Egyptian Afro Thunder.

I still cant believe yesterday happened. As some of you know, I’ve been working hard on sculptures of the members of fun.. Yesterday was finally the day to take them to the concert. A while back I had shortly discusses giving the sculpture to them via twitter and Jack said yes. However, I didn’t expect to actually get the chance to present them. We got to the concert and i tweeted at them, telling them I had their sculptures, my friends amplifying my voice by tweeting them as well. Hours went by and there was no answer. Then about an hour before the doors opened, I got a tweet from andrew asking where i was and how they could get the sculptures. I was in Starbucks with a friend, waiting to use the bathroom, but we didnt need to use it anymore. We ran out of starbucks, on to teh street. I tried answring andrews tweet, but my friend kept calling me. We got around the corner of the venue and saw a mass gathering of excited fans, gathering around Andrew and Jack. Eveyone grew in excitment when they saw me and i went to greet them. They said they came outside looking for me and we left to the parking lot to get the sculptures. When they saw them, they were so enthused! They loved them, they were so excited. They gave me such wonderful compliments. I couldnt get over how excited they were. I cant begin to discribe how happy I was.  They took pictures of me with the sculptures and took down my name and website info if they ever used them in promos.

Then the concert started and it was honestly the best concert i have ever been to. Everyone was pumped, everyone sang, the energy was unbelievable. Fun. was amazing as usual! I can’t get over how phenomenal their performance was. Seeing Nate’s reaction at the crowd cheering for them… I just can’t get over it. Seeing him smile like that was definitely one of the highlights of the night. Out of all the concerts i have been to, that one was the best so far. 

Then after the concert, There was a lineup outside the performance exit to possibly meet the band. Me and one of my friends already met them, but the rest of my friends didnt, so we waited. Andrew got to us first and when i asked, he told me about how excited they were about the sculptures. he said they took some really cool pictures of them and said they would more than likely use them for promo pictures. He said it was the coolest thing they had ever got and maybe ever will get. When Jack came by he said similar things. I said I was honored to have the opportunity, and he said they were honored to have my work. I don’t think I have ever had a happier moment in my life. Things like this really make it all worth it.

Most of you don’t know, but I am entirely self taught and the road to learning figure sculpture has not been easy for me. Sometimes it was so frustrating, I wanted to quit it forever. Even yesterday, after all the wonderful things they said about my work, after how excited they were about it, I still didn’t think the sculptures was worthy to present. Im sure they were, but I have to be really hard on myself or there would hardly be any improvement.

I can honestly say, from the bottom of my heart, yesterdays events have given me one of the best memories of my life. Not only that, but have increased my confidence in my own ability and buried a lot of insecurities I have about my own work. I know I still have a long way to go, but things like this make it worth so much more. 

Just finished building the second installment of the fun. sculpture which happens to be Nate Ruess! I’m happy with the finished product. Surprisingly the hair was the most difficult to get right. His hair is different in almost every picture so I just kinda did something to accommodate most of the styles. Anyway, now all I have to do is hollow it out, put a collar on his jacket, and let it dry. Then I can finished the sculptures with Andrew Dost just in time for the concert. I’m really happy with they way this one came out and I’m excited to start the next one. 

So this is how I spent my wednesday night. Currently working on the second installment to my sculptures dedicated to the members of fun. If anyone can’t tell, This is Nate, the singer for fun. .  Making good time on it. Adding the neck and shoulders later today. The baldness and lifelessness will go away after after that. I should be done by this weekend if I get more clay. Then I can start Andrew! The concert is a little more than a month away, so I should have plenty of time to get them all finished.