Icky Flu Friday

The title says it all. It's Friday and I have the flu. ICK!

The Halloween Ornies and goblettes are almost completed- and will be listed- once I regain my brain. I personally can't stand those blog posts that run on and on (and on) and say nothing. So, since I am in a NyQuil haze, I will spare you from the potential hazard of vapid idiocy and make this short and sweet.

Post 98. Big one is coming up- don't forget to follow, tweet and Fanpage to get your entries for the big give away!

Stay well my lovelies!

This side of the tissue is not a fun place to be!

WIPS for the Weekend

Catching up on dressing a few wips this weekend. I guess they were just tired of being naked :o) In a drying phase now- so its a good time to call it a night. Have a great weekend everyone!

Challenge complete

I belong to this grand group called Mixed Media Mischief Makers- a hysterical bunch of, you guested it... Mischievous mixed media Artists! We just finished the current challenge (actual end date is tomorrow- Can you believe I actually finished on time! I am Always behind! ) This challenge was based upon "Wicked" or the "Wizard of Oz". My offering to this challenge is "the two faces- Which witch will you be today?" OK - so I took emotions from a current "real life" dilemma and read into the whole good witch/bad witch scenario- but it works in the end- and helped me work through issues! what more could I ask for?

A 20x16 canvas with layers of pain, liquid paper clay, glaze, molding paste, paint and a green interference (to make the Emerald City glow)

The Witch mask is a free sculpt mask with creepy purple eyes and a felt hat and ribbon accents all sliced through the canvas, resealed and glued down so that it it three dimensional. I have to say here - that I usually have a real hard time with the whole green faced witch. It's a lifestyle. But I worked through it to complete the challenge and it was OK since it was based upon the character in the book/movie. And reading further into the two main characters, I have always interpreted the green witch being "bad" because of being so jealous - which is reflected by green..... so you see...

I can't wait till the next challenge- Alice in Wonderland... this is gonna be fun! A great change of pace. challenges, that is. They make you think/create/travel in directions down roads that you usually don't travel.

Back to the studio...

Have a great weekend!

Current Quandary or Momentary Dither?

I work backwards. and sideways and even upside down, sometimes. I can't help it. It seems to be the only way I can get things done. For example; when making art dolls, the appropriate way to create an art doll (as suggested by many well established doll artists) is to create the armature, then the head, hands, feet; paint/accent and attach all the pieces; dress the little bugger and then add the hair and final embellishments. (usually explained that the hair gets all funked up and in the way if put on before hand) I can't do it. I am art-doll-challenged (that's PC, by the way- lol) I have to create the head, paint in its features and add the hair first - then everything else - oh and hands and feet are last - usually second last only to dressing - I can not vision a personality unless the head is complete. I fully respect those that can get a full vision of what something is supposed to look like before they even start - but as for me - I just can't do it. Once the personality is established things to tend to flow - but otherwise- I'm just staring at a lump of clay and wire. I am hoping that this is a process that will just take over as I learn more, develop additional technique, etc... but for now - this seems to be working for me - it is just a very odd picture when you walk into the studio and you are exposed to a scene that looks similar to an act of Vlad the Impaler - little finished heads/torsos on sticks everywhere (minus the gore)- Thus is born the next one that just cracks me up (some do that!) She has such a goofy grin and the freckles! - I still have no idea who or what she will become - for now she is happy on her stick in the studio... I will just have to wait and see.

Cheers!

Just a Reminder...

I have had a few inquiries about the Etsy shop, so this is just a reminder to all. Since 96% of all of my current dolls and mosaic pieces are going to Musikfest, I have had to put off the opening of the Etsy shop (www.Etsy.com) (tag= theGigglingGoblin) until around August 10th (after the closing of Musikfest). I wish I had more time in the day, but I still have that "day job" to contend with - and I want to make sure the shop is opened properly - so in order to do this - I just have to postpone it for a while. No worries though - by the end of August - I promise we will be up and running. In the mean time - If there is something someone is interested in - you can always contact me directly via email. Thanks again for all of the support!
Cheers!

Hobart

New Dolls

I will be offering a new series of dolls at Ostara* during Musikfest.

The first to make her appearance is Chelsea.

The Giggling Goblin

New at the Noll - an Etsy shop!
tag:: TheGigglingGoblin
When I get back from my much needed mental health vaca - the shop will be opened. a multitude of works. Mosaics, art dolls, paintings, mixed media and some are even a combination of all the above -
Keep your eyes open around the third week of July. I will be posting several "opening week" special posts.
Thanks to everyone for their support and always believing.
Trac

A Froud-ian Experience

What a crazy month! I can't believe it's almost over, after waiting six months for it to arrive! Why was I looking forward to May? Well, to answer that I have to say... SO. If you ever get the chance, I strongly urge everyone able to take a workshop with Wendy Froud! I spent the first weekend in May in NYC at a 3 day workshop with Wendy and Toby Froud. A gal pal artist friend of mine (Michelle of Crow Haven Farms) joined me and what a weekend it was! Like a marathon of creativity. What lovely people they are. Not that you would expect any less, but lets face it - the Froud name is not unknown. And I for one have been a Froud fan for, well, for MANY years! To be in the midst of greatness, learning and sharing with a master of an art, well, everyone should try it at least once in their artistic career. A) You get excellent tips B) you learn to use things that you are already using in a whole new way. - Different Perspective! C) You find out first hand, that these artists, these seemingly "untouchables", are human. And quite delightful humans at that. Now some say it takes the whole mystique away from "ze Artist" (that was pronounced with a haughty french accent by the way) - However, I see it as a glimmer of hope. A realm of possibility. A sparkle, if you will, of a potential future. Not that I would dream of being as well known, as accomplished or as, well let us just say it, as bloody brilliant as any of the Frouds, but, seeing that they are still human; Curious, natural, flawed, magnificent, talented, humorous, wonderful creatures - well, there is a glimmer of "yeah - I could do that (be a full time artist)". If not for any of those overtly philosophical reason - you have to take a workshop- just to see Wendy create a 15 second foot. We timed her. I believe the comment was " holy crap - that was a 15 second foot!" It was... jaw dropping. Understanding that the woman has probably made 8,473 feet in her life time and practice makes perfect - it is an amazing thing to behold. The precision and detail - in 15 seconds! Holy crap is right! - not to be out done of course, Toby was right behind her with a 42 second hand.- Posh you say, 42 seconds! Well, the detail in this hand: from fingernails to knuckles to the gentle grace of the curve of the palm - Un-freakin believable! - LOL - that alone is worth taking the course!

The Objective of the workshop was to create a creature/figure/doll - what ever your fancy - from wire to finished product. And when I tell you - it is an intensive 3 days - fur and glue were flying everywhere. What an amazing group of talented people attended this workshop. I didn't get to see everyone finished piece (So hey - if anyone that attended the workshop is reading this - Fess up and send me a pic of your final piece! I'll have a recap on the blog!)

Truly a delightful weekend. Truly wonderful wonderful people, the Frouds are! I urge everyone, to take an artist they admire, an artist whose work speaks to them in some way, and take their workshop. It is a life experience.

Here is , at least part of, my spirit guide created that weekend. Considering I had never worked with polymer clay before that weekend - I was pretty impressed with the medium - but give full credit to the teachers.


Until next time.
Cheers!