Base Work

Over the weekend I transferred the "Summer" illustration plate to bristol. Normally after I transfer the pencil drawings I start right in on the painting, but for some reason I needed to let this one sit for a spell. There are several components to the illustration and I need to make sure I am correct in my thinking about visual flow. I'm also being a bit timid about putting paint to paper as I love the drawing and hate reaching the point of no return where the pencil drawing is gone and the paints have taken over and nothing looks right yet.

While this piece sits I have been diving into some base work. As I was going along with the base for a Lil Pumpkin piece I'll be offering soon, the painting of the tree stump took on the feel of a short visual tutorial so I quickly documented it. It might be of some help to someone struggling with painting props.

Raw resin tree
and a prepped tree


Adding paint using
a dry brush

Start with the darkest color first. Paint the entire piece allowing paint to get into the crevices. This application is a wet application and applied as you would normally apply paint to an object. Let dry fully. At this stage the piece is not suppose to look good.

After the first layer has dried saturate a stiff brush with the next color. (Which should be lighter than the first.) Immediately blot this paint off the brush and onto a dry paper towel. Keep blotting till only a bit of paint comes off the brush and apply the color to the prop. Application should feel "dry" and not slick. Continue to add lighter colors in this fashion. Keep applying paint to the brush and blotting on clean sections of your paper towel. If you feel the colors aren't working or can't get a feel for the dry brush technique right off the bat just repaint the prop and start over. Use a hair dryer to dry in between layers.

Keep adding color.
Layers get lighter as you paint.

All three pieces together
on one base

ABC

Three Lil Pumpkin's in progress
Want your own Pumpkin?
Only 3 more U/P remain from the run.
Click here for info.

A is for
Appy.



B is for
Bows.


C is for
Commission.

That's all I know till this Wed when I start studying sculpture with Mr. Carter Jones at The Complete Sculptor in Manhattan. I'm excited about the progress made on these three Lil Pumpkins and about attending an art class again.

Pandora

Iaret in progress

Lil Pumpkin in progress

Pandora internet radio has been keeping me company as of late in the upper studio. Tuning into stations that have been programed to my liking has been extremely meditative. I have found that my thinking is clearer and my work much more focused when I listen to Pandora. Throughout Iaret's production (Morgen Kilbourn) I had it on, but now my time with her is coming to a close. There is very little left to paint. I anticipate finish and full studio shots later this week. I have been doing more painting and less pastel work these days. The painting is slowly calling me back to illustration. I keep the calling in the distance.....for now. I can't deny a strong urning to be neck deep in a juicy illustration of animals going about their day. The pull is showing up on my horses.

Silicone Friday

Preparing the mold box

A very deep breath....

....was needed today before I encased my original sculpture "Lil Pumpkin" in silicone. I made sure to pour the portions properly and mix well. I tried not to get too many bubbles in the mold, although that won't matter as I only need to obtain 3 decent castings from this one silicone mold.

Two resin castings a silicone one are needed. I will send one resin casting to Mountain View Studios for proper casting and one I'll keep just in case the first gets lost in the mail. I have found that the moment you don't cover your butt is the moment you should have! The silicone version will then be molded in plaster for porcelain production.

No turnin' back now

Most of the ceramic artists use earthenware for casting. I have used both earthenware and porcelain and I greatly prefer porcelain. I get the feeling it prefers me too. I have learned it's odd characteristics and I feel more comfortable with it. Even on the pottery wheel my preference all around is porcelain. It's clean, easy to pull and trim and always makes a far superior product in the end. Even the glazes look better on porcelain.

In any case, any "ceramic" adventure is a wonderful opportunity to learn and I anticipate many new learning curves. This portion of Lil Pumpkin's production has honestly been my personal "fire" which has helped me finish her and get her to this point.

BTW, information about this resin release and future artist copies will be made on my Studio Danza News group. If you haven't joined please do.

Where To Start?

Wins from the Pocono Ponies Live show

Hmm...

I'm not sure where to start. I think my head is still in a fog over the great time I had at home visiting my parents and attending the Pocono Ponies Live show this past Saturday. There is so much going on studio wise here that I think if I stop to process it all my head will explode. I really don't know how I'm going to get ready for the December Christmas Fair or even if my mind wants to wrap itself around this concept now two days before Halloween, but alas, next week my hands will be deep in the mud making useful items like mugs and creamer sets for Christmas. I guess the best place to start is to just run down all that I am working on so you can get an idea of what is coming down the pike.

Kiln loaded and ready for firin'

1). Little mice on more porcelain boxes.
Yep, at this very moment I have quite a few offerings cooking (hopefully for the last time) in the kiln. Little mice (and one lonely bunny) either dressed for Halloween or waiting the harvest is in there cookin. There is even a miniature pitcher and basin in this bunch. I was hoping to unveil everything yesterday, but I'm thinking a weekend sale will be more realistic.

2). The new Christmas ornament for 2009 has been cast and the plaster mold is currently in the warm, dry boiler room drying out. I'll begin pouring molds in about a week and a half. I "may" have a handful of resin copies for sale. I'll definitely be giving one away. Not sure where I'll do that though. On my twitter page....or on my blog. Hmmm....

"Lil' Pumpkin"
my newest original sculpture

3). Ahhh....Lil Pumpkin my pudgy little backyard pony is now fully complete. She came with me to the show and I had alot of fun showing her off. She will remain a very limited run in resin and she will also be offered in china. I have been enjoying her finish this week because soon her little self will be encased in silicone so a copy can be obtained and that copy can be sent to the caster. I will, as I have in the past, use Mountain View Studios. They do a beautiful job casting. Im excited to have a few copies to try out a ton of colors! I can taste a appy Pumpkin!

4). The Hedgie family was also encased in silicone this week and a successful mold was made. I am currently creating the plaster mold for this family. They will be a china only production. Im not sure if I'll make them realistic or if I will paint them up in fun colors like lavender and pink. What's your view? Realistic hedgehogs or something fun?

5). Other sculpts in the works are: "Chilly" the little mouse with a scarf, "The Sleepy Little Puppy" who will come complete with a ball. Each puppy will be a OOAK, "Big Pillow" is a mouse on a big pillow. Each will be a OOAK and lastly Leela and Ophelia are well on their way to finish.

Good gracious there is more but diner calls and homework is in need of completion. Homework for my son that is. He actually likes doing it now so bonus for me the mom.

Keep a watch on my twitter page for news flashes and if you haven't joined my ceramic news group please head on over and join. Any china production will be announced here: Danza Ceramics News Group

Lil Pumpkin!

LIl Pumpkin sculpture

Finally...a finish.

I'll tweak her one side a bit more in the chest, but overall I'm rather pleased this long project has come to a close. I released Opus about three years ago and this piece was started during Opus' production. I've made lots of changes over the years to her and am primarily interested in getting her into a ceramic version cause that is where my heart is pulling me. It will be fun to paint a few up in resin though. But, just a few. ;)

Full information on her will be made available to my NEWS group. If you aren't a member, be sure to join!

Top of Lil Pumpkin

Pony sculpture from the right

Will work with many colors

More Changes

New back with tail

Last night I made the call to chop off Pumpkin's back left leg once again. It looked funny and just didn't sit well with my eye. I repositioned it and then wondered how the heck I was going to cast free standing back legs in earthenware! Although I am feeling rather proud and brazen after the succesful completion of "Listen's" mold I fear that a ceramic version of "Lil Pumpkin" would really throw me for a loop with four free standing legs to cast and a free flowing tail.

I decided that the tail should run along the back legs and a base would probably be the very best solution for the front legs. No matter how I slice it, there will be hair pulling moments with this one once I get to the molding stage, but why complicate things even further?

Here is a shot of her from above and a comparison of how she has progressed.

Top view of Pumpkin

How she has progressed

CHOP!

Off with it!

CHOP!

Last night Pumpkin's tail and legs came off and I think she stands much better now. She is certainly looking much better from all angles. I hate having to reach this point and shave things off, especially when working with epoxy. I started this little sculpture about 2 years ago when I was using epoxy for sculpting and I still dislike it as much as I did then. Changes such as this are so much easier in wax.