Sculpting

2. Sculpting • Sculpture is the art of producing an object, in three dimensions, that is a representation of natural or imagined forms • It has been a means of human expression since prehistoric times • Most Stone Age statuettes were made of ivory or soft stone • Some human and animal clay figures have been found © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

3. Sculpting • Materials used from about 30,000 to 25,000 BC were basalt, diorite, sandstone, and alabaster • Copper, gold, silver, shells, and a variety of precious stones were used for high quality sculpture inlays • Clay was used for pottery and terracotta sculpture • For more than 450 years, chefs and craftspeople have been producing edible sculpted displays from ice, snow, butter, tallow, bread, salt, fruits, and vegetables © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

4. Sculpting • Historically, these works were performed for the pleasure of the noble and affluent © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

5. Ice Sculpting • Pure water freezes at 15ºF (-9.4 ºC) • Contaminants, dust and debris, movement of water, and disturbance of water to some extent allow water to freeze at higher temperatures, normally about 32ºF • Water is denser in its liquid form than solid form • The actual molecular structure of the ice changes as it moves through various temperature zones © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

6. Ice Sculpting • This information is important to a sculptor because the block will react in changing ways when being cut at different temperatures • The relative texture of the block will change from soft to hard, and back to soft again, with only a few degrees of temperature fluctuation © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

7. Ice Sculpting • There are 3 forms of commercially made ice used for sculpture and display: molded, brine tank, and circulating • Molded sculptures are formed in plastic or rubber molds that are filled with water and frozen, or directly in an ice mold machine filled with glycol • Pure chilled water is placed in galvanized containers that are partially submerged in a brine tank filled with sodium chloride makes brine tank ice, weighing 10 to 400 pounds © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

8. Ice Sculpting • The circulating tank method creates clear blocks, weighing approximately 300 pounds, by suspending a small water pump near the top of the tank that gently moves the water around the tank © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

9. Selecting the Ice Block • Sculptors usually prefer clear ice. • It cuts well because of its density • The final product captures and refracts light more favorably © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

10. Making and Harvesting the Ice • Line ice block maker with a plastic liner • Fill the liner with water • Place a small pump into the water near the top • After 2 to 3 days, the block will have formed • Impurities will have been removed from the top of the block with a wet/dry vacuum © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

11. Making and Harvesting the Ice • A stainless lifter plate is frozen approximately ¼ inch into each end of the block for lifting from the chamber • The block is then harvested using a portable block and tackle • The tackle chains are attached to the lifter plates, so that the block can be lifted by one person © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

12. Making and Harvesting the Ice • The block is then lowered onto a tilt cart, and the plastic liner is removed • If stored the block will be trimmed to 40×20×10 inches • Once in the freezer, the block is stored upright and covered in plastic © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

13. Holding the Ice • Care in storage must be taken to prevent sublimation • Plastic bags under cardboard boxes work well to cover and insulate new ice blocks and prevent sublimation • It is better to store blocks on plastic, rubber, or Ethafoam sheets, or on other nonporous material, to make it easier to slice the blocks in and out of the freezer • The ice will keep for several months © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

14. Equipment • Traditional • Assorted chisels • Handsaws • Templates • Single-prong chipper/pick • Ice tongs • Multiprong chipper © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

15. Equipment • Modern • Chainsaw • Die grinder with covered spindle • Die grinder with normal shaft • Rotary tool • Course rubberizer • ¼-inch straight router bit • V-shaped router bit © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

16. Equipment • Modern • Hand saw • Cordless drill • Aluminum • Drill with 5/8-inch spade bit • Ice tongs • Clothing iron • Extension cord with rubber casing • Heat gum © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

17. Caring for Sculptor’s Tools • Tools must be sharp, rust free, and in working order • Keep in orderly arrangement before, during, and after use • Inspect bits and blades of power tools before and after use © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

18. Cleaning Bits, Blades, and Chisels • If rust is present, rub rust remover on the surface, then warm the bit, blade, or chisel with boiling water • Wipe the item completely dry with a soft cloth • Coat the metal item with a light film of oil • Wrap each piece individually, or place in separate slots in a lined storage tray so that they will not damage each other © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

19. Saw and Power Tools • Oil regularly • Inspect cords frequently for cuts, cracks, and exposed wires • Sharpen the chain blades © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

20. Tempering Ice for Sculpting • Methods • Loading dock • Walk-in refrigerator • Store block of ice in refrigerator overnight and allow it to warm slowly to just above the freezing point • Cover the ice to prevent sublimation © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

21. The Sculptor’s Template • Design Templates • Used for assisting the sculptor in defining the proportion and shape of a sculpture within a dimension or space • A very accurate way of transferring a design onto a block • Always used in ice competitions when accuracy and uniformity are crucial © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

22. The Sculptor’s Template • Know the dimensions of the ice block • Have a sketch of the design—a picture or drawing • Use a projector to display the design onto tracing paper that has been taped to the wall • The paper should be the same size as the block of ice • The design is then traced onto the paper © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

23. The Sculptor’s Template • To set the template • Squirt a few sprays of cold water onto the ice • Apply the template and immediately slide it into position • Square the paper evenly with the block of ice • Once the lines of the drawing have been etched into the ice (¼-inch deep), the paper can be removed © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

24. From Passive to Interactive Sculptures • Interesting Uses • Punch bowls • Clam shells/shrimp boats • Two-dimensional (level) platters • Three-dimensional (tiered) platters • Tiered wedding cakes • Sorbet dishes • Luges and shooter blocks © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

25. From Passive to Interactive Sculptures • Interesting Uses • Bars and fireplaces • Message boards • Computer screens • Pyrotechnic displays • Faux-flame displays • Lighted table centerpieces/serving pieces • Tourist hotels © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

26. Vegetable and Fruit Carvings • A specialty of Asian cultures for centuries • Vegetables are served with all meals • Vegetables have a wide range of colors and shapes and are a natural choice for garnishes • In Thailand today, many study vegetable carving in art schools © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

27. Vegetable and Fruit Carvings • In Thailand, no meal is considered complete without some form of garnish • Tools are different than for ice sculpting, but the process of analyzing the dimension of the design is similar • Vegetables can be sculpted both additive and subtractive © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

28. Vegetable and Fruit Carvings • Uses • Holiday decorations • Vessels • Garnishes • Centerpieces © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

29. Hand Tools for Vegetable Carving • Razor blade • Paring knife • Flexible slicer • Parisienne scoops • Channel knife • Daisy cutters • Round and scalloped circle cutters • Ruler © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

30. Hand Tools for Vegetable Carving • Wooden skewers/toothpicks • Food coloring © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

31. Dough Modeling • Not commonly taught in culinary schools • Displayed in international culinary competitions • Most models are constructed by applying layers of edible dough on an armature • The armature provides support for the structure and is inedible but hidden © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

32. Salt Dough Modeling • Is similar in appearance to stone sculpture • An interesting blend of additive and subtractive sculpting • Sculptures have an excellent shelf life • Practical in a warm or cold climate © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

33. Bread Dough Modeling • Has roots in ancient cultures • Is an additive form of sculpting • Dough is edible, but lacks flavor and tenderness • The edible dough is pliable and functional © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

34. Fat Carvings • Pastry margarine • Butter • Doughnut fryer shortening • Tallow © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

35. Fat Carvings • Pastry Margarine and Butter • Began from an ancient Buddhist tradition • Not done in warmer climates, for obvious reasons • Sometimes is made up of a blend of margarine and shortening with butter to create a harder medium © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

36. Fat Carvings • Tallow • Chefs have used tallow for more than 300 years • Forms • Sculpting • Casting • Modern tallow softens to the consistency of artist’s clay • It can be manipulated into any shape • It can be trimmed with knives or tallow tools into any design © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

37. Fat Carvings • Casting Tallow • Extremely firm and cannot be softened by hand • Requires great effort to carve on a large scale • Is designed to be melted and poured into molds © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.

38. Styrofoam • More popular in warmer climates • Often used in large resort hotels, because of repeated use and storage ability • Tools used include box cutters, heated wires, handsaws, razor blades, and knives • After cutting, then Styrofoam is smoothed with sandpaper, then decorated with household paint or royal icing © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning. All Rights Reserved.