Drip Sculptures
Creating sculptures from dripping wax and paint
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DRIP SCULPTURES
Creating sculptures from dripping wax and paint
Mar 2017
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MOTIVATION
In a class called "Design Thinking and Techniques", we were asked to make a "physics fabricator," something that was a natural by-product of a physical process. I wanted to use gravity as one of the main forces for my project.
For my initial prototype, I used black and white acrylic and dripped it over a styrofoam ball. I wanted to see if it was possible to get an interesting cross section, but the results were not what I expected.
Cross section of styrofoam ball with layers of paint
Top view of first prototype
ITERATIONS
Because I wanted thicker layers and acrylic paint took a long time to dry, I decided to introduce another medium - melted wax. The acrylic paint flowed while the melted wax almost froze the drips, and it was apparent even without a cross section that there were layers and layers of the two mediums.
Prototype dripped over a knot on a string
Prototype dripped over plastic straws tied with a rubber band
PROCESS
The dripping process was messy but I managed to recycle some of the melted wax that dripped off of the sculpture by collecting them in a container and using it for the next sculpture.
Process used to make one of the final drip sculptures
General dripping process
The video below shows the general dripping process.
Final
The following are the final four drip sculptures, made by dripping layers of beeswax and black acrylic paint on everyday objects, like spoons, knives, chopsticks, and rings.
