Back To The Workbench

A new tail

I'm back. It was a draining and emotional week. The wake and funeral for my father-in-law left me very sad and truly uninspired. It also left me with a stomach virus which I am still battling. I did loose five pounds though and I am happy about that little physical boost. Everything went well and it was comforting to see so many friends and family members all week. There is truly nothing like family.

I'll be short today as I am running under two deadlines. One is for JAH and is due today. I hope I can complete it before the work day is over. The other is for RESS and I'm totally late on that one. Thankfully, I have very understanding editors on both these projects. So with that I am off.

Until We Meet Again....Goodbye

My father-in-law riding in Wyoming

Frank A. Danza
February 26, 2008

"We are all a part of everything
The future, present and the past
Fly on proud bird
You're free at last."

Lazy Day

Lazy afternoon in the garden

It was a lazy day yesterday. I put on my comfy green pants and ugly pink shoes (which are probably the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned) early in the day and the day got progressively more lazy. I didn't feel like doing art at all. I was more content to play with my son and watch him play in the garden. I read a bit in the sun too.

I got more and more exhausted as the day dragged on and rest couldn't come soon enough, so I put myself to bed as soon as I put my son to bed. I believe some beauty rest was just what I needed because I woke this morning happy and ready to take on the day. No comfy greens for me today. Today is a day of get up and go and with that...I'm off!

:D

S*N*O*W!

Beautiful designs from the sky

The big news yesterday was....it SNOWED!!! It was our first snowfall. Not enough to really make a snowman or sled about the yard, but it was big fluffy snow that had design! I love when that happens. It's truly magical to catch a glimpse of a snowflake in its perfect design state. I took the new Exilim out side and the video camera to capture my son enjoying the falling flakes. We have been hearing about so many states getting snowed in, but havent had an opportunity to enjoy a bit of the white stuff ourselves this year.

With the cold snow blowing about, the warm studio was so inviting. I made a lovely pot of jasmine tea and added a bit more dust to about three different horses. I work on several at a time because the fixatives I am currently using take quite a while to dry. So, while one is drying another is getting dusted. This way no time is being lost in the studio.

Here are some of the pieces Im currently pastelling. The first two are commissions and the foal is for my personal collection so they won't be sales items. Never-the-less, I'm very happy with the way these pieces are developing.

Pregnant Arab mare

Eberl Drafter getting dusted

A special gift from a good friend

I'm excited to add the hairing details on the pregnant Arabian mare. I'm actually sorry I didn't take progress shots of her. I believe she would have made a great painting tutorial.

KA-PAW!!!

"KA-PAW!!!" There goes "Hedgie!"
Please note: this drop was conducted on privately owned property.
The area was secure and clear for such an activity.

It was an emotional day for me yesterday when I dropped "Hedgie's" mold from the rooftop terrace. It was a bit celebratory too cause it marked the official end of his production. As I was picking up the pieces I felt a sense of pride in knowing that he was born from a blob of wax and cast all by my little ol' self. Not only was he cast in earthenware china and glazed, but was also cast in porcelain. My work in porcelain is something I never thought I'd live to see. My dream is to one day look back on my personal little porcelain Hedgie and remember the pride I had this day. Hopefully he will be sitting next to hundreds of other little critters I've created.

Inside Hedgie's mold


Every new owner will get a little piece of "Hedgie's" mold. I'm a sentimental sap that can't seem to get rid of anything in the studio. I hang on to things just cause, "you never know." But the studio can't hold another dust collector and this idea of giving a little part of "Hedgie's" origin was a perfect way, I felt, to commemorate "Hedgie's" creation. It also seemed like a more valiant end to a good mold than to just chuck it in the trash. I didn't have the heart to do that.

Now, back to work. I have a Eberl drafter I'm painting to a dark forest chestnut and I'm enjoying the process and craving to have my hands in dust this afternoon. I'll have pictures soon of him to share with you all.

I Want To Pretend

I want to pretend that wishes could come true in the blink of an eye. Just for one moment, let the genie come out of the bottle and grant me just one wish. Without a doubt, today I would wish that my father-in-law never had emphysema. That I didn't just see him laying in his bed, struggling to breath, respirator doing little to nothing with his wife by his side, her heart breaking into a thousand pieces.

My selfish little self doesn't want to let go. I want to hear him share one more story of Brooklyn as he sucks down his Friday night mussels. My selfish self wants to have just one more round of happy hour today with he and my mother-in-law. Its just about that time of the day when he would call up for me, my glass of wine in his hand and cheese and crackers on the table.

Eighty four years is a long time to live. It's a shame the good ones can't go on much longer. They make the world a much better place. My father-in-law certainly did that for me. Made my little world wonderful and taught me an immeasurable amount about life and business.

Something ominous is in the air. I sense this weekend is going to be a very difficult one.

If wishes could come true I'd pull that bottle open right now and wish....
:(

Bleck!

Play Dough Pony

Bleck! We are all sick here. Coughing, sneezing, sniffling and general bleckiness all around. Made myself a huge pot of green tea last night and worked on the Horsing Around prototype. It needed some detailing work on the hooves, legs and eyes. I should be taking finished photos of it soon. Today or tomorrow I need to complete my JAH deadline. I need one more photograph for the assignment. Its the final shot and I had planned on shooting it outdoors today but its raining. Probably better off anyway as I shudder at the thought of laying down on the cold ground right about now trying to get the perfect shot.