Okay... She's a Mermaid Now!

I dug into a new package of Clayshay from Aves ( http://www.avesstudio.com/Products/Aves_ClayShay/aves_clayshay.html) and started modelling a mermaid body onto the base. Wow... I don't know if I just mixed the ClayShay too thin or if that is the nature of the beast but I found it REALLY messy and kind of hard to work with. But to be fair to ClayShay, I think it was totally my mistake and I really like how the look has turned out so far. I have her hair some texture with what was clinging for dear life onto my fingers and of course, look at that great boob job courtesy of ClayShay.

She is far from finished but I wanted to let this layer dry and then come back in later with some finer details. I just painted the blue on to keep an eye on the figure I was trying to create.

Strange Pals... Sculptures in progress

I don't even really know what to say about these two gals. Anyone who keeps up with my blog knows that I originally made the crazy "snake lady" head on the right to go with the "modern/abstract artish" body on the left. Well, I just didn't think they looked "right" (which you may be wondering what in the world constitutes "right" for me!)

Anyway, the work on the left is kind of out of my comfort zone, but I LOVE bright colors and chunky figures. I think what scares me is knowing when enough is enough. I was absolutely LOST when it came to her face. I didn't whether to sculpt her a round face and stick it to the rectangular head, or just paint one one. I painted one on, but I may change it later. And for hair? I think hair would look very odd and take away from the basic shape so she may just be bald.

I wanted the sculpture on the right to live in my garden, but I decided that AFTER I had already sculpted her face from Darwi clay which won't hold up outdoors so now I don't know what I'm going to do with her.

Art Doll Mistake!!!!

I had originally thought I would have this base as the body for this doll, but the base is way too vibrant and modern looking for the head of this doll, so I have moved on.
The base is just a bottle that I had (my hubby saves EVERYTHING) with a very interesting shape that I paper mached, painted, and then decoupaged with accents here and there (I LOVE my mulberry paper).

The doll head is made from Darwi air-dry clay with apoxie-sculpt hair. I now imagine her with a much more slender body, possibly with mosaic work, so she can live in my garden. My only fear is that I don't know if the Darwi clay will hold up outdoors, even heavily sealed. How will hold up to my TN winters or driving rain? Does anyone know?

Step Two: Art Doll in Progress

I still have NO idea where this doll is going. I want to use funky colors and make her "different." I am going to have to slim her eyebrows, add another layer of hair (I used Apoxie Sculpt so it is easier for me to add one layer at a time), and figure out what kind of body she will have. I had made a base for her, but it just doesn't look right with her head.

I though perhaps I would make her into some sort of "Sea Queen" or maybe even a mermaid... or maybe a Garden Queen. Any suggestions?

Next Sculpture in Progress

I must admit I have no inspiration for this work. I was just feeling "guilty" that I had opened some Darwi air-dry clay a while back and I hadn't used it in a LONG time. I was afraid it was going to dry out, so I quickly found an armature for the head and created the largest face I've made so far. It was VERY difficult to keep it symmetrical because Darwi doesn't adhere to the armature like Apoxie-Sculpt does and every time I would shape something on one side of the face, the other side of the face would tend to get a little wonky. Finally, I got it the way I like it.

Why blue? I don't know. She may not remain blue. Her details are FAR from done. I haven't decided yet who she is or what is going on with her. I will wait on her to "tell" me. As of right now, she is still drying. I love feeling how cool the clay is until it dries. I am excited to gain more experience with Darwi clay.

Finished Apoxie Sculpt, Paper Mache Art Doll Sculpture

I made this doll as a gift for my great friend's mom for all she has to put up with... bless her heart.... I know how she feels because I have a rotten little child, too ;)

This doll is for Emma who loves Kandinsky. Although this doll isn't modern art (maybe folk/modern???) I added elements of Kandinsky in her patterned skirt to suit her taste. I painted the picture on mulberry paper and then decoupaged it onto her paper-mache body to give it more texture. I also picked bright colors to give her a little more "umph!" The rest of the doll is sculpted from Apoxie Sculpt and then finished with a heavy-duty satin sealer.

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I learned a valuable lesson while sculpting this doll for anyone who uses Apoxie-Sculpt. Don't get impatient and zap it with a heat gun. I did that with her arms to encourage faster drying and it turned it into a loose, bubbly gummy type mess. I had to sit and hold the arms up for nearly half an hour to keep them from completely dripping down the body (which I didn't want to ruin b/c it took me so long to paint the picture!!!) I finally saved the arms and I like the very long, abstract look of them which is what I was going for anyway!

Next Apoxie Sculpt Art Doll in Progress

This is my next work in progress. I have NO vision in mind for this piece. I was sitting on the couch last night watching reruns of Project Runway and grabbed some Apoxie Sculpt (bronze colored) that I just received in the mail and started making a face. This morning, I pulled out one of my Red Stripe bottles that I had saved and started decoupaging it. I ordered some Aves Clay-Shay and paper mache and I may finish the body off with that. I really don't know yet... I think art is much more fun if you don't plan it and just let it happen!