SCULPTURE: "Sasquatch In A Tree"

I just finished my latest sculpture...Big Foot! I've taken a few trips out to the Pacific Northwest Coast to explore and to sketch. And I can't help but think about a "Squatch" hiding in the forest watching me. My theory as to why no one has ever gotten a good look at one, is that they hide WAY up in the treetops. I love the idea that there are still a lot of mysteries left in this high-tech world of ours!

First steps...build an armature. I use various gauges of wire and aluminum foil to build the general shape of my sculpts. Lately, instead of using "Sculpy" clay, I've been enjoying the durability of "Magic Sculpt" epoxy clay. It requires some getting used to...but when it sets up after about 4 hours, it is as hard as a rock.

 

Next, I cover the foil with the epoxy clay, just to get a good, solid form to build on. I tried to get the anatomy correct before adding the details like fur.

I slowly began to add in the fur bits. I tried to change up the length of the fur, from shorter hair on the main torso, to longer, shaggier fur on the lower legs and arms. I also tried to give the Squatch some longer hair on his head...almost like dreadlocks. It took a while to sculpt the fur, since I tried to layer it with very small bits of clay, then tool out the details, and then blend it with a bit of water on a brush.

Here is the final painted version. I looked at photos of chimpanzees, gorillas, and big bears to inspire my color choices. I plan to add another shelf to my studio wall to make more room for this big guy.

 

SCULPTURE: "The MexiKid"

One month ago, I was able to surprise a great friend of mine with a little sculpture based off of the lead character of a brand new comic strip series called "Mexikid Stories" by artist/writer, Peter Martin. He loved what I made, and that's all that I could hope for. Check out Peter's work at GoComix https://www.gocomics.com/mexikid-stories/2019/09/30

CHALK ART: "Swamp Humor"

After 8 straight hours, I've just finished another chalk mural for my driveway. You'd think I'd get smarter and simplify these things. Hope my back let's me get out of bed tomorrow! (In case you wondered...the turtle is not quite dry...I sometimes blend stuff with a wet brush.) It's fun to get the neighbor's reactions throughout the day...kids and grown-ups alike.

SCULPTURE: "Weird Baby Rattle Jester"

 

I just finished this odd little project to surprise the grown daughter of a long-time friend of mine (from my high school days). My friend had posted a photo on FaceBook of a weird baby rattle from the 1930s. (I added the speech balloon to the photo.) Her daughter loved the rattle and wanted one. I searched online to see if I could find one for sale, but had no luck. I decided to see if I could do a facsimile of it to hang on her daughter's wall.

Here is the process...I used "Magic Sculpt" epoxy clay over a wooden base. I painted it with acrylics and gave the whole thing a very thin wash of brownish-gray to give it the aged look. then I coated the face with high gloss varnish.

SCULPTURE: "Ostrich Dragon"

Here is my submission for the "Sculptober Challenge" (for the Shiflett Brothers Sculpting Forum on Facebook). We were asked to find a single photo of an animal that inspired us, and turn that animal into a dragon. My "Inspiration Photo" was one that I took of an ostrich on my way to Santa Barbara, CA, back in 2015 at a place called "Ostrich Land". I decided to make the palette of the dragon a lot more colorful than the ostrich. Below are images of the various stages of development. I used "Magic Sculpt" epoxy putty for this sculpture instead of my usual choice of "Sculpey" clay.

  And here is the final paint job on this creature. Enjoy!

CHALK ART: "Godzilla and Friends"

Back by popular demand! (Okay...so it was one little girl who lives across the street who asked me.) I finally have some decent weather with no rain for the next few days, so it's time for some CHALK ART! The subject matter is near and dear to my heart...Godzilla and Friends. 

As luck would have it, while I was working on this yesterday, school let out early at noon. About 15 kids swarmed me, and were having a blast "running the rocks", trying not to burn up their cute little tennis shoes in the lava. (Apologies for the pink color around the rocks. I didn't have enough orange and red chalk.)

SCULPTURE- "Steampunk Gunslinger Bot"

Today I finished a fun little project...a "Steampunk Gunslinger Bot". I love westerns and have been watching several Clint Eastwood movies lately. I did a "custom conversion" of an old "Transformer" toy that was too challenging for my little brain to turn back into a bulldozer. I completely disassembled the toy, and also used a couple of bits from a Transformer airplane toy. I created the hat from scratch.

SCULPTURE: "Steampunk Baby Dragon"

I just finished a little project that I've been working on for the last few weeks: a "Steampunk Baby Dragon!" It's a hodge-podge sculpture made from "Bondo" epoxy, wood, plastic, found objects, metal gears and "Magic Sculpt" epoxy.