Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Now we're getting somewhere

I finally have my Retreat piece to a place where I feel that she is structurally stable enough to really start going to town on her, and so here she is.

My main problem was caused by my stubborn insistance on using the head and hands that I sculpted out of polymer clay especially for her. They are VERY large (3" from chin to forehead) and HEAVY, and the wings-stand just wasn't sturdy enough to support all that weight. Also, her torso is stuffed fabric and the armature wire she is built on wasn't heavy enough to support the weight of that head either. Most of what I have been doing to her since I got her home has been building, rebuilding, enforcing, and reinforcing her inner architecture, but now I think she's ready for her makeover.



The second wing is lying on the floor because I haven't yet reamed out the hole it sits in. I want to try this wings-as-stand concept again, but next time I will protect those holes with a lot more care, LOL!


I see now that she could use a little more chin, but I was so proud of this head that I just really really BADLY wanted to use it.


I practiced for weeks sculpting hands and there was no way I was going to let these babies go to the spare parts basket.



Oops... didn't mean to get gesso on her fingers, but right now I just don't care. I finally get to start on the fun stuff!

9 comments:

Sue said...

Oh, Judi, she's marvelous! Thanks so much for posting the pix - you sure took off in your own direction (as did I!) I can't wait to see what else you do with her.

Carla said...

She looks great! I can't wait to see it finished.

Bear said...

hi judi
i love her and u should be very proud love her head n those hands sweetie they are bewdiful darling girl cant wait to see how u progress with her now loves her n you
love n hugs bear xxoo

Jennifer Rose said...

coming along nicely :D the wings are gorgeous!

Linda Fleming said...

Looks like you're making progress. Obviously a big and work intensive project. I don't think anyone has shown pictures of their completed retreat doll so I'm look forward to seeing her done.

Michelle Eaton said...

She is looking really good :)

Norma Soulet (AZArtist) said...

Love the way she is coming along. Can't wait to see her all done.

MaryO said...

I'm sure when she's finished she'll be worth all the trouble you've had. Looking forward to seeing her then.

Anonymous said...

Isn't it funny how we keep insisting on a doll part or costume because we like it or went through the trouble of making it so we try everything to make it work but in the end we should have just tossed it to the side and listened to the doll instead.... but there done that.. many times (:
She is looking great!!