The Spanish Torero is done! As some of you know, I like to create fantasy themes with a little dose of reality and a pinch of humor. I try not to carve what people expect. If you see an apple as a round shaped object, I see it more like a Dodecahedron (yes, you have to google that). 

This Spanish torero decided to spend more time in the kitchen and less in the arena. As a result, he no longer has the physique of a Torero. All he has left is his courage and love for the pageantry of bullfighting. What he didn't suspect is that, once out in 'La Plaza de Toros', his courage would be challenged, not by the bull, but by a little mouse no taller than his knees. Looks like courage comes in different sizes but either way, they should both combine forces since neither one alone is bound to win against the bull. Carved in basswood. Enjoy!

The Side of Wood Artistry The Public Does Not See

To create a concept in wood, it is important for me to plan it first and then create some sort of drawing so I can visualize it. Drawings are also needed to determine a front and side view of the subjects in the concept. When I draw, I often times get so inspired that my drawings end up as completed Ink illustrations. Planning, drawing and finally illustrating is the part of the process the public does not get so see, unfortunately.

Doing more work on my next project: the Spanish Torero. Hand-carved in Basswood and painted with Acrylics.

Recipient of 2018 ArtPop Street Gallery. A picture of my work is showing on digital screens throughout the city of Charlotte. What an honor! Thank you to ArtPop, Knight Foundation, Adams Outdoor Advertisement and ASC.

Another cypress knee santa I have been working on.

Carving a Santa in Cypress Knee

Cypress Knee is an interesting wood. It has different shapes and you have to learn to see something in the wood before carving it. It tells you what to carve, you don't tell it what to carve. Fascinating. Here is a double santa and a christmas tree. It is what I saw on this piece of cypress knee.

The Blue Pansies Fairy

Here is the next in the series: The Blue Pansies Fairy in Sculpey Clay.

The Slipper Orchid Fairy - Finished

The Slipper Orchid Fairy - In Progress

 

Here is the progress I've made with fairy #3 in a series of 12 based on my watercolor paintings. For this fairy, I took a different approach. I created a more robust wire frame and reinforced with epoxy. I also made her much smaller than the previous ones. 

When I do a personal project, I always try to find a challenge to tackle. With the watercolor fairies, I wanted to learn how to paint with watercolors. For the 3D version of the watercolor fairies, my aim is to learn how to go from 2D to 3D and to feel more comfortable with sculpting faces. I am pretty happy with the outcome of this fairy's face. I am already learning lots about it.  I am also glad that I took a different approach to make the figure more sturdy but I am not glad about the fact that I did not achieve the best color for the petals.  They are a bit off. Perhaps because I did the blending of clays at night or maybe because I need glasses :-). I am not happy about that but it is now too late to change. I still have to paint the clay so maybe I'll decide to do something different then to get closer to the correct colors but I am still deciding. Enjoy!

The Slipper Orchid Fairy Sculpture

Now that I have finished the 12 flower fairies in watercolor, I am working on the 3D version of each of the fairies. Below is the beginnings of fairy #3 in a series of 12 sculptures in sculpey clay. In this particular sculpture, I decided to bulk up the figure by using epoxy first to give strength to the sculpture. This fairy is held by just one foot so it is important to create strength around that area. I hope to finish it by using a layer of sculpey over the epoxy.

Black Iris Flower Fairy

 Finished!!!....Fairy number 10 on a series of 12 watercolor fairies. This is the Black Iris Flower Fairy.

The Red Penstemon Flower Fairy

Finished the Red Penstemon Flower Fairy. This is fairy number 9 in a series of 12 watercolor fairies.