Skip to main content





Remember her? I have picked up from where I left off. It doesn't look like I have gotten very far but I have hours into her face, hours, I say- dramatically! I have smoothed out the "fabric" and in doing so discovered a new favorite way to use my favorite tool= paper clay. Paper clay is as its name would suggest. A mix of finely ground clay and finely ground paper mulch. It is workable in many consistencies- straight out of the bag it feels like doughy clay. Mix a little water in with it and it will slip around in a very nice way. Mix it into more water and you have paste. I used a paintbrush and painted the last coat on the "fabric" and will now have very little sanding to do to it if any.


I also bulked out her body, giving her legs some more realistic shape, some shape to her shoulders and oh yeah, I gave her boobies. When I stood back and looked at her I thought- hmm, she's obviously not wearing a bra so I used my thumbs and squished them down a little- hey, its my sculpture and I can pick and choose where to be realistic- right? I still have to work on her arms and give her some hands.


The hair is made of polymer clay (which I hate but its a means to an end until something else comes along) over wire mesh. Did I say I hate polymer clay? I covered it up with a layer of pasty paper clay so that it will take paint better. By better- I mean I hate polymer clay and the way it paints up.

Now I have to figure out how to make her stand up nicely on her pedestal. I drilled through her foot and through the clay and will wire them together. I will also wire the two points where the fabric hits the base. I fear that it will not be enough and someone will move her and she'll snap at the foot so I intend to create some "roots" out of wire that will wrap up and around her legs- which ties into "her story."


All of my sculptures start from a drawing. The drawing expresses and explores a concept message. I knew hers had something to do with stripping away all that is un-true in the way we see ourselves and looking honestly at ourselves- the good the bad and the ugly and realizing that nothing about us is unforgivable and most about us is lovely or lovable.

So here's her story-


The wind blew unrelenting and worked away her false walls. When only a foundation remained beneath her- she could feel the light fall across her shoulders, warming her. She stood strong in the light knowing it as truth and roots grew bonding her securely to this new place of unadorned honesty.



I wish I didn't have to work so could stay up all night working on her- in my art studio, all by myself....






Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Little Summer Fun Followed By A Little Summer Anxiety!

  Yep.  Got a  little goin' on... First off-  Anything to keep these two busy!    Very first overnight camp- thought I'd be really anxious.  Turns out- not so much! A few family reunions   with a few too many pictures taken.... A little surf and sand and a husband who says "Back up...I'll get the bay in the background."   Hmmm ... looks like we're in the background and those flip flops are are pretty much the focal point of this picture.  No wonder I'm always behind the lens! Did I mention- ANYTHING TO KEEP THESE TWO BUSY???? There's been some art.... And then there's this lady.  This is the final on her face- because if I don't get this done.... Their gonna lock me away in the funny house! Oh yeah, because I just don't have enough going on.... Remember this?  The birdcage never quite made it on this lady's head but.....I did not throw it out.  Actually I lost it and finally found it under the treadmill when I

Paper Mache` vs. Creative Paper Clay vs. Paper Clay Recipe!

For those of you who work in figurative sculpture, or are art doll makers, or just like to putz around in an artsy way this post is for you. If you don't fit into the categories above this post may just be a yawn. Sorry. The following is a comparison of my experiences using three different products. Paper mache`, Creative Paper Clay, and paper clay recipe. This picture is a good example of how I like to mix up my mediums. The round flower is Creative Paper Clay. The 3-petal blossom is made from the paper clay recipe found on line. Both of these flowers adhered quite well with out any glue to the paper mache` background. In my Cloth and Clay group I have a discussion going about a paper clay recipe vs. purchasing the manufactured paper clay. I wanted an alternative to the little bricks and my dependency on whether or not my local hobby stores would have it in stock or not. And, truthfully, at the time with a rather large sculpture in mind I knew I would eat through those

Craft Tutorial Alert!

Well, its the end of the school year.  Time to thank the two ladies that influenced my children in a great direction!  I didn't want to donate to the gift card.  Why?  Because I'm not a joiner?  Because I want to stand out rather than share the spotlight?  Because I want a personalized gift that they can keep and always remember?  Because I want to impress upon them that I can't participate as a classroom volunteer because (loud children scare me) I've been so busy working and being creative?  Because I want to do both gifts for very little money but not look cheap?  Bingo. I saw an ornament made from a puzzle piece in a magazine and it stuck with me.  'I should do something like that' I always think.  Then the idea came to me and unfortunately would not leave me- like ringworm.  I would make a mobile. I found the very largest puzzle I could find at my local store.  Turns out the fewer the pieces- the larger they tend to be.  This 4.00 puzzle had