A richly detailed sculptural portrait capturing the strength, movement and iridescent beauty of the tūī.
Perched securely on a flowering harakeke branch, the tūī stretches its decorated throat upwards. Deep browns, blacks, turquoise and vivid blue recreate the bird’s shifting plumage, while its distinctive white throat feathers stand out against the natural plywood surface.
The title Tensile refers both to the bird’s physical stretch and the process used to create the work. Danny begins with soft, malleable polymer clay, shaping each feather, flower and branch by hand before baking the material until firm while allowing it to retain a subtle flexibility.
The layered clay brings a sculptural quality to the composition, lifting the tūī and harakeke away from the surface. A clean white frame surrounds the natural timber and intensifies the contrast between the bird’s cool blue tones and the deep red flowers.
Dynamic. Intricate. Distinctive.
Hand-sculpted polymer clay on plywood 35 × 35 × 6.5 cm, including frame Framed in white
FRAMED room-setting image is an example of scale and styling only.
A richly detailed sculptural portrait capturing the strength, movement and iridescent beauty of the tūī.
Perched securely on a flowering harakeke branch, the tūī stretches its decorated throat upwards. Deep browns, blacks, turquoise and vivid blue recreate the bird’s shifting plumage, while its distinctive white throat feathers stand out against the natural plywood surface.
The title Tensile refers both to the bird’s physical stretch and the process used to create the work. Danny begins with soft, malleable polymer clay, shaping each feather, flower and branch by hand before baking the material until firm while allowing it to retain a subtle flexibility.
The layered clay brings a sculptural quality to the composition, lifting the tūī and harakeke away from the surface. A clean white frame surrounds the natural timber and intensifies the contrast between the bird’s cool blue tones and the deep red flowers.
Dynamic. Intricate. Distinctive.
Hand-sculpted polymer clay on plywood 35 × 35 × 6.5 cm, including frame Framed in white
FRAMED room-setting image is an example of scale and styling only.
