Hungry Jack O' Lantern is done!

Hungry Jack O' Lantern is so ready to hang out with someone. He's an impressively large Jack, and fun to boot!
I haven't decided yet where to debut him. I will keep you posted. If you are interested, send me a note.

Vintage Style Halloween Candle Keep

Hand painted and ready to hang, let this vintage style Halloween candle keep add a touch of fun to your haunted house this Halloween. For more information: Halloween Candle Keep

A Hauntingly Fun Halloween Treasure Keep

Just a sneak peek at the newest creation to come out of my studio. I've been storing this box for years, but never got around to painting it with the scene I had intended. I tried ebaying the box plain in order to get it out of my way, but that didn't work either, so I finally said, okay, this just needs to be painted with something fun and frightfully Halloween. This is a large paper mache box, about 12 inches in diameter so it can be used in a variety of ways besides just displaying. You could store Halloween collectibles in it, use the box as a base to stand a Halloween tree in and hang the lid above it for decoration, or even a treat box. For more photos on the painted details stop by my ebay listings here: Halloween Treasure Keep

Taking a bite out of Halloween

Ahhh, Jackson, all dressed up for Halloween festivities. We hear you've been taste testing the other trick or treaters, naughty boy!

To make matters worse, your pet spidey there has been scaring all the children. Now who can have a party with all that going on?! Now Jackson, if you promise to behave, you can stay at the party, otherwise, you will be sent back to your cave where you belong! Now please don't think I'm being too hard on Jackson, he has been giving me fits since I started working on him. His arms kept going where they shouldn't have, he wanted to tilt each time I added another layer of clay to his light bulb body, and then he would try and bite me as I painted his gourd head and the rest of him. I think I may need to go get some shots, if there is such a thing.... Well, I finally was able to finish him and get his little spidey friend put together, along with his little treat bucket. He's ready to come party at your house and promises to not take up much room at 13 + inches tall. Jackson will have no twins, so he is a one of a kind original who comes signed and dated. Jackson can be found by following my ebay link to the right. :-)

It's beginning to feel a lot like Halloween.....

 Everywhere I go..... I sure had fun pulling out the green tub and going through all my Autumn decor! I've hung the garlands, pulled out all the Halloween decor, and realize I need to buy a collectible for this year! Well, I may just have to run over to the American Holiday Artists Studios site and see what I can find. Hee, hee, I just found something to add to my collection! Yay!

 See how many artists work you can find here!

 and here! I got my feather tree from Benita Giacherio at Willow Springs Farm... you really should see the variety of feather trees she has. I have two now.

So it's time to get the mess cleaned up and enjoy the evening. It's raining here so I have the windows open to let the fresh air drift through the blinds....don't you love the smell of an Autumn rain?!

What do you get when you combine a gourd with a vintage oil can?

I love to gather collectibles and see what they can be re-purposed into. I found a couple of intriguing oil cans at an antique store in Tooele. I couldn't resist bringing them home to see what they could be used for besides sitting in a dark garage. Here's what I came up with. Perhaps he's not the most creative use I have found for re-purposing something, but he was sure fun to put together. Do you like to re-purpose items in your creations? What have you done that you were especially pleased with? This fun and funky Jack O' Lantern can be found on EBAY until tomorrow. Thanks as always for your comments. I do enjoy hearing from you. :-)

A Running Jump At Art

 Last night I attended a Fireside at church that was quite uplifting. I got there just as the meeting was starting though so I ended up on the back row with a family who has a toddler who loves to color. It was interesting watching him as he would lay his paper on the floor and then back up quite a ways. He would then run towards the paper and jump just before he bent down with his crayon to add color to his picture. He did this over and over again and was quite entertaining. No, he wasn't the best part of the night, but a fun part none the less and got me thinking.

 Is this how I and others sometimes approach our art? I have a tendency to have an idea, but rather than sketch it out I will often rush right into the creating. I will have to back up and jump in again and again until I have a finished piece.

 Sometimes I'm pleased, and other times I have even better ideas after the fact. Is that how it is with you or do you always sketch your ideas out to see whether they are what you are wanting? Some folks like the spontaneous feel of just going at it, but is that a good thing to do?

As part of a challenge we were given last night we were asked to think of a bad habit to give up and or a virtue we want to develop. We were told to write it down, but not to reveal it until Christmas day as a sort of gift to the Savior. So I want to apply this to my ability to create. I'm wondering if I can improve and grow if I'm willing to slow down and really think and sketch my ideas out. I believe our talents, what ever they may be are a gift from God, and that we have a responsibility to develop them to the best of our ability, and then learn to rely on divine inspiration to fill in the gaps of our human shortcomings. Am I saying that this will be a part of my challenge response, well I'm not sure yet. I will say this, each of the pieces above were done on the run so to speak without a real plan. I just wonder......
So how do you approach your art? Are you always on the run, or do you plan each piece with careful deliberation. As an FYI all of these are now on ebay. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Halloween Candy anyone?

Candy anyone? Tee Hee..... he won't bite you, I promise..... but he's been known to try......
Working with gourds can be so fun! This fella took me two years to finalize, as I wasn't quite sure where I was going with him. He's evolved and pieces sometimes do. I knew he was going to be a candy bowl, but wasn't sure what he would look like. Well....now we all know.

 

I'd heard of Mary Janes the other day and what did I find when I went to Family Dollar but the real deal! I love anything peanut butter so I was happy. With the black and orange wrappers they go well with this big guy. 

 This bowl will hold a bit of wrapped candy. He stands high enough to be a great center piece for a party as well. I have him up for consideration on ebay. Thanks for taking a peek.

Percival P. Gourdon

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the internet service lasts long enough to get this post in. Percival is a wickedly naughty fellow, so if you like wicked, and you like naughty get on over to ebay and place your bids!

Jack lost his hat!!!

Poor Jack...he lost his hat, so now he's hanging on to his head for dear life! The smile you wonder?
Well, he's hoping that if he's really nice, and shows his best side, you will take him home and fill him with delicious treats. He's on ebay right now!