Paper Mache "Boar's Head", Redux...!

Boar's Head #1, at a VIP event

Been a wee bit quiet in here as of late I know.  Despite my lack of recent posts I'm glad to say I've still been creating stuff -- it's just that these last few months were busy with several lovely private commissions that had me up to my eyeballs in elbow grease (besides, as you know me, even though I may come and go out of here at times.., I always, always come back.  Eventually.).  

Now that most of these projects have been finished up and sent along their merry ways, it's time for some updating....

Who remembers this li'l cutie (well, pretty big actually) from a few years back....?

Vegetarian Pig Head Scultpure Commission, from 2012

(Mister Pigster #1 (above) made for local theatrical production  in '12

--See the original post here)

I was recently commissioned to make another of these guys -- a vegetarian paper-mache "Boar's Head/Pig Head", for a customer in the great state of Oklahoma.  
Fun times!

Some progress pics of Pig Head #2...:

Disembodied Boar's Head, in progress:  Sculpting the overall shape (as always, Duct Tape to the rescue)...:

Before attaching his ears, I rmust make sure he will still actually fit into the box I've targeted for re-use as his shipping vessel (He fits!).....

Sculpted piggy ears...!

Ears attached...!  Looking more oinky all the time.

Still, lacking in personality, it's time to work in some detail....

Detaila in place, and ready for painting.  I began with a nice deep, dark undercoat.

Lightening him up gradually (plus painting teeth!)...

Always the fun part, painting ...

Never complete until the requisite apple is in the mouth. 

And here we have "Piggly Wiggly" in his new owner's Oklahoma home.  Happy Customer/Happy Artist!

And, as with my first papier mache head, I'm happy to report once again that no harm was done in the making of THIS (2nd) Vegetarian Papier Mache Boar's Head.

Pig Head #2 at his recent Medieval/Madrigal VIP special event.

A Very Special Commission Project...:

'Mama and Babe Portrait' by Patience, 11 x 14

 

There's quite a story behind this one....  Without going into too much detail for privacy's sake, suffice it to say the lovely mama pictured here is facing terminal illness.  Though a stranger to me, a thousand miles away and in another country, I put as much love and compassion into this one as I could.  I'm hoping it shows. And I'm so happy and thrilled to be able to say it was really well received by the recipient (the mama), and well on its way to becoming the precious family keepsake I'd hoped for as I was painting it....

 

Please hug your loved ones a little tighter today....

 

 

"Tennyson's Dragon-Fly", My Nibblefest Contest Entry for Sept's "DRAGONFLIES" Theme

Nibblefest.

"Tennyson's Dragon-Fly", acrylics on a found, 5x7 wood plaque

It's time yet again for the fun that is this monthly art contest.

September's theme is 'Dragonflies', and here is my interpretation.  Another in a series of personal tributes to classic literary poets, this piece is an ode to the famed Victorian English gentleman, Alfred Lord Tennyson, author of the short-but-sweet, 1833 poem entitled, 

"The Dragon-Fly".

*CLICK FOR AUCTION LINK*

Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson is NOT amused.

The following is my auction description...:

~"Tennyson's Dragon-fly"~

My entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC),  the theme for September being 'Dragonflies', features a portrait painted in loving tribute to the English, Victorian-era poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson. 

Alfred Lord Tennyson, author and British poet laureate hand-selected by Queen Victoria herself, was extremely popular during his lifetime, while continuing to be much admired yet today.  He lived for much of his life in the country, often writing poetry describing the natural world around him.  The following short poem was one written by Tennyson in 1833, which, as part of my ongoing Poet Tribute Series, I used as my inspiration this month (with the first two lines of the poem written along the edges of the painting)...:

The Dragon-fly
By Alfred Lord Tennyson
Today I saw the dragon-fly
Come from the wells where he did lie.
An inner impulse rent the veil
Of his old husk: from head to tail
Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.
He dried his wings: like gauze they grew;
Thro' crofts and pastures wet with dew
A living flash of light he flew.

 Using a 5 x 7 found wooden plaque, this original, "Tennyson's Dragon-fly", is painted on all its beveled sides, signed, and ready to hang.....

Add caption

To see ALL the lovely and inspired 'Dragonfliy"-themed Nibblefest entries this month, click here.... 

My Entry, 'Percy Shelley: On a Faded Violet,' For EBSQ "State Flowers" Show

"Percy Shelley:

On a Faded Violet"

"Percy Shelley: On a Faded Violet" acrylics on 9 x 6 Oval Plaque

Another show, another entry.  This time, it was the August '15, EBSQ 'State Flowers' exhibit.  EBSQ, the online art community I've long been a member of, once hosted several themed shows each month.  But starting in January '15, this was reduced to a single monthly theme.  August's theme was 'State and National Flowers' -- a throwback to when there was a different flower theme every month, which EBSQ hosted for a decade and which was popular with botanical and still-life artists.  I'm neither of those per se, so if I was going to participate last month, I was going to have to make this single August EBSQ theme work for me....

Side View

The following is my artist statement....:

This painting,"Percy Shelley: On a Faded Violet", is my entry for the EBSQ August 2015 "State Flowers" exhibit.

I've lived in two states in my lifetime, Illinois and Wisconsin.  It just so happens that the official flower for both states... is the Violet.  Even though show participants could have painted any flower associated with any state for this exhibit regardless where they live, I took this wee coincidence as a sign that I had best paint a violet in some fashion or another....

And so naturally, as those familiar with my work know I am want to do (because I am an admitted geekish book-nerd), I looked for inspiration amongst one of my favorite sources:  Classic Western Poetry.  Thanks to the help of a good friend, I found it in this little poem, written as it was in 1818 by one of England's most renowned poets of the Romantic era, Percy Bysshe Shelley...:


On a Faded Violet,
by Percy Bysshe Shelley


The odour from the flower is gone

Which like the kisses breather on me;

The colour from the flower is flown

Which glowed of thee and only thee!


A shrivelled, lifeless, vacant form,

It lies on my abandoned breast;

And mocks the heart, which yet is warm

With cold and silent rest.


I weep -- my tears revive it not;

I sigh -- it breathes no more on me:

Its must and uncomplaining lot

Is such as mine should be.


............ 

Being as that Mr. Shelley is best known for his lengthy, verbose Epic Poetry, this wee rhyme might be considered down-right succinct in comparison.  Short yet sweet (or bittersweet in this case), I was moved by the romance and poignancy of Shelley's few, carefully chosen lines (all the more so in light of Shelley's own highly unconventional and complicated personal life....!).  As such I chose to paint a portrait in tribute to this master poet, with a sad, drooping blossom perched dispiritedly upon his collar, and deep melancholy in his eyes.  Though the flower may be faded, I made up for its lack of color by painting the background a brilliant violet hue (one of my favorite colors which sadly I don't often find myself occasion to use), while adding in script the first line of the poem around the edge of the painting.

This piece, "Percy Shelley: "On a Faded Violet...", is my latest in a long series of painted odes in personal tribute to my favorite literary authors and poets....

...................

***Edit~Edit~Edit***

This piece is actually the 2nd in a wee series of tributes to the Shelley's, my first being a fanciful portrait of Percy's wife, 

Mary Shelley....:

"The Monster's Bath", my little painted tribute to both Mary Shelley, and Mary Cassatt

As regular readers might recall, this one was painted for the October 2014 Nibblefest Art Contest theme, "Monsters" (and was a tribute to TWO historical Mary's I much admire:  

Mary Shelley, and Mary Cassatt).  

And so, having 'done' Mary S., I guess it seemed timely to, in turn, 'do' Percy S. ...:

My entry, "Percy Shelley: On a Faded Violet"

To see my entry as all as the EBSQ "State and National Flowers" entries in the show, click here (mine being on the 2nd page)....

"The Mad Tea", My Nibblefest Contest Entry for August's "TEA TIME" Theme

It's Nibblefest Art Contest Week...!

'The Mad Tea', acrylic on found, 9x6 wood plaque

August's theme is 'TEA TIME'. 

*CLICK FOR MY AUCTION LINK*

So what's the first thing that comes to mind when YOU think of tea....?    

Yeah, me too.  But of course, the famous Tea Party scene of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' is going to pop up, front and center.  Which it did.  And yet, I was initially a little resistant to the concept, only because, as much as I adore Alice (this being my third in a series of "Alice in Wonderland" tribute paintings), it felt at first maybe a little too....What?  Obvious, perhaps?   But then another idea came to mind.... 

I have long admired the work of American impressionist, Mary Cassatt, with one painting of hers in particular standing out for me.  Known as "The Tea", it captures a sweet little 'slice of life' scene featuring two young Victorian-era women enjoying the quaint custom of a proper afternoon tea.  Particularly striking is the pose of one of the women.  With her straight, 'lady-like' posture, she's captured in the middle of taking a dainty sip of her drink, pinky raised, with the teacup obscuring fully half of her face.  Only her eyes are visible, peeking brightly over the rim of the cup....:

 

My Inspiration:  "The Tea' (1879), painted by the American Impressionist, Mary Cassatt

I've always loved this Cassatt painting....and so, I decided to do a fun, little 'mash-up' of the two, while injecting plenty of my own personal style, resulting in this wee, loving tribute to them both....:

"The Mad Tea":  Side View showing the painted, beveled edges....

Note that this is actually my third piece in an "Alice in Wonderland" series of pieces.

A couple of years ago, I created a Nibblefest entry for the theme of 'Cats', featuring my own version of the Cheshire Cat...:

 

'The Cheshire Cat", painted upon a found wooden, cat-shaped plaque

I referred to 'Alice' again a number of months ago, for the Nibblefest theme of 'Books' ....:

"Logical Nonsense", my entry for the Nibblefest theme, "Books"

And now we have what I've titled, "The Mad Tea"...:

'The Mad Tea'

 

The following is my auction description for 'The Mad Tea" (*MINUS* the glaring error I made writing it (blushing), which I am now unfortunately unable to edit!  Check out and read my auction to see if you can figure out my mistake....):

......................

~"The Mad Tea"~

My entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC),  the theme for August being 'TEA TIME', features a fancifully painted scene from the timeless classic tale, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (with a nod and apologies to the lovely and talented American impressionist painter, Mary Cassatt...!).

Folks familiar with my creative style know how I love to mix things up a bit in my artwork, all while frequently painting the first concepts that come to my mind when reflecting upon a given theme.  Often this results in fun and interesting "mash-ups", and this month was no exception.  Reflecting upon the theme 'Tea Time' made me think of two classic, historic references -- one literary, and one artistic.  Naturally, the tea party of Alice in Wonderland fame popped into my head (but of course)..., but then so did a sweet, 1879 painting by the American impressionist artist, Mary Cassatt, known as, 'The Tea' (as seen here in my detail photos).  For fun I decided to combine these two entities (all while taking my usual liberties), with this as my result.  Here's hoping you enjoy my entry, "The Mad Tea", this month as much as I did creating it...! 

'Alice in Wonderland' meets Mary Cassatt!  Painted upon a 9 x 6 found, wooden plaque, this original, "The Mad Tea", is painted on all its beveled sides, signed, and ready to hang (Note: This is for a 5-day auction)..... 

............

 

To see ALL the lovely 'Tea Time"-themed Nibblefest entries this month, click here....

"West Wibbley World": My Entry for the 15th Annual "Ripped Off" EBSQ Exhibit

Last month I entered the annual EBSQ "Ripped Off" exhibit....:

My "West Wibbley World", painted on a 5 x7 painted, found wood plaque

EBSQ's "Ripped Off" show (2015 marking its 15th year) is always a fun one.  Obviously, under ordinary circumstances, blatantly copying or 'ripping off' another artist's work, would be a huge no-no.  But for the "Ripped Off" show, copying is not only sanctioned, it's actually encouraged (with permission of course)! Artists partner up in order to go through each other's portfolios, picking a piece for re-interpreting and putting one's own spin on it (read the show prospectus here).... 

For some reason it's been many a year since I've participated in "Ripped Off".  Four of them to be precise (since I last entered in 2011), and so it seemed high time to take part again.  With luck I managed this round to get partnered up with my good buddy, Vicky Knowles, artist extraordinaire, and inventor of the highly imaginative "Wibbley World', with its cast of assorted unique and freaky-cute characters, like the fellow below, named 'Lunchbox"....:

One of Vicky Knowles' best known Wibbles, the character of 'Lunchbox'

The following was my entry's artist statement...:




"WEST WIBBLEY WORLD"....:
 

"Where Nothing Bad Ever Happens... Happens... Happens... Happens...."...


As a long-time admirer of Vicky Knowles's art and the genius that is her wonderful cast of unique and highly distinctive "Wibbley World" characters, I was delighted indeed for the opportunity to partner up with her for this 'Ripped Off" show..... 

Folks familiar with my artwork know how I like to ruminate upon a theme and interpret how it relates to me personally.  I typically turn a concept over and over in my head until an idea speaks to me -- and often while trying to find some twist of word or visual pun to sort through whenever I can.   In the case of Vicky's art, I meditated for some time on the concept of 'Wibbley World'.  What kept coming into mind for me..., was "WestWorld", the vintage, '70's-era Sci-fi film, written and directed by Michael Crichton, about a pricey adult theme park populated by robots, wherein vacationing guests get to act out their cowboy fantasies in an old, Wild West setting.  Complete with shoot-outs, bank robberies, bar brawls and saloon girls, everything is fun and games -- that is, until the technology goes a little haywire (of course).  Then all hell breaks loose -- specifically in the guise of one particularly menacing, black-hatted robot cowboy, as embodied by the legendary actor, Yul Brynner.  Nothing (and I mean nothin') can stop him once his programming goes rogue. 

It's a film that used to come on TV from time to time in my youth, and I can still remember how it made quite the impression on me as a kid....(Check out the original movie trailer HERE)

And so, I decided to merge the two Worlds, 'West' AND 'Wibbley', ....into one, creating a little personal tribute to both.  Thus, please allow me to present to you, "West WIBBLEY World"... "Where Nothing Bad Ever Happens... Happens.... Happens... Happens".  (Note this is the official phrase of "Wibbley World" (without the repeats of course), which you'll notice is actually really rather hauntingly similar to the "WestWord" slogan:  "Where nothing can possibly go wrong.... Go wrong....  Go wrong.... Go wrong....").

We have featured here one of Vicky's most familiar, beloved Wibbles, known as 'Lunchbox' (her character painted in my own more 'contrast-y' artistic style).  Lunchbox is perhaps a trifle, wee bit alarming here, because his faceplate is lifting off just enough to expose all his colorful mechanical circuitry and wiring underneath, much like in the official "WestWorld" movie poster (included in my detail photos).  As such, it appears our "WestWibbleyWorld" Lunchbox may well actually be a robotic version of himself.  Nevertheless, you'll notice that he still has his precious lunch-pail, and his trusty diaper -- and so at the end of the day, does it really matter...???  Not if it's the alternate reality of "Wibbley World" -- or heck even the alternate-ALTERNATE reality of "WESTWibbleyWorld"...!  (Because when we're talking WIBBLES..., it's all good!)   


**A great big THANKS to Vicky Knowles for granting me permission to play around with her Wibbles -- and all in good fun....!  Please be sure to visit her website here: http://wibbleyworld.com/

"West Wibbley World" Side View #1

"West Wibbley World" Side View #2

"WestWorld" Movie Poster #1

"WestWorld" Movie Poster #2

...........................


And..., I'm happy to be able to say my entry won 'Member's Choice'  (1st Place, with a cash prize!) in the contest -- a big thanks so much to EBSQ and all who voted for me...!

'West Wibbley World' wins 'Member's Choice' (1st Place) in EBSQ's contest...!

"Poe's Tell-Tale Heart", My Nibblefest Contest Entry for July's "SOMETHING HIDDEN" Theme

"Poe's Tell-Tale Heart"

"Poe's Tell-Tale Heart", my wee tribute to the master and his classic suspense story all about 'something hidden' indeed....

~Click for auction/entry link~

Nibblefest time, yet again.  

The Contest sneaked up on me this month, as it does EVERY month -- but even more quickly and more quietly than usual it seems.  I've been very much enjoying a busy summer on my end -- what with both my young adult children visiting here at home, plus extended stays of their significant others, and plenty of other stuff going on.  And so it was I found myself dragging my feet just a little upon getting an entry together for July's theme of "Something Hidden".  Thankfully I wasn't too stumped though.  I managed to conjure up a few reasonably passable literary concepts at first -- stories all about "hidden" subject matter, like "The Secret Garden", and "Treasure Island".  One good friend even suggested doing something with Nancy Drew, Girl Detective (I was a hugely rapid Nancy Drew fan in my youth, as was she), being as that Nancy D. was always on the hunt after some hidden something or n'other.  That would have been fun for sure (and is mentally filed for future reference!).  But it wasn't until dear Mr. Poe and his ultimate in 'hidden' literary 'things' (as in, body parts....?!?) came to mind that I felt I really had something I wanted to sink my teeth into (so to speak).  And so, yet another Poe tribute seemed to be in order (because I never need much arm twisting for THAT)....:

Painted on all sides of a an 8x8 square, found wooden plaque....

I thought a lot about how I wanted to approach this particular composition.  I can be attracted to the dark and the macabre in Life...., while at the same time often finding myself quite squeamish and sensitive.  I think I harbor a touch of superstition too -- as such I always try as a rule not to put too much "negative energy", or whatever you want to call it, out into the world, one that already seems to have more than enough of that as it is without any extra 'help' from me.  And yet I'm not exactly a Pollyanna either... -- thus, this was what I came up with, something that for me felt like a happy medium between the beautiful, and the grotesque (plus a little bit of kitsch.   Because please, as we know I'm all about the kitsch!)...

For fun I'm posting a pic of my initial sketch.  I know not all artists pre-sketch, but I nearly always start with one -- it just helps me formulate what I'm trying to visualize (plus because I'm always working with 2nd-hand or found painting supports, of all different shapes and sizes, it helps me work out spatial elements).   It needn't be a refined drawing for my purposes -- in fact, my sketches are typically extremely rough and 'sketchy' indeed, as seen here.  Just a general outline to see where I'm going is enough....:

 

A few details aside, not a whole lot of difference between my initial sketch and the end product...:

 The following is my auction description...:

...........

~"Poe's Tell-Tale Heart"~

My entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC),  the theme for July being 'SOMETHING HIDDEN', features a portrait painted in loving tribute to the much-beloved, classic author, Edgar Allan Poe, and his popular 1843 story of suspenseful macabre, "The Tell-Tale Heart".....

One of Edgar Allan Poe's best known short stories, "The Tell-Tale Heart", is ALL about 'something hidden' -- specifically, the murdered body of the narrator's neighbor, killed in revulsion for his icky "filmy eye", then dismembered and tucked away under the interior  floorboards.   Police come to check out the missing person report, proceeding to sit right above where the body parts are concealed.  The narrator manages to keep his cool..., that is until that pesky, dead, tattle-tale heart starts up -- beating ever more loudly in its clandestine hiding spot, filling the room with dreadful noise.... (I chose to symbolize this particular wee gory detail of Poe's vivid imagination, as him casually showing off one highly unique, ticking time-piece....).  

Here's hoping you enjoy my entry this month as much as I did creating it...! 

 .............

"Poe's Tell-Tale Heart"

To see all the fabulous "Something Hidden"-themed Nibblefest entries, click here....

......UPDATE-UPDATE.....

Happy to say my "Poe's Tell-Tale Heart" tied for First Place in July's NFAC -- 

here's many thanks to all my bidders....!