Look What Santa Brought Me!

I guess I was a good boy this year, 'cause look at what Santa brought me! Okay, maybe it wasn't Santa...it was my friend Christopher Klingler! I received some thoughtful and meaningful gifts this year, but this one tops them all! Chris sent me an original postcard illustration from his amazing Hallomas series! This gift really touched my heart. Chris is an absolutely amazing illustrator, and to own a piece of his art is truly something special. If you are not familiar with his art, visit his amazing and eclectic blog today at http://designsbyck.blogspot.com/. Thank you Chris for making my Christmas so special!

Annie the Angel

I love making angels. There is something so wonderful about what they represent - love, peace and joy....even if they looked "whacked out" like mine. It just goes to prove that despite the outward appearance, there may be a lot of love inside. Annie the Angel is one of those "whacked out" creations of mine. With her toothy grin and frazzled hair, she is a vision of holiday madness! But, despite the way she looks, she has lots of love to share. This is one of the largest Paperclay pieces I've ever made, standing at approx. 18" high. If you are interested in adopting her, I am offering her exclusively on A Time For Primitives. Happy Holidays!

Chicken Lips Sneak Peek

Seems I've been making Santas for years now - it was high time I pay homage to the woman behind the man. Here's my latest creation...Mrs. Claus! She is a Paperclay and wood creation. She proudly beams as she offers forth her latest goody from the oven! Mrs. Claus will debut on SpookyTime Jingles on the 13th. You will be able to purchase this Chicken Lips original by following this link.

Chicken Lips at The Harvest Festival - SUCCESS!

It's over! Another Harvest Festival has come and gone. Despite the lackluster ecomony, sales for me were exactly what they were last year...so I guess that makes this year a success (?). Attendance seemed a bit down from previous years, but there was a real quality of customers.

Thanks to all my customers and those who just stopped by to say "hi." As an artist, working a show like this helps me to connect to my audience, and gives me that much needed feedback we artists crave. It always makes me happy when people stop by just to say how my art makes them smile! We artists need constant validation - don't we ;)

It's taken a couple months of steady work to build enough merchandise for a show like this. Now that it's done, I don't know what to do with myself! What I really need to do is clean up my studio - I swear it looks like a BOMB went off in there!!!!! I guess I really need to relax and enjoy the Christmas season and give my creative batteries a chance to recharge.

Chicken Lips at The Harvest Festival

It's hard to believe, but it's time for The Harvest Festival again! I've got LOTS of new creations made...Christmas, Halloween, Easter...something for all the holidays! The last 6 weeks have been grueling getting ready for the show, but I managed to get everything done...with several days to spare. Now that it's all done, I don't know what to do with myself! This will be the first show that I will be showing primarily sculptured work. I've got a few fabric pieces, but most will showcase my new designs in PaperClay.

Here is one of my new designs, a Santa advent calendar. Made from PaperClay with a wooden calendar with moveable star to countdown the days until Christmas. The calendar is wood and made to look vintage and distressed (from many years of anticipated excitement, no doubt!).

If you are in Southern CA, come see the show - LA County Fairgrounds, Dec. 5, 6, 7. You can visit the Harvest web site for details. Hope to see you there!

Hi Ho Hi Ho - It's Off to Work I go!

There are over 50 pieces here that need to be painted, sealed, stained and sealed again. And, this all has to be done in the next 2.5 weeks prior to the Harvest Festival.

I'm not looking for pity or sympathy - I've gotten into this situation all by myself - but I wanted you all to see what I've got planned and if you don't hear from me for awhile, you know what I'll be doing!

Joy

Here's a sneek peak at what I will be offering on Spookytime Jingles tomorrow. Her name is Joy and she is a mixed-media creation of Paperclay, wood and tin. I found these reproduction blocks that spell JOY. Of course, they weren't quite distressed for me, so I worked them over a bit. It seemed like an angel was the best character to be holding them. Her hair is a wild main of twisty tin - it really gives her a frazzled look! Kinda how I'm feeling right now as I frantically get ready for my next big show in 3 weeks. I'll be posting more photos of some of the work I'll be featuring at the show in the coming days.

Thank You Miss Connie

I am so appreciative of every collector that purchases one of my creations. Each piece I design is a labor of love and a reflection of myself. So, when someone I truly admire and respect decides they simply have to have a Chicken Lips of their own...well, it just makes me beam with pride!

I recently sold one of my new snowmen sculptures to none other than Connie Hindmarsh - Miss Connie of Romper Room! I grew up watching Miss Connie and she truly holds a special place in my memories and heart. I can remember stomping around the living room in my plastic "Romper Stompers" (my mom's hardwood floors were never the same!). Her loving demeanor and gentle way was (and is) an inspiration for us all. Connie now shares that love with her own soft-sculpture creations ...you can visit her web site here.

Thank you Connie for all the memories and for giving my creations a good home.

Holiday WIPS

Wow...I can't believe that Halloween has already come and gone! Even though I've been making Halloween creations for the last 6 months, it seems like I blink my eyes and it's over! Well, I'm not looking back, only looking forward...to Christmas that is. I've got a huge show in Dec (The Harvest Festival) and I need to really switch gears and start working on holiday designs.

Two designs that I worked on this weekend are a large Santa - this guy is about 24" high. He has no arms yet, but when he does he will be holding an Advent calendar. I'm also working on yet another snowman - this one is frantically trying to juggle his buddy on his head. I think this design was inspired by the fact that I always feel like I'm juggling something! I know just how this little fellow feels!

Village Venture Afterglow

Well, another Village Venture has come and gone. It's hard to believe that I've been participating for 5 years now! Despite the lackluster economy and the 95+ degree temperatures - the day was a huge success! Not quite as large a crowd as usual (I think they get somewhere around 20,000 in attendance), but the folks that were there were ready to buy! And buy they did! I sold all my big pieces and lots of smaller ones. A huge thanks to all who stopped by the booth! The praise and accolades that I received are enough to feed my creativity for a long time! I never get tired of hearing the kind words and admiration from the collectors of my art.

In addition to several hundred amazing artists who participated in the event, there was a Halloween parade that showcases adorable kids and pets in costume. I just had to get a shot of this little fellow dressed as Jack Sparrow! I'm a sucker for a dog in a costume.

...now I've got to frantically start making enough for the Harvest Festival on December 5,6 and 7.

Village Venture

It's hard to believe that it's already Halloween time! Where does the time go! And when Halloween time comes around, that could only mean one thing...it's time for the Village Venture! This wonderful show in Claremont CA is jammed-pack full of some of the best artists around. Taking place on the tree lined streets in the Claremont, the Village Venture has been a showcase for art and artists for over 20 years. Check out the show web site for more details. In addition to Chicken Lips being there, my good friend Candace from Howling Moon will be there as well!

This year will be Chicken Lips 5th anniversary at the show, and I have LOTS of new Halloween and Christmas creations. Stop by and say "hi."

Little Devil

I've been a very bad boy. I haven't posted to my blog in over 2 weeks. I told myself that when I started this blog, I would post no less than once a week! Seems like there just aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done. I'm frantically working on making merchandise for two upcoming shows and I'm having a devil of a time getting everything done.

On that note, here's my latest creation; A Little Devil. He's PaperClay and wood, all decked out in his favorite Halloween costume. He can't seem to figure out why he's so chilly, though. Seems, he's left his back-flap down, exposing his backside for all to see! This is the first "backside" I've ever made - kinda made me feel a little naughty, a little "devlish" you might say!

Wilomina the Witch

You might remember an earlier post where I showed the quick sketch of this lovely gal. I finally finished her! I've named her Wilomina - sounds like a graceful name, don't you think? She is PaperClay and wood...but this time I tried something different...I've used a piece of a feather boa for hair! It really gives her a kind of frazzled look! I like this combination of PaperClay and other materials - might try some more of this in the future.

Wilomina is going to be offered for purchase exclusivly on A Time for Primitives on Oct. 1.

Snowmen and Santa and Devils...Oh My!

As you can see from the WIPs photos, I've been working my fingers to the bone! I've got LOTS of new figures made, all dryed and gesso'd and ready for painting. It's almost a little intimidating to have this many yet-to-be-finished creations staring at you in the face (although, they don't have their eyeballs painted in yet, so I guess they really don't do much staring). The painting process is really one of my favorite steps - so I really look forward to the work ahead. Once they are base coated with thin layers of acrylics, they are stained, then details are added in oil paints. It's a long process, but the end result is well worth the efforts.

Santa Claus is Coming To...STJ!

Just a quick sneek peek of one of the items that I will be offering on Spooky Time Jingles for Sept. What could a Jolly old guy and a chicken have in common? I know, that sounds like the opening line of a dirty joke...but actually it is a new PaperClay creation that I'm proud to offer on STJ for the month of September. Be sure to check out the site for the monthly update on Sept. 13th!

Tale of a Tail

I know why they call it Labor Day! I did nothing but work this weekend. With upcoming art shows, I have got to spend every spare minute I have building up my inventory. The PaperClay is flying fast and furious.

Speaking of PaperClay, I sung it's praises in last week's post. This week, I'd like to speak up about PaperClay's under appreciated sibling: Diamond Clay. I'm working on a Halloween cat, and you can see by the WIP photos, his tail is pretty thin. I tried creating this tail in PaperClay. But after it dried, it cracked and became too unstable. I turned to my opened pack of Diamond Clay. I had only tried this clay once, a long while back and was not pleased with the results. I decided to remodel the tail in this new material. The results are in; this stuff is GREAT! It's not as pliable and easy to mold as PaperClay, but it is tough as a ROCK when it dries! This is a wonderful material for small details or thin pieces (like kitty tails). It seems to dry faster than PaperClay, and doesn't remain workable for as long, plus it's a little more expensive than PaperClay. But, the tradeoff is a tougher-than-nails piece that can take a real beating!

Sneak Peck...um...Peek!

Here's a peek at something I just finished. This chicken and egg are PaperClay on a wood base.

This item will be available on the next A Time for Primitives update on Sept. 1st.

I have completely fallen in love with PaperClay and simply cannot stop using it! There are so many things that I can create that I could never have done with my sewing machine.

For years, I've wanted a Kiln and have belabored over which one to buy, should I buy gas or electric...

But recently a ceramics artist told me to stick with PaperClay for what I'm doing. It's more durable than fired clay and easier to work with. I do know that this stuff can take a real beating! I can't begin to tell you how many things I've dropped in the process of creation, and yet they are completely unharmed (and I've had a couple pieces take some really hard falls!). This is one tough egg to crack!

Work in Progress

It was a very productive weekend for me! I managed to start 5 new projects and finish up a couple others. The Fall season is rapidly approaching, and with it comes my participation in two great Arts and Crafts shows - the Village Venture in Claremont and the Harvest Festival at the LA County Fairgrounds. So, with those shows looming on the horizon, I need to really kick it in gear.

My workshop is starting to fill up with LOTS of initial parts and pieces of things; pumpkin heads with no bodies, Santa bodies with no heads - it's starting to look like a holiday slasher movie set!

Two pieces that are starting to take shape are a Halloween Moon and a stacked Pumpkin. Both pieces should be available during the next SpookyTimeJingle update on the 13th of Sept.

I'll give ya a sneek peek as soon as I get them done!

On the Drawing Board

Seems like most of my ideas come to me just as I'm going to sleep or waking up. I'm sure there is some deep psychological reason why this happens; something about letting down your guard and not thinking too hard. Frankly, I think it may have been eating a Big Mac too close to bedtime.

Whatever the reason, I'm just happy the ideas come. I had one last night; a witch standing atop of a skull holding a spider. Guess I've got halloween on the mind. I sketched it out real quick on the computer today. It's a pretty crude illustration, but it's all I need to get the wheels in motion. I'm going to start on her this weekend!

Now, off to MacDonalds for more inspiration!

Welcome to the 21st Century!

Okay, I finally decided to jump on board this whole "blogging" thing and give it a try. I've had SO many people ask me where my blog was, that I thought it high time I set one up. It's not that the technology is a real stretch for me - I design web sites for a living. I guess it's more a question of what do I have to say and who would even want to listen?

I'm not even sure what I want this blog to be, I guess that will evolve in time. It just seems that there is such a wonderful community of artists out there blogging and I don't want to be the kid on the playground off in the corner watching everyone else - I want to play too!

There are some really great artists out there in "blog-land" - a few that I've put on my Blogs You Gotta See sidebar. I'm looking forward to being a part of this community and hope that I will be able to share some of my thoughts and ideas and look forward to your comments.

Let's Play!