Polymer Sculpture

This is the polymer sculpture that won First Place in the Sculpture-3Dimensional category. I am still in shock. It won over two magnificent pieces; one being a 1' x 2" marble sculpture of a couple climbing a huge rock. I was told that it "just struck the judges", that they had never seen anything like it and that's why it won. I have to tell you that it was hard. It was hard to listen to people criticizing my win over the marble. I just kept saying "It's like comparing apples to oranges, what can I say?" My art friends said.....you can't say that bottle is fine art. I said the operative word was "ART".....and who's wearing the blue ribbon???? I'm just so happy....it can rain on this parade all it wants to!

First Place Gourd Sculpture

The judging was today...got a call that I won First Place in the Gourds category! Very happy about that! I also entered one of my Bottled Up polymer clay pieces and won First Place in the category! How lucky is that?

Might as well finish telling you the rest of her "parts". I used dimensional liquid polymer clay to create tiny clear bubbles to texture her skirt and top. Air dry polymer clay was used to cover the small gourd and for her head wrap. I used Golden acrylic paints for all the painting.

Her collar was sculpted from air dry polymer clay and hand beaded. Because air dry pc is porous, it can easily be sewn using a beading needle. I beaded her little arm bracelets, glued the felt on the bottom and she was done. Yay. I did sign her on the side and gave her a light sealer. I like her a lot. I'm so happy...I'm re-energized. Such a good feeling!

Gourd Sculpture Part 3

More Apoxie Clay, more painting....

These are two hoops from embroidery frames I glued together and attached with Apoxie Clay.

I weighted the bottom with more Apoxie Clay. The bottom will be covered with a piece of felt so it will look nice.

The "hair" is some old cording I had. Her head wrap is sculpted from air dry polymer clay and glued on. The cording was glued in after the head wrap was semi-dry.

Now she gets more paint, patterns, textures and some beading. Continued......

Gourd Sculpture Part 2

The Apoxie Clay is a two part polymer resin clay that air dries rock solid. It's a very heavy clay, but is great for connections, cementing or attaching difficult pieces. After combining Part A with Part B, you have a limited amount of time to work with it as it starts to stiffen and, depending on size, can be hard in five minutes and cement in 20.

I used masking tape to cover the wire and then doll tape to smooth it out.

I covered the arms and head with Paperclay.....what a mess. I'm leaving the face "rough". She looks weathered, but happy (like me).

I covered the small gourd with Delight air dry polymer clay. I'm letting all this dry and will paint the gourd and add the headpiece next. Continued......

Gourd Sculpture Part 1

I'm continuing to make things more difficult for myself. I KNOW I cannot do a smooth sculpt with Paperclay and yet.....I'm going to try to get it as clean as possible. I'm using a purchased gourd that I have painted with Golden's White Block Out Paint.

I use a baked polymer clay "smoother" for shaping my aluminum foil head armature. I use a Makins tool for indenting the features. I try to sculpt as much as I can in the aluminum so the head does not become too heavy.

However, I can already see that the head is going to be too large, but am I going to stop? Nope. Just going to go with it. I wired the exaggerated arms and neck and will add the Apoxie Clay to the neck and shoulder "T" and let that dry overnight. Continued......

Rock Inspired?

No. It's how I feel. I'm having minor surgery next week on my face to remove some skin cancer.

It's the third time in the same place and the last surgery was extensive, so I am scared. But then, I am a bit of a drama queen. I'm still working on my sculpture for the art show which is due on Thursday. It should be interesting to say the least considering how I feel.

Guard Dog Mountain

Woof.

Free Screwed Up Heart Tutorial

Another free tutorial by Christie Friesen. This one you can watch on YouTube and follow along.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwiUbF3S09I Wishing you love, laughter and a day full of screwy fun.

Two Hearts

A red ribbon tied around one.......

and a blue ribbon around the other. Polymer clay canes and crystals.

Love is All Around

I'm just sayin'......

there was a Desert Valentine just about everywhere....

even on the edge (lower center rock of photo) of this small mountain pool at the top of Waterfall Trail in the White Tank Mountains.....

and nature's carving of a heart on the side of a boulder. See what I mean about getting fixated. It's a good thing February is a short month. I'm a little nervous about next month.... I may start seeing shamrocks (sorry).

Sweet Treats Necklace

I made this "Sweet Treats" necklace last year for Valentines Day. This year I've been working on hearts and heart jewelry, but they're not turning out........my heart just isn't in it. Oh, that was bad.

More Sweetness

More polymer clay treats......but, at least no hearts (for a little while). Happy Anniversary to my sweetness. I'm thankful for you everyday.

Happy Valentines Day

Wishing you a day full of sweetness. The real kind.....not polymer clay.

Free Peacock Necklace Tutorial

Look at this gorgeous peacock necklace by Christi Friesen. Fire Mountain Gems has the free tutorial for this piece.....click HERE. I came across this while visiting Sandee Lee Design's blog (HERE). She is a multi talented artist who creates in polymer clay, beads, fabric, etc.

Free Heart Earrings Tutorial

These are the cutest foil and polymer earrings by Emma Ralph. Her blog is called EJR Beads and the tutorial can be found HERE. She thoroughly explains the materials needed and how to use them.

Hassayampa State Park

Look at that perfect gray heart at the end of this petrified wood and the interesting markings on the wood.

I did get some beautiful reference photos to paint from. Our plein air painting group is trying to stay within a two hour driving time for our painting trips. This Arizona state park was only a half an hour away, so it was great.

It was so serene with the sun coming through the twisted trees and the light dancing on the grasses.

None of us had our plein air equipment in backpacks and the terrain was too rough for our rolling carts, so all we could do was take reference photos. I was quite happy though. The reflection of that palm tree in that bright blue water was worth the trip!

Art In The Afternoon

Our local art club has a paid model sit for us on Monday afternoons.

Above is one of one of two art rooms set up with a back drop, a carpeted stage platform and professional lighting. The art club supplies the easels, tables and chairs, etc. We can pencil, charcoal or pastel sketch, oil or acrylic paint or even sculpt.

Since I am new to this, I try to loosen up with some quick sketches and then try my hand at something more finished like the cowboy. It's funny though, I end up loving the quick sketches, simple lines, minimal color over the more finished pieces. Weird.

Today's Color Palette

Photos by Marlene Brady Lavender dreams....

the sweet warmth of yellow.....

and the quiet of green. Today is quiet reflection for me. Sorting projects and photos, setting priorities and making decisions. My Bead Journal Project has fallen to the wayside. Three final pieces sit halfway done from 2010 and I'm already behind two months for 2011. I am giving myself today to come up with a prototype of a manageable monthly piece. Kind of a "Write it down and make it happen" theory.

Wild At Heart

Animal instinct, wild attraction, love gone wild. I made this wild heart from one of my polymer clay tiger canes. Wishing you some wild in your day today.

No Strings Attached

The pure, No Strings Attached Heart is made from pure red polymer clay. May you find some pure acceptance today with no strings attached.

Love Notes & Tutorials

Wishing you a song in your heart and Love Notes all week! I made the bottom of the heart from one of my wrapped Skinner Blends and the top half from one of my lace canes.

Above is Desiree McCrory's Lace Cane. Her site, Desiree's "Desired Creations"(click HERE) is full of detailed instructions, inspiration and innovative designs. She has a great tutorial for making Lace Cane beads......click HERE and the Skinner Blend HERE.

The Sentry

Is he not phenomenal? A decayed cactus that looks like an prehistoric/alien sentry...head piece and all.

I was loving the lighting and textures and looked to my left...and there it was...another sweetheart rock.

Another alien sentry??

And last, but not least.....laughing rocks. Another great day at White Tank Mountains, plein air painting, hiking, laughing and taking lots of photos. Hope you have a good weekend creating.