Animal Sculptures (set 1)

Here are a few characters for my alphabet book project. They're now complete with color, and I've found a special spot in our home for each one.

Keeping the picture of my mom company...

Byron the Bullfrog
5" x 3" x 3"

Overlooking the office/studio from atop the cabinets...

Fae the Fox
7" x 5.5" x 4"

Hanging out on the CD shelves...

Jamal the Jaguar
8.5" x 4" x 5"

Gazing up at the Christmas tree ornaments...

Lauren the Loris
4.5" x 5" x 5.5"

Perched in one of the bathroom cubbies...

Quinn the Quail
3" x 4.5" x 5"

I made Quinn a copper wire plume because the original clay one broke off during the firing. Sometimes a mistake can turn out to be a good thing... I quite like his new blingy headdress!

Well, I hope you enjoyed meeting my little friends! This is only the first 5 out of 26, so there will be many more to come...

Pillows

I finished my first set of pillows today, which I plan to make available for sale on Etsy.

These designs were inspired by historic folk ornaments.

Guardian Lion
Folk ornament from Cambodia, 11th - 12th century
16" in diameter

detail of stiching

detail of fabric: beige dupioni silk, black cotton with gold pattern, black cotton on the back

Winged Sphinx
Folk ornament from Greece, ca. 600 B.C.
15" in diameter

detail of stitching

detail of fabric: light indigo cotton, mustard yellow weave, indigo cotton on the back

Minoan Octopus
Folk ornament from Crete and Greece, ca. 2000 B.C.
16" in diameter

detail of stitching

detail of fabric: pink flower sari silk, beige dupioni silk, grey/black weave on the back

If anyone knows more specific names for the fabrics I used, please let me know. I should probably pay more attention when I'm at the store! For example, I don't know what to call that mustard yellow one. There must be a name for that pretty weave...

I'll let you know once I set up an account on Etsy — it's something I've been meaning to do for a very long time. I'm making a promise to you and to myself that it will happen by early next week!

Sweet Lola

I just finished this portrait of Lola, one of two dogs owned by my friend Toni.

Lola
18" x36"

I'm especially happy about this one, since I was able to incorporate various painting techniques that I've learned over the years. In the close up above, you can see the use of impasto, drips, and patterns.

The pattern in the sand is similar to the one I usually use for the hair on my sculptures, which you can see in the fox's tail above.


This is the original photo I used as a reference for the painting. Toni totally captured Lola's personality with this great shot! =)