Archive for ‘sculpture ITW’
I wanted so badly to have someone else mold this dinosaur for me! So why have I done it myself? I was faced with having to ship it out to a professional (since there are no mold making/casting services here in South Florida) and everyone I spoke to recommended that I cut it apart before mailing it. I didn't want the original to be cut up at all in the first place... by anyone! If I had to commit that act of dismembering my own creation upon completion... there's just no other step in the mold making process that's more difficult for me than that. I might as well just do all the rest of the molding. I was rehearsing with my coping saw, trying to determine where would be the most inconspicuous places on the Rex to make my cuts. A coping saw has a pretty small blade but...
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Well holy crap! Since I've gotten back to work on this piece the followers on Instagram has almost doubled! Now go and make ye fishers of men! But seriously, the interest people have shown along with the complements they have posted has really geared me up to finish this piece. Plus, who would have thought that Instagram would be such a helpful resource. The Tyrannosaurus had been put aside so that I could finish a couple other projects: the Triceratops doorknocker for David's new home, some Steampunkey bugs, and a human heart pendant. While on the shelf, this dinosaur became very intimidating and it'd seriously still be sitting there today if it weren't for some friends and Instagrammars asking me about it. It just goes to show, what a profound effect just a little bit of free encouragement can do. The last time I blogged about this piece was back...
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As with most gift giving holidays, I am unprepared. Such was the Valentines Day "holiday". My favorite thing about Valentines day is that my wife's birthday is right around there. I can disguise a beyond-late birthday gift as an on-time Valentine gift. In fact, maybe as a global community we can employ my vehicle in-dash clock method: The clock is set 7 minutes fast so every time I'm running 7 minutes late, I'm actually right on time. Here... just... while I'm not looking, just move the date forward a few days. Then, all my fantastic beyond-last minute gift ideas would become fantastic on-time gifts! Let's face it, last minute gift ideas are always the best because,"they'd better be!" The big ideas this Valentines day came from one of my mom's suggestions. A while back she suggested that I make some sculptures like you see of hands holding a heart. It...
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Yay Steampunkery! I've always been a bit enamored with Steampunk things whether it be fantasy, fashion or functional. Basically, the concept is a melding of design from yester-year with technology from tomorrow. I've wanted to make steampunk stuff for a long time now, but I get too caught up in creating designs with "actual function" rather than just making some art. I can't just go sticking gears and watch-parts together with clay... or... can I? My wife bought me a book called Steampunkery: polymer clay and mixed media projects. It's unquestionably very thoughtful but I couldn't help but feel that it's concepts were a bit... beneath me. I spend weeks and months on my sculptures. Many of the projects in this book can be done in one sitting, using techniques that include just sticking gears and watch parts together with clay. There's a lesson to be learned here. I'm not...
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(cont. from previous post) Because I molded the horns of the Triceratops as separate pieces, they had to be attached with glue. I didn't sweat it since I have a super crazy glue that promised "amazing" adhesion. The goofy thing was that when my son got ahold of the knocker, he snapped a horn off way TOO easily. Standing in the glue isle staring at the 30-40 different glues and epoxies that all guaranteed to have the strongest and most advanced formula, it occurred to me that I didn't even really know the difference between epoxy and glue... do you? With all said and done, I can safely say: If you're making something out of paper or cardboard, use glue. If you're trying to fix something that will never be touched or have to face the elements, go with the glue. But if you're trying to make/fix something that will...
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