Lady Liberty - Update

I know it's been a while since I've last posted...my apologies.  However I have been busting my @$$ trying to get ready for Freedom Fest (that's NEXT WEEK!!! OMG!!!!).  Remember how I said I was going to be unveiling my finished Lady Liberty sculpture at Freedom Fest???  Well...its turned into a hail Mary sort of adventure...

How To Train Your (clay) Dragon

Good morning ladies and gents!  This last week, my studio has been over run by dragons of varying sizes, types, and shapes!  No...I'm not a huge Game of Thrones fan... though I'm looking forward to reading the books before I watch the series...  I DO love the movie How To Train Your Dragon...very cute indeed.  Waiting for the second one to come out on DVD so I can watch it (I can't go to the theaters...I would end up doing the funky chicken in no time).  So what's up with all the dragons, you ask?  WELL...A good friend of mine suggested I sculpt a dragon, to get out of my current comfort zone of where my sculptures have been going.  So, once Lady Liberty was done, I figured I would do just that!  What I discovered is that I really LOVE sculpting these fun little mythical creatures!!!  In the last week, I've created 3, each one quite different from the next.  I've also created a habitat/home for them, which just helps to set the mood, I believe.  Each sculpture has at least one "loose" item, so that the viewer/new owner can set up the habitat/nest anyway they like; an interactive sculpture if you will.  

Lady Liberty

There are days when the creative "mojo" seems to flow from my mind/heart effortlessly.  Then there are other days where I get stuck, can't decide where to go next.  The latter happened on a sculpture I just recently finished.  I refer to it/her as Lady Liberty, because I haven't nailed down a title worthy of the piece.  I started this sculpture way back in September of 2013...Got the head done, and then wrapped her up.  To be finished about a week ago.  I wasn't sure what I wanted her to say.  I had a general idea, but not specifics.  So she sat....and sat....and sat.  Until inspiration re-struck.  She says what my words cannot.  What MANY of my brothers and sisters in arms are unable to say.  Her tears are those for all Soldiers and their loved ones.  She is slowly drowning in the tears she sheds for her country.  I don't want to say too much, as I plan on unveiling the finished sculpture at the Freedom Fest Concert in Fort Kent, Maine, on August 9, 2014.  But I did want to give you all a sneak peak.   So keep scrolling, and follow my "in progress" pictures of how she has evolved.  Would love to hear your thoughts!

Making Paper Clay

There are several ceramic artists who I love to admire from afar.  One of my FAVORITES, is Merry ArtToones. She is an AMAZING sculptor!  We have a virtual/Facebook relationship and she has always been willing to help me out and answer any questions I have.  Well, I found out that she uses paper clay for her sculptures. Turns out paper clay is just as strong as your typical clay, but weighs less. With sculptures, and even wall murals/hangings, weight can play a very important part in the finished product.  
DISCLOSURE --  Before we get started, I thought it might be worth noting that paper clay...and paper mache...are two VERY different animals...