Naked Ambition

Hi people. Here's what's been going on in my shop this week. This sketch led to...

This gate design. It's 99% done- the screen just has to be attached to the metal frame.
EDIT TO ADD: Sorry folks, the Heron Gate is no longer available. :) Sold.

The whispy little feathers took forever to deburr, but I like how it came out. If this was a sculpture I probably wouldn't have been as thorough about that, but since it's a gate/door people will be touching it. It even has a "security system".

Well, kind of. :)

Yesterday something unexpected and wonderful happened.

The tree by our driveway that spends most of the year looking like it should be outside a haunted house bloomed, dropping exotic frilly orchid-like flowers all over the lawn. It's called a Catalpa tree, and it always catches me off guard, like suddenly a little patch of my yard has been transported to Hawaii.

That got me thinking about her-- the first person sculpture I ever did. We'd just come back from a trip to Hawaii and I loved some of the powerful movements of the dancers we saw there. One dance in particular stuck in my mind, and I tried to capture the proud, almost aggressive posture.

There was a lot I liked about her. I put her in one show and when she didn't sell I happily took that as a sign from the universe (excuse) to keep her for myself. As time went by I kept looking at her and finding things I didn't like anymore. I think when I made her she did represent the best of my abilities, but I've gotten better.

I didn't like her dress now, and she had sort of weird body positioning-- a bit off kilter. (Nice arms though right? and shoulders? Hmm... The nekkid parts look pretty okay.)

I'm supposed to be making gates, but am not big on doing what I'm supposed to anyway. Inspired by the flower storm in my backyard, I decided to give my girl a makeover. First step-- get her clothes off! That dress had to go!

When I was little and people would talk about how nudes were "art" because the human body is beautiful etc etc I'd think, "Whatever perv- hee hee hee", but thankfully now I'm (slightly) more mature and get it.

When I first made her I was thrilled at being able to make a person from thin air, but there was a lot I still didn't really get about bodies-- making them that is. I was focused on the dress (if you can believe it- that horrid dress!). Getting the body biomechnaically correct is key. Now I have to practically make a naked person and put clothes on them afterwards to ensure this.

First her wonky lower back had to be fixed, then her carriage. That led to a hip replacement, butt lift, torso realignment, and a boob job. I had to stop myself from totally redoing her legs because they will be covered by a full skirt, but I'm eyeing her calves. One is a whole inch bigger around.

It took all day, and I'm not finished, but she now at least has the head/shoulder/hip/knee/ankle alignment needed for good balance, and her body is a bit more rockin' than it was. She's very glad her boobs aren't riding so high she can't breath and growing half out of her armpits anymore.

Her new skirt will be made of giant leaves cut from this piece of steel. Gorgeous huh? It reminds me of planet Earth. Her top will be covered in form-fitting leaves and wavy pieces cut from her original dress-- the coloring of it is cool and can be reused.

I've got several more gate ideas in the bullpen. Trying not to take this "incident" personal, but a "revenge of the fallen" gate might be in order-- with birds dive-bombing an annoyed cat.

I think I'll also have to send my revamped dancer out into the world again. I'm planning to deliver all the gates, some garden sculptures, the dancer, and another female figure to Door county July 16th or 17th, and am ready to deal.

It's easier for me to sell things right from my shop than to drive them 8 hours away. I'm willing, because of the distance and my costs of delivery etc, to offer these pieces at a significant discount if you buy them directly from me before the 16th.

Early next week I'll post again showing what's up for grabs with some pricing info. You can scroll back through some recent posts to get some idea, but there will be more and more produced until I load up too. Feel free to pass this along, email, forward, share on facebook, etc.

Thanks!