Forbes Fragments
(Work title under construction 👆)
On this page, I will be posting the progress of your Custom Ode for Julie. I will upload the steps I take toward the grand finale. So, if you are curious about what’s happening or if there are decision-making moments, I will share them here.
Step 1. the concept & drawings.
It all started with an idea.
In our "Visual Taste Test" interview, you mentioned your love for ancient Greek art, statues, bronze, the painting of Julie's beloved horse and how the equestrian lifestyle plays a significant role in her life.
Inspired by this information, I conducted a deeper exploration of the equestrian lifestyle and developed the following concept:
I envision a 3D portrait of her horse, Forbes, crafted from 0.15-inch bronze lines. The spaces between the lines will be filled with fragments of the elements she observes while engaging in the equestrian sport.
The goal is: ‘to create the feeling of riding a horse, the elements you notice, the fun you have, fresh air on your skin, and emphasizing the beautiful connection between humans and nature’.
Materials on my wishlist for this object contain:
Fine art prints of personal photo’s on acrylic glass • thin bronze lines • real horse hair for the buns.
To explain my concept, I used AI for the first time to visualize my ideas. The following drawings represent its interpretation of my vision. While they may not completely align with what I had in mind, I’m pretty happy with it for a first attempt.
Step 2. testing materials.
I used acrylic glass graphic shapes, prints from the images you sent me, and brass wire to make the concept tangible.
Acrylic graphic shapes, combined to make a 3D collage.
Prints of the equestrian fragments.
Cut outs of the prints I used.
The first try out, with fragmented memories on acrylic glass, and bronze lines.
I’m a visual thinker, so I made a test to see how my idea corresponded with real life.
In the actual piece I wil first make a complete frame out of bronze and afterwards add the slides with the fragments of memories, but this is a good start into the creation process.
Elements used in this test:
sand trails.
skies during different times of day.
Fall leaves.
A piece of Forbes’ ear (hair).
Forbes’ buckle
tree bark.
stroke of grass.
tree branches & leaves.
a piece of the grandstand of a riding school in Wellington.
My Current Title Top 3.
"Echoes of Glory" (formerly "The Gallop and the Glory," which is too close to the copyrighted name "Gallop and Glory." 🫠)
This title embodies both a sense of power and triumph, evoking movement and intensity. It’s a reference to Chariots of Fire giving it a classic, heroic tone that highlights both the passion for riding and the artistic strength of the piece."Reins of the Heart"
Focusing on the emotional bond between human and horse, this title speaks to the unique connection that horse owners feel. It’s poetic and highlights that horseback riding is more than just a sport or activity—it’s a deep connection. Emphasizing the horse is not only an animal but a true partner. It also gives me ‘Heart of the Ocean’ vibes - the special blue diamant necklace in Titanic, for an extra flair of drama."Equine Anatomy"
This title feels like a powerful, artistic approach to the horse as a subject. It emphasizes the breakdown of the horse into forms and movements. It’s simple and references the images of a detailed study of the animal.
Dimension suggestion.
Preferred Dimensions for the 3D German Warmblood Horse Head Artwork
This is a three-dimensional piece intended for full viewing from all angles, capturing the elegant proportions of a German Warmblood horse head and neck.
Average Dimensions of a German Warmblood Horse Head:
Length (muzzle to poll): approximately 22-25 inches (55-65 cm)
Width (across the widest points of the jaw): about 8-10 inches (20-25 cm)
Height (top of head to bottom of jaw): around 12-14 inches (30-35 cm)
Neck length (for added realism): usually 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) from the base of the skull to the beginning of the shoulder area.
Suggested Dimensions for the 3D Artwork:
For a lifelike but visually impactful sculpture, I’m suggesting the following dimensions:
Head Dimensions: approximately 24-32 inches long, 12-16 inches wide, and 20-28 inches high (60-80 cm long, 30-40 cm wide, 50-70 cm high) to retain accurate proportions and to allow for detail.
Neck Length: extending the neck 20-28 inches (50-70 cm) from the head will give a natural flow and balance to the piece.
Pedestal (Plinth) Dimensions:
A pedestal of 32-40 inches (80-100 cm) in height will elevate the sculpture to eye level, which enhances the viewing experience from multiple angles.
For research I went to the Living Horse Museum. A beautiful place with a lot of history and inspiration.
I also had the chance to meet with André Marques Alcantara, a professional horse rider from Portugal. He shared his deep love for riding and what it means to him—it was incredibly insightful!
André also gave me some interesting tips, like using a GoPro camera mounted on the chest or head to record riding sessions. This might be a cool way to capture the surroundings and movement.
⚡️ Please be careful, when playing this video. I can’t turn of the sound. So be sure Julie’s not within hearing distance. :-))
I made a 3D model out of the horses head, as a tool to explain to the technical designer what I need for the calculation of the object.
*Side note: I made this drawing, without the real horse hair. This will - of course -be a part of the final piece.
The Final Technical drawing for the frame.
To Bronze or to Brass, that is the question.
Material options:
Patinated brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. The zinc content can vary, typically between 5% and 40%.
Material options:
Patinated bronze
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, although it may also contain small amounts of other metals like aluminum, phosphorus, or silicon.
So here’s an example of how the company that’s going to assemble the frame bronzes brass. ↙️
Pedestal preferences
A natural bottom would work very well.
Something like this would could work well.
The bottom would be really pretty.
This could also work.
Next Step: Collecting images. 🔍🕵
I started a little Google/Instagram search for imagery of the Top Meadow Farm surroundings.
(not breaking) the mold
But definitely a lot of finetuning! After many adapted versions, I could finally add the finishing touches on the mold for the bronze design.
Picking up the bronze
Planes, trains and automobiles. It was a journey, but the bronze is in!
Cutting 280 bronze rods.
The first weld being made
Welding bronze is not for the faint of heart. It took me a good deal of digging and then I found Yakov Sala, a bronze caster in the east of The Netherlands, upon referral.
But after a lot of delays and promises made, the delivery wasn’t up to par. So I had to start over.
In comes blacksmith Cuiper, to save the day!
Coincidentally my bronze supplier came over to Amsterdam to personally deliver some extra bronze rods. I showed him what was happening with the bronze caster and gave me the phone number of a specialized blacksmith, that can work with special metals.
Next day I met up with Blacksmith Cuiper, who uses a computer steered welding technique, which requires less heat, so the welds are controlled and perfect.
Happy days. The first part is in. Finally the result I'm looking for! So happy. ETA: April 12 2025
With this project, everything took its sweet time, but here the last welds where being made.
I decided to skip the real horse hair, so here we made the hair out bronze, as well.
Picking up the prints at Gallery Color. Right then and there, we had an idea: what if we would laminate the fragile prints, instead of placing them in acrylic glass. 💡
Moved the project to my house.
Working morning, day and night to get the job done.
Drilling the last hole.