WVFA Animal Farm or Art or Something Like That....lol

 It's been a regular farm around here, with all the comings and goings and new critters, planting, and already harvesting, art shows, and poster designs to create and the list goes on! I managed to squeeze some time to paint this little lamb above, for the Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts. It was touch and go, and I missed the original deadline due to all the goings on, but I managed to beat the extended deadline by a couple of days, whew! It's painted in acrylics, still my medium of choice. I'm dabbling in oils, but I love acrylics, probably because there are no chemicals. No matter, this piece is waiting to find out if it's been juried into the show.

This piece was extra fun to create! I used my mixed media technique of slathering texturing compound on my base board, and then I tried to sculpt using the joint compound and that was a no go. So I sanded that down and brought out my trusty Creative Paperclay to hand sculpt bass reliefs of the horses heads. Using a base paint, I smooshed that around the piece, then sealed and then meticulously added layers of metallic colors, wiping here and there to add dimension and interest. I was actually surprised at how it turned out, and happy as well. Soooo, now the wait to find out if either of my pieces has been accepted. I guess I could go sneak a peek, huh?! Hold on, I'll go look.... aaaah, still in round one of the jury process so I will keep you posted. Well, off I go to my Simply Sheryl's blog to post about my latest gardening ventures. Have a great week!

Horse is finished, yay!

Hmmmm blogger is up to no good again...lol. I have been slogging through back pain and mental fatigue trying to get this piece done, and finally! So I've taken the photos, filled out the entry form for the show, and it's off to the post office in a bit to send the entry off. 
I knew it! As soon as I try to add another picture below the text, it pops underneath the other photo, oh well. So here is El Caballo De Calabasa II, a gourd horse who has a bronzed and silver look. Hubby wants me to start on the next one now, while I'm in the groove...:-) It's so nice to have his support. My house is upside down right now, but it will get put back together next week, I think. I now have 3 art dolls as a commission to do, and so it goes. Thanks to all who were cheering me on. I look forward to seeing what you've been up to. Oh, if you want to see what is happening and more information on this art show here's the link. Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts  I'll bet you've never seen a more beautiful and inspiring place to have an art show...;-)

WIP's for Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts

 Oh boy, I told myself I wouldn't be in this predicament again, trying to get something done last minute for the show. They changed the jury process though and want to see the actual pieces for the show so this fella has to be done by the end of this week or so to get my photos and such sent in. Yipes!

 I still have the leather tooling design to add to the base, and then painting the piece. Or and smoothing out the rough areas a bit more. Although I do rather like a bit of texture to imply muscle.

So back to work I must get, as the time is flying and it's already March tomorrow! What a whirlwind week this will be for sure! What are you working on right now?

Horse and Santa WIP's

I found a great use for a Pampered Chef bowl. It works great to hold my gourd sculpts when I'm working on the top details. I will add the base later, but for now, hurray for Pampered Chef!
 This horse head will end up with a bronzed look with vintage sterling silver design work on the base.

This Santa is two feet tall so he will be an eye catcher when he's finished. He will be embellished with vintage look "ornaments" before I'm done. I sure have fun with gourd sculpting. Uh oh, the wild Wesley is awake and ready for lunch so I'm off to have some fun with the twins. Have a great day!

I have a secret.....

Today we helped hang and place the art for the show this weekend. I have a little secret that can't be revealed until tomorrow night, but it's good news for sure. I had a lot of great comments on this piece although it was mentioned that perhaps next time I let some of the natural gourd show through so I will have to ponder that for the next go round.
I worked with two great people in placing and hanging art. The fella who worked with Michelle and I commented at the end of the day on how refreshing it was to work with folks that didn't have an agenda, over blown egos, or anything like that...lol. It was very satisfying to help place pieces where they would look the best. I look forward to doing this again next year.

Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts WIP Done!

Talk about a journey! I've never sculpted a horse head before but had looked at my goose neck gourd knowing it was destined to be one. I started out with a vision of the head looking like carved stone, with a base that had a tooled leather look to it along with an oxidized copper background for the tooled leather. Sometimes things don't always end up the way I start and this was certainly no exception.

After adding the floral flourishes, I realized that it wasn't quite the way I had envisioned, so I decided to blend the top and base together. So I thought I would try a bronzed look with a leather look base. After putting the first layer of the bronzing technique on, I had another thought come to me. So I tried burnishing the floral design with an antique gold, which really made the bronze too pink or well just not right.

I was getting discouraged and had all sorts of wild ideas running through my mind. After antiquing over the bronze to give it some definition and a more realistic look, I took some Champagne metallic paint and dry brushed over the gold. It toned down the gold and changed the whole feel of the piece. So I'm done! No more fussing, and lot's of lessons learned. I would really love to do another horse head or two, using my previous ideas but in a different way. Now I need to come up with a name. We've jokingly titled it El Caballo de Calabaza, perhaps that might stick!

Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts WIP continued

I got my clay order very fast so now I'm up and running again, getting the leather tooling design look on the base of my horse sculpture. I suppose I could pyrograph the design on, but since I don't know were my wood burning tool is or whether I could do it right, I will stick with what I know, and that is clay and paint.

I'm getting excited! I am itching to get this finished and get to the painting portion, but I better be patient. I do enjoy sculpting and designing with clay so I need to enjoy the journey. After the clay flourishes and design work are done, I will clean everything up, and start painting. I hope to achieve a tooled leather look on the base, at least in part. The rest will be revealed as I go along.

Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts WIP

The progress continues. I've got maybe a touch up to do on the eyes and then on to the base. I have an idea....not sure if it will work but whatever I do has to balance the piece out and make it so it won't tip over.

I would like to do something that looks like tooled leather on the base. Wish me luck.....:-)