Skeletons and Mask

I sculpted these using Sculpey Light over an aluminum foil armature. It's like working with a soft marshmallow. I liked it and will try a couple more tomorrow.

Michael deMeng Workshop

I have been busy collecting broken dolls and salvaging parts. Preparing wood bases, skeleton heads and a couple of sculptures. I've gathered the paints, dremel cutter, glue and apoxie sculpt; all in preparation for Wednesday's class at Art Unraveled. Not sure where this is going, but it is right up my alley.

Acrylic Painting

This is the only photo I have of an acrylic painting I did a couple of years ago. I was painting at our local art club and a woman walked by and said she would buy it on the spot. Said she hated tee pees, but had to have it. OK by me; I was thrilled.

Watercolor Landscape

A peaceful spot under an old shade tree in the middle of a field.

I highlighted the trunk, branches and leaves with an off white. I just like how it sparkles from a distance. I know it is probably wrong, as is the little round bush, but I love it, so it stays. And that's that.

Spoon Doll

An old spoon, some doo-dads....... Some craft wire.......

Some tubular peyote for the body, some netting for her skirt......

A little attitude and she screams, "Ain't Life Grand?"

A spoon doll I made inspired by one of Casey Case's spoon dolls. Mine is quite a bit different from Casey's (big surprise), but it says "me". Casey designed, developed and created Spoon Doll kits which she sells at the Bead & Button show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin each June. What would I do differently? Lower that belly button!

Enable Me - Please!

I am having so much fun with these guys. I'm am getting some things ready for the November art fair and this piece is one of them. Can't believe I'm setting things aside for the fair this early, but it feels good.

Polymer Disk Necklace

Polymer disk necklace using translucent and white leaf canes on periwinkle (hand blended Kato clay).

Polymer Bracelet

Above is the finished polymer bracelet. Below on the right is the Goodwill bracelet that was damaged. It had two cracked pieces and the elastic was frayed, but I loved the shape.

I made a two-part silicone mold of one of the pieces. After the mold had set up, I placed my conditioned scrap clay in my mold and patted it down firmly. Popped it out, poked two holes, distressed it and made 6 more.

Above--I got bored while the mold was setting up and doodled on the top of it. What can I say?

After the baked pieces were cool, I experimented with paints. Above was too dark so I added some buff glaze. I baked the glazed pieces again to set the paint. Then I sanded them and gave them a quick buffing on the electric buffer. Strung them on Beadalon elastic, tied the knots and pulled them inside the holes. I want to try this again, but will pay attention to the layering of the ivory and not over-distressing the pieces. A little goes a long way. And, of course, have to make one with bright colors.

Polymer Bracelet

I made the above bracelet from polymer and strung it on Beadalon elastic. I found a broken bracelet at Goodwill (tomorrow's post) and wanted to see if I could duplicate it.  I used scrap clay and played with distressing it and different paint finishes, sanding it and finally a quick buff on the electric buffer. It was easy to string and tie it off.

Tomorrow's post will show the process. I wanted a completely different finish, but didn't want to invest the time if the configuration didn't work.

Now that I know it works, I want some color!

Watercolor Painting

Greens, purples and gold; a quick plein air desert sketch.  The above photo has a greenish tint to it, but the painting doesn't. I think I need Photoshop Elements. I looked at software today, but I want to research a little more before I invest the money and time.

Hand Crocheted Edgings

Rhonda of A Little Bit French created the above french inspired pieces from some antique lace I had collected years ago. She has creatively used the edgings I hand crocheted and it makes me feel so good to see the end result.

When I crocheted all the edgings in the above photos, I had plans of embellishing pillowcases and little girls' skirts and slips. I crocheted so many, there was no way I was ever going to use them so was very grateful when Rhonda said she would take them. I am just so happy to see her french inspired creations full of beautiful laces. Check out her Etsy store HERE.

Friendship - Ouch!

 A polymer clay sculpt I did as part of the "Bottled Up" series.  "Bottled Up" feelings hurt a lot more than if you let them out.  Art is a great way of letting them out.  Art heals.

Watercolor Painting

Another quick desert sketch. But I can see from these two photos that it still needs work.

The front cactus and bush on the right look too bright to me. I'm hoping I will be able to add some red to tone down the green and call it a day. This painting is only 3" x 4" under an 8x10 matte and frame. And I love how the tooled leather matte board adds to the southwest feeling.

Time on My Hands

C'mon, it's funny.

Art Heals

A bottle topper (stopper?) with an eye hook to hang different talismans and/or signs on.

And from playing with the above, I've decided to give him a polymer cane neckpiece. That's for another day when I have "too much time on my hands". Uh oh, another Bottled Up was just hatched.

Large Polymer Bail Pendant

I strung garnets, fresh water pearls and small labradorite beads on Beadalon stringing material and attached a magnetic clasp. I used wire guards to protect the tension points and to add a nice finished look.

I was able to slide the strung gemstones through the polymer pendant opening because the magnetic closure is less than 6mm. Of course, with polymer you can make the "fold-over" as large as you want. I embedded an eye hook in the point of my polymer pendant so I could attach the jade colored shell pieces.

Watercolor Painting

A small 5x7 painting I did using artist grade watercolor paints.

An 8x10, framed under glass.

Parts of Me

Creating something that touches the viewer is an unbelievable feeling. No words to describe it.

Whether the viewer feels positive, negative or ambiguous isn't the point.

It's the "feeling" part.

When someone connects to a piece of art, it is on an extremely personal level and for me, that connection is to be respected, honored, revered. What a gift! Peers who give a compliment, or friends and followers who take the time to comment; those are the moments in life that are so few and far between, but so very unforgettable.

Yeah, that's what I'm talkin about.

Stuffing Feelings

She is the first of my "Bottled Up Inside" polymer series. She is meant to be out of proportion, not aesthetically pleasing and in physical pain. She is carrying a lot inside.