365 Day 103 (catch up post #2)

Tookies update

Remember the 29 Tookies finger puppets I made for our table at the 1st Ever Tiny Market in Kalamazoo? Well, these are the ones that I did not sell.

I need to photograph them and post them to my Etsy store and my new ArtFire shop.

I will probably do the photography tonight while the paper is drying on 'Nipped.

365 Day 102 (catch up post #1)

yep...I really am not a painter



















I am back and working on 'Nipped. I painted his base coat a bright tangerine color.



I wanted to tone the orange down and highlight it with green, but the green dried too quickly and I ended up having to wash 'Nipped with a Dobie scrubber in the shower to get most of the green off (and leave some in the low spots. Yuck.































Then it was waaaaay bright -- almost dayglo!





So I tried to tone it down with a thinned down brown paint. Yuck. What a mess.






Now I am covering it with a layer of paper. I will most likely not leave it like this, but it will be a good base I think. New paint should stick to it and perhaps the layer of paper will help to add a little more durability to the finish. Who knows, I could change my mind again (and again).

This is turning into quite an adventure!

365 missing days blog catch-up

I spent the day Tuesday and had to stay overnight, and most of today at the hospital. I'm okay but I am not feeling like doing catch up tonight. Tomorrow I will post 2 catch-ups blog posts and the current one for Thursday.

Just sayin'.

365 Day 101

more work on 'Nipped and his companion piece









'Nipped, partially gesso'd











I didn't mean to still have this much work to do on my Meth & Hot Dogs 2 pieces by this date. Life happens, more unexpected work needed to be done on 'Nipped (and had to dry), other deadlines happen...today 'Nipped gets gesso'd and base coated.

The companion piece is partially done. You remember how I really dislike painting? Well, I had an idea for the stripes on this guy yesterday that I think turned out pretty darn well and saved me from painting. Tonight I will be painting his face and head. Then he will just need to be sealed.





this guy gets a face tonight

365 Day 100

similar photo, different day

'Nipped is nearly dry and ready to paint tomorrow. His dealer (and companion piece) is that black and blue snake on the table. I will working on painting that today.

More layers on Juana's terribly belated birthday present, Studio Snake and that chime ball guy.
I am down to my last two rolls of plaster cloth -- gotta make this a good day!

365 Day 99

more plaster cloth!

Meth & Hot Dogs 2
I ended up needing to do one more layer on the neck area of 'Nipped before I went to bed last night. But here he is...sleeping/drying.








'Nipped sleeping/drying





New Project!
There is currently a display at Northville Square Mall (where Solid Grounds Coffeehouse is) that shows various projects from some sort of learning center for little kids. I don't remember exactly what the name is (if I see it again I will come back and edit this part). It reminds me of going to the science fair when I was a kid.

There are lots of tables with different examples of all sorts of activities they do at the learning center. It is really really great.

One of the displays has a long snake made out of paper tubes -- I think it has to do with recycling things for art projects. ANYway ... that inspired me to do my own Studio Snake. I go through a lot of various paper tubes: toilet paper, wrapping paper, paper towels, mailing tubes, etc. I usually recycle them but I want to do a ongoing long-term project that will allow me to keep adding to it and try out different paint combinations, embellishing techniques, etc. This project will also help me play with supplies and try stuff. Maybe I will start to ease into painting even??? Perhaps get to not hate/dread it so much??? Hmmmmm...

The kids' snake was plain paper tubes that they painted or glued things to. I am going to put layers of plaster cloth on mine. This is the basic shape in the first layer stage. I already have a bunch of ideas for embellishing the body sections. I am really excited about this!











Studio Snake: the beginning






Woot! Woot! Dept.
AND -- finally -- I think I came up with something I am happy with for Juana's very belated birthday present. This is a deliberately cryptic photo so that if she happens to see it, she won't be able to tell for sure what it is.




Juana's long-belated birthday present: the beginning

365 Day 98

last night of wet plaster cloth for this project


This is me just before getting all plaster-y. Tonight is the last possible night to finish the wet plaster layers on 'Nipped, my main character piece for Meth & Hot Dogs 2.












Meth & Hot Dogs 2 is a celebration of character art in all its forms. The exhibit will bring together a group of 36 artists whose illustration, plush, custom toys, sculpture and paintings show an appreciation for the demented, cute and strange.

Meth & Hot Dogs 2: A Collection of Even More Unscrupulous Characters
Curated by - Kill Taupe
Opening Saturday, April 30th | 7-10pm

LIFT Designer Toys and Gallery
228 W 4th St -- Royal Oak, MI