Plein Air Painting Trip

I went to Sedona, Arizona yesterday with my Art club on a plein air painting trip. What a great time we had.

Everywhere I looked it was picture perfect-deep blue sky, the fall trees against the evergreens, red rocks, majestic mountains and the sound of the crystal clear water on the rocks-wow.

On the way back to the car, I stopped to take this artist's picture because I was fascinated with his painting system. I also want to find that easel on the Internet. I need to finish my painting before I post it. It looked great out in the bright sunlight. I was proud of myself. When I got home, all I could say was, "What was I thinking?"

Mask with Beaded Head Piece

This was another effort in working with the DAS clay; the result of which I was not happy with.

I was aiming for a "clay-like" structure; a basic "pottery" look. I thought the turquoise would compliment it nicely. But the volume of clay color overpowers the turquoise.

I'm going to paint on the clay to balance it out and hope I am happy with it.

The beads are seed beads, Czech glass beads, gemstones, freshwater pearls, lampwork, vintage beads and buttons. The beading stitches are peyote and fringe. It is mounted on a painted plywood oval.

Skeleton Cane Mask

I finished the mask. I covered a paper mache' skeleton mask I bought at Michaels Craft Store with several sizes of my skeleton cane.

It is very light weight and I'm really happy with it.

I wanted the "third eye" effect in there - seeing things that others don't.

Painted the backside with artist grade black acrylic gesso. I think I am going to take this a couple steps further....when I don't know, but the seed of inspiration is growing.

Polymer Lipstick Pens

I covered the bottom of these lipstick pens with slices of polymer clay canes I made.  The red cap comes off to reveal the writing pen.  So cute.

Bah Humbug Tree

A "Bah-Humbug" tree.........how cute is that? Black and white dishes with gold and black ornaments on a white tree.

Christmasopoly (Monopoly game). Simple red and white on a green tree with all white lights was spectacular.

Tab Necklace

I made this necklace by using alcohol inks over a resist and then adding a crackle liquid.  The wrap-overs and beads are textured with a heavy grit sandpaper.  Eyelash yarn is tied between the beads.

Detail photos of the texturing, painting and crackle.

Raffle Win

I won this Stamplets set at one of the Arizona Polymer Clay Guild's meetings

I'm looking forward to making some jewelry soon.

I already had a few stamp pads so I won't have to buy anything new. Or will I?

DAS Clay

This was an experiment with DAS clay over a plastic mask. DAS air dries to a clay like finish.

It didn't turn out.

The plastic mask was not a substantial enough armature to withstand the wire tension and resulted in the clay giving way; flaking and cracking.

I got aggravated and started doodling on it. I did try a couple of other projects using DAS and decided it was not for me.

Scarification

I created this highly textured mask after watching a documentary on Scarification (scarring the skin in such a way as to create raised patterns). Some primitive tribes use scarification for right of passage, modern tribes use it for personal expression.

Another meaning listed in Webster's School & Office Dictionary is "to wound with severe criticism." Ouch.

It is polymer over a ceramic armature. I used needles, Kemper punches and leather tool punches to create the scars. The shading in the cheek and nose area is done with polymer.

Premo Findings

Bought these at Michaels. Extremely lightweight and delicate. Feels good on the skin.

They come in various shapes and sizes.

Can't wait to fill them up.