in such a way that it "mimics"
3-dimensional form.
Sculpted right on the wall in a slab of plaster, a modification applied
to these examples, is to colour them in subtle tones so as to increase shadow
depth and open up the pictorial space (sky for example). The actual ambient
(wall) colour is often then hazed around the image so that it appears out
of a gentle “mist”. This softer approach often adapts more readily
to the surroundings, while still retaining the feeling of solidity one enjoys
in sculpture.
While the technique is unsurpassed for interpreting Classical themes, it
lends itself well to any theme or format one wishes to choose. A number
of recent purely Canadian themes have interpreted beautifully using this
method. ___________(back
to pictures of Bas Reliefs)
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NOTES ON INDIVIDUAL BAS RELIEF PROJECTS
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Location
HUB Mall, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Dimensions
Height 16 ft.
Width 19 ft
Total Area = Approx. 300 square feet.
Medium
Sculpted plaster w/acrylic paint.
About the Work
Conceived as the Pilot Project of a larger project at the HUB Mall, the intent of this piece was to frame the entrance to the Administration Corridor.
The work is a "trompe l'oeil", so effective that viewers even from 4 feet away are still not satisfied that the depth is not real.
The following illustration gives an idea of the layout of the elements in the picture.
(back to picture of "HUB Bas Relief")
NOTES ON INDIVIDUAL BAS RELIEF PROJECTS
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Location
Clinic of Dr. R. Austin
Moosomin, Saskatchewan, CanadaDimensions
Height 5 feet
Width 20 feet
Medium
Sculpted plaster w/acrylic paint.
About the Work
The theme for this work was conceived by Dr. Austin based on a structural landmark in Wapella, Saskatchewan (Canada).
Executed on two adjoining walls, various elements from these walls are melded to make them seem to occupy the same space. For example the left and right fence beams remain relationally horizontal, even though if they were placed at a true horizontal, they would appear to tilt upwards, aiming towards centre. Beside altering their angles, the far end of each horizontal pole in the fence, must actualy be made larger than the near end to keep its balance and proportion.
The inner corner of the adjoining walls is reversed, making it part of the outer corner of the "Teahouse", requiring that both visible walls of the structure be elongated against foreshortening. This causes an "odd" sensation if one rocks their head back and forth horizontally while looking at the house. The house seems to "bob" double the distance back and forth, in the opposite direction of movement.
NOTES ON INDIVIDUAL BAS RELIEF PROJECTS
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Location
Courtyard of Private Residence near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Dimensions
...of area shown...Approx. 9ft. high, 15ft. wide.
Area includes 3 more walls, wrapping around viewer (not shown).
Medium
Sculpted/finished in acrylic stucco with Silicone paint.
About the Work
Due to space limitations presented by the courtyard boundaries, this view was made of 3 photographs spliced together making a panoramic view. Hence the 2 inner vertical divisions do not exist, they are splice lines. The outer verticals are however real angles in the courtyard walls. Unfortuneately because the camera has to be rotated on its base, for each snapshot, the natural flow of many of the relational design lines are distorted.
NOTES ON INDIVIDUAL BAS RELIEF PROJECTS
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Location
Greek House Restaurant, Winfield, B.C., Canada
Dimensions
Height 5 feet
Width 8 feet (see "About the Work"...below)
Medium
Sculpted plaster w/acrylic paint.
About the Work
Sculpted in a corner of the room on two adjoining walls, the spatial elements are reversed from those of the room itself. The "inside corner" of the room's walls are reversed to become the "outside "of the Greek Structures therein. This makes the 8 feet of horizontal width seem much smaller.
NOTES ON INDIVIDUAL BAS RELIEF PROJECTS
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Location
Santorini's Restaurant, Summerland, B.C., Canada.
Dimensions
Height 7 feet
Width 10 feet
Medium
Sculpted plaster w/acrylic paint.
About the Work
Based on a famous architectural site on the Greek Isle of Santorini, this work was completed prior to the opening of Santorini's Restaurant. It was sculpted directly on the wall in a piece of plaster, painted and glazed.
NOTES ON INDIVIDUAL BAS RELIEF PROJECTS
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Location
"Peacock's Perch Pub", Summerland, B.C., Canada.
Dimensions
Height 4 feet
Width 9.5 feet
Medium
Sculpted plaster w/acrylic paint.
About the Work
A Mediterranean theme was chosen to accent the flavour of the Pub. Because the wall was disproportionately wider than high, large structures were designed in place on each side to optically "shorten" the apparent width. Meticulous detail was paid to the "harplike lattice" in the foreground, hence the title "Lattice".
Summerland was the birthplace of the artist and although not residing there since childhood, there are several samples of his large and smaller works in the area.
NOTES ON INDIVIDUAL BAS RELIEF PROJECTS
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Location
Private Residence, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Dimensions
Height 2 feet
Width 4 feet
Medium
Sculpted plaster w/acrylic paint.
About the Work
This work was done in a Lottery Home. Based on a classical theme, it is located at the bottom of a flight of stairs. Because of the rustic Pompeii theme throughout the home, the work was made to look antiquated.
NOTES ON INDIVIDUAL BAS RELIEF PROJECTS
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Location
Private Residence, Vernon, B.C., Canada
Dimensions
Height 13 feet
Width 8 feet
Medium
Sculpted plaster w/acrylic paint.
About the Work
Originally sculpted in the showhome of a residential developement (now a private residence) in Vernon, B.C. The work was designed to fill the space and integrate the awkward combination of wall-shape, doorway and ceiling slope.
NOTES ON INDIVIDUAL BAS RELIEF PROJECTS
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Location
Private Residence, Armstrong, B.C. Canada
Dimensions
Height 4 feet
Width 6 feet
Medium
Sculpted plaster w/acrylic paint.
About the Work
This work was done in a home the owner was renovating for resale. It is sculpted right on the wall in a slab of plaster, like other samples shown here colour is sparingly applied to increase shadow depth and open up the spatial elements.
NOTES ON INDIVIDUAL BAS RELIEF PROJECTS
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Location
Private Residence, City of Saint Albert, Province of Alberta, Canada.
Dimensions
Height 3.5 feet
Width 6 feet
Medium
Sculpted plaster w/acrylic paint.
About the Work
This work occupies a place to the right of an ascending staircase. The "terrace" design was chosen to "echo" the steps of the staircase. Colours were based on the existing room colours.
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