Sculpting Again

It has been an incredibly beautiful week here - there is just *something* about a run of gorgeous spring days that makes me feel as if I am waking up after a long winter of dreaming. I love the creative energy that comes with days like these!

Even though I have had to hustle to get my garden planted (only 3 weeks late this year... sigh...), I made time to work on some projects, this time in polymer clay. I added the last face to my Sea Spirits piece - unfortunately I caused some damage to some of the other faces, so now I have to see what I can do about repairs. Oh well, at least the sculpting if finished! I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.

This next little guy has been in the works for quite some time, but I have had to keep quiet about him as he was my entry into an anonomous challenge. His paint job isn't really as gleam-y as it looks in this photo. I am going to try again to get a better photograph, maybe next time in natural light, bur for today this one will have to do.  (One of these days I WILL solve the mystery of how to photograph a piece that has Pearl-Ex in the finish, LOL.)


He won the challenge by the way. Woo hoo! My first win!

If you want to learn how to make a baby dragon of your very own, go to the page of online classes on Jean Bernard's website.  There you will find more information about a splendid class taught by Sprite Hanson - Sprite herself is a wonderful sculptor, and in the lessons she shares all kinds of great techniques, including how to make that awesome skin texture.  This project is suitable for all skill levels and the instructions are clearly written, well illustrated, easy to follow and fun.

Hatchling, Ready for Make-Up

I have been on such a roll with this little guy - here he is with the rest of his muscles and skin applied, and his wings assembled and attached. I tried to take a good sample of photographic views of him, as he is different depending on how you look at him.


His pose turned out exactly the way I envisioned him in my mind, which is a rare achievement for me. My intent was to capture a fire lizard at the moment of his hatching, ready for Impression. (I am a huge fan of The Dragon Riders of Pern series of books by Anne McCaffrey - I have always wished for a fire lizard for my very own, LOL.)


I am also pretty happy with the way his wings turned out, though they ended up getting a little thicker than I wanted. If I try this technique again I will do it just a little different. Even so, they are wonderfully translucent -- see the backlight shining through?


Here is one last view of the detail of the texture of his egg. This was made using techniques and instructions developed and written by the wonderful Julianne Sizemore.


I love it when a plan comes together!

Of UFO's and WIP's

Here it is the first of May already! Time for another UFO challenge. This month I choose to work on a set of dragon eggs I am making using instructions designed by the incredible sculptor Julianne Sizemore. I don't even remember when I started these... it's been years.


They don't look like much now, but watch this space..

My other project, and one that has entirely captured my attention and my enthusiasm this week is a fairy figure I designed to go with a set of wings I purchased from My Wycked Ways, an absolutely fabulous web shop that carries the most wonderful supplies. She will get her skin today, and then I can begin on her costume.



I know the ears are a little "out there", but I wanted something different. It will be interesting to see how they work with her wig when I get that far.

She will be holding this fairy lantern I made at the Iowa Dollmaker's Retreat last fall - I'm so happy to have finally found a use for it.



I love getting on a roll like this. Makes it extra hard to go to work some days though. Oh well, I work to afford more art supplies,so it's all good.

Home Again

Sigh... The Dollmaker's Retreat, led by Sherry Goshon and Jean Bernard in Marshalltown, Iowa is over for this year and I am safe home again. I had the most wonderful time -- exhilerating, stimulating, exhausting, but completely and totally wonderful. The artists who attended, many of whom I have known for years only through online correspondance all felt like old friends immediately. And the talent! The air in our workroom was crackling with creative energy.

Most of my best photos of the retreat itself are posted on Jean Bernard's blog . The woman holding the camera wearing a blue shirt and a goofy grin is me. :-)

Here is my almost-finished doll.

I want to add a little more embellishment, especially around her headpiece, but I have to wait for my glue to arrive. Jean highly recomments Grrrip glue, and know I know why. The stuff is fantastic. It is not commonly available, but I found a source at Dollmakers Journey.

I am indecently proud of her. She was a delight to create. Every moment spent working on her was pure joy.

By the way, I want to put in a plug for one more online resource for One-of-a-Kind artists. Judy at My Wycked Ways offers a marvelous assortment of beads and baubles, papers, fibers, and films -- enough to keep a person as devoted to the adoration of sparkly things as I am mesmerised for hours! If you visit the site, be sure to click through until you come to the page displaying her wonderful wings. Of course I ordered a pair. (I am still without a sewing machine, and my sprite wants her wings!)

Two last pictures before I close for today... Jeff Kantrowitz, an artist from Reno who does incredible things with eggs and other things, taught a miniclass for us on Friday night. These "Dragon Eggs" were simple and fun to do.









The one on the right is mine, and the one on the left was a gift to me from Jean Bernard. They are going to get some extra bling as well once my glue arrives. I think I may need to make some more. Can't you see a whole bunch of them set out as the most wildly oppulent display of Easter Eggs ever?

I am already plotting how to save up to attend next year's Retreat.