Out To Lunch

"Jellibaby" bisque

I've been out to lunch this week. Between various deadlines and meetings the week has pretty much slipped past me without so much as a mention on the blog, but a good amount of work was completed so far. I believe it's best to just show you what has transpired in the studio from late last week and keep chit chat to a minimum.

Firstly, I'm excited about the wonderful opportunity Addi Velasquez has given me to paint up one of her gorgeous new "Jellibaby" foals. Putting gesso on this drooly bisque for cold painting was probably the hardest thing I had to do this week. Now that I know how to china paint I really have to have good reason to cold paint a bisque and not china paint it. This baby has a good reason to get gessoed though. She is going to be a little starlet. Do stay tuned!

I really couldn't stop staring at Jellibaby. She has little baby hair on her belly and a beautiful face. I was just in awe of the sculpting detail and found myself wanting to dive back into Ophelia my own pony sculpt which really needs alot of work and help, and the first order of business was chopping off her head. I chopped it off, put it down and then walked away. I'm now aware that I'm totally in over my head with this one. Only time and stronger observation can help now.

Choppy-choppy!

Bay commission

On a happier note though, I'm thrilled to have completed a Mini Scarlett this week and was able to fire the very first porcelain rattie sculpture. "Listen" came out lovely and the porcelain is just so beautiful. If I can streamline the actual mold pouring I'll really be in the game here. Right now the "Listen" mold is taking a long time to produce. I believe it's because I'm nervous about knocking pieces of her off and having to back peddle. I hate moving backwards. Until I find a more suitable method to pouring I'm going at a very slow snail's pace.

First views of "Listen" in porcelain

"Listen" ready for china painting

Mini Talk

I almost didn't want to post today cause I was really enjoying those two shots of summer from yesterday, but work really does go on and there is exciting stuff happening in the studio despite the slight blue feelings that pop up here and there.

Mini Scarlett in progress

I wanted to share with you one major piece that is almost near finish in the studio. It's a Mini Scarlett in dappled bay. As my space becomes sparse here in the house and studio the more I am loving the smaller pieces. This mini was a commission slot offered as a "send me your bays" deal.

I get on these jags were I just want to paint one color. I'm happy customers like the colors I want to paint too! Once I paint the color that has been nagging I then I have to paint another color. Right now I'm sorta feeling the need to paint up a black and tan with a few tan dapples along the barrel. Hmm...one of those Mini Doodlebugs that were just released would look smashing with such a color on. Hmm....I need to quiet my mind I think and just finish all that I have started in January. Hard to believe it's almost February. But....after February i'ts March and that means spring and I love the sound of that word!

Productive

In the drying room

This week was a very productive week both in the studio and family-wise. Family-wise our son is learning how to print his letters and has been engaged and excited about learning. His enthusiasm is totally infectious.

Studio-wise I was able to FINALLY begin molding my rattie sculpt "Listen". The use of Legos as mold boxes has made things so much easier and has helped me to visualize how to tackle more complicated molds. Granted, a tail (or long coil) is not too technically advanced, but without the proper tools and experience moldmaking it is a shape that can overwhelm. As you can see, its molded and I'm jumping into the body of the rattie next week.

Plaster mold (for ceramic production) of a tail