The Creation of "Bella"

"Bella Il Maré-Determination"

Currently on exhibit at The Small Favors 2021 show

in Philadelphia, PA

The creation of "Bella" went through a wild transformation.  I started documenting her creation and early on hit some snags.  From measurements being incorrect, to the paper armature giving me issue in the muzzle, she quickly became a difficult piece to work on and I was determined to see her to fruition.  In the end, I was extremely happy with her final outcome. Her acceptance into the "Small Favors 2021" exhibit was amazingly exciting for me. 

As this exhibit is coming to a close, I wanted to share the documentation.  She was very much like a mare throughout, but she eventually gave in.

She was sculpted using cone 6 white stoneware, which is a very lovely and creamy clay for both hand building and wheel throwing.  I have used both Amaco and Mayco commercial glazes on this piece. 

Here is her transformation:

Starting to build the clay around a paper armature.

 

Getting things in their proper place.

Adding bone and muscle structure.

Very excited about the idea and flow, so I 

added a mane prematurely.

At this stage I have captured the "spirit"

of the drawing, but thinsg are off so I start

taking measurements and they are very off.

Off with her muzzle!

It took many tries, but the piece 

started to feel and look better.

Refining all the changes.

Adding seashells and a windswept mane to

the bottom.  The piece was now at the "leather hard" stage

and I could carve and smooth to my heart's content.  

The finished sculpture.

The other side.

Close up of the glaze effect around her base.  I was thrilled when I opened the 

kiln and saw this all came out as I had envisioned 

Rock It!

Dot painting warm ups Sooo.....

It's day 2 of NaMoPaiMo and you're watching everyone sharing their first layers of paint on their ponies, but you're still staring at your prepped pony. You're physically ready, but mentally something has it's grip on you. You just can't seem to start. How do you combat this mental struggle? 

 
Rock it....or craft it....or just doodle it out!

 
Sounds silly at first, but if you were a musician, even a beginner, the routine of warming up with playing simple scales would be the very first thing you would do with your instrument.  If you were competing in a sporting event the very first thing you would do before the competition would be to stretch so your muscles would warm up and be fit and ready for the sport. 

Creating art is no different in that you need to warm up your mind and hands so they are working together for you. Some days, they just don't want to work together and they need a little push.  The simplest way to give your instruments of art the push they need is to just doodle with paint or a pen.  The act of pushing around paint on a surface that has no emotional value to you, gets juices flowing without any expectations.  

Simple paint lines on paper.  Warm ups

Now, you may find that after 15 minutes of pushing paint about on paper hasn't done a thing for you.  That's ok.  Some creative blocks take patience and consistency to undo sometimes.  Come back the following day and create your lines on paper with no expectations.  Start adding paint to inanimate objects like found rocks.  The paint lines or dots are a commitment, but the object isn't pulling at your heart strings.  

For me, the dots on rocks helps a great deal and I find I get lost in the joy of the process.  This act of "doing" usually results in wanting to do more as the creative juices fire up in the brain.  The moment you feel your brain "fire up"  is when you should jump in and begin your horse.  

Ultimately, it's about enjoying the process and we have to warm up first and remind our brains that the process will be fun.

Cheers to a great month of NaMoPaiMo fun and discovery! Go forward and rock it!