Creating Dragon Sculpture with Dad
Happy Father’s Day!
On this special day I wanted to create a tribute to my dad to celebrate all the things I’ve learned from him.
My dad, Joseph Hollick, is an engineer. I grew up watching him design, build and construct things using his creative and logical mind.
When I started creating art, he taught me how to turn my imagination into reality. He instilled in me the necessity to use both the right and the left brain. I learned early on that if I wanted to create something it had to work both logistically and creatively.
Laura Hollick with her Dad, Joseph Hollick creating dragon sculpture. Photo by Sabrina Armani.
I often go to my dad with a sketch of one of my wild ideas and say:
“Can you help me build this?”
and he always says: “Yes”
I think he enjoys the challenge.
Every sculpture I’ve ever created has been influenced by my dad. Whether he was there building it with me or not, all of my construction knowledge comes directly from him.
Laura Hollick creating dragon sculpture with her dad, Joseph Hollick. Photo by Sabrina Armani.
During the creative process I can get a bit…..uhmmm…..crazy! (you know what I mean)
My dad always stays level headed and helps find a solution that fits.
Dragon sculpture framework, created by Laura Hollick with the engineering guidance of Joseph Hollick. Photo by Sabrina Armani.
This dragon sculpture would probably still be a pile of sticks if it weren’t for my dad.
When I was out hiking I discovered all these glorious sticks. I could see knees, legs and a head in them, but I wasn’t sure how to get it to stand up securely.
Dragon sculpture. Photo by Diana Wiggins.
It was a real engineering feat (and to be honest a complete experiment) to discover the dragon sculpture could withstand the Canadian elements. This sculpture was created for an outdoor exhibition I had at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario. It was during the summer that had many torrential downpours. This photo was taken on one of the very few sunny days that summer.
Pink Dragon. Photo by Kevin Thom.
This dragon has seen many transformations, as have I. But because it has a solid foundation it can continue to grow and evolve. This is such a metaphor to me. Growing up with my dad has given me such a solid foundation, I know I can be and do anything!
Thanks Dad!
Tags: creative process, dad, diana wiggins, dragon sculpture, joseph hollick, kevin thom, royal botanical gardens exhibition, Sabrina Armani, transformation
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June 20th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Dads are definitely special people! It’s fun to see how yours has shaped your journey.
June 21st, 2010 at 2:35 am
It is wonderful to heal hurt feelings of “not having” a DAD. We are currently together once more in Bali with my Partner and Sons and at 36 it is amazing to see that I work with the better qualities of my DAD through Dance, his sense of humor and how are lives are in sync with one another. The best thing is I am full of confidence and self belief and joy, feeling whole or should I say complete once more and a very industrious place in my life. It couldn’t of come at a better time.
June 21st, 2010 at 8:22 am
During WW2 I didn’t see much of my dad. I had some uncles who were farmers so were exempt from the Service. Although they didn’t take the place of Dad, they included me in their family activities and provided a caring place for Mom,my baby sister and me. When Dad came home from overseas, he built a sturdy house for us. The front windows were leaded glass that came from an old house from one of my uncle’s farms. I am thankful to my father and to my uncles for showing me how to use opportunities to forge loving relationships and how to use materials at hand to create useful, beautiful things.