nearly finished

This is the same link as the video in the previous post... I just updated the whole show with my new sculpting progress.

I can't believe my EYES!!

Ok... got the eyes figured out and have a picture here... I am sooo unhappy with the way the last sculpt is looking and am working on a new one.... with a pair of these eyes. Hopefully they'll work out better! I printed irises on transparency paper, then put them on a bit of white clay, dropped a bit of liquid Fimo on the iris and baked for 5 minutes on 250 degrees. cooled, then added more liquid Fimo across the whole eye to give a 'dome' effect. baked for 5 minutes at 250 degrees. cooled. hit them with a heat gun (I use an embossing gun) a bit until the iris clears up. I made the whites too big so I cut them down a bit which is why they are odd-shaped. The whole white does not show in a sculpt, so it's ok if it's not a perfect circle. Normally, glass eyes cost anywhere from $5 a pair to $30 a pair! And you usually cannot find them at the 2mm or smaller size! The most challenging part is to get the eyes to print at the right size.



Here's a sculpt I did 'on the side' while giving my brain & hands a rest from my current portrait sculpt struggles.




If anyone who's on my list wants this one as their sculpt, let me know. Maybe she looks like one of your babies...? I can add wings if needed. The way she is set up is in the purple flower and in a glass vase for display. But that can be changed as well.


If nobody here is interested in adopting this OOAK baby then I'll probably post her on eBay or etsy.com. Contact Me if you're interested in this sculpture. I love the teeny, tiny feet!!! Look at those little toes!! So far, she is one of my best ones! I'm so glad to be improving each time!



Otherwise, I've been busy trying to update my website in the wee hours of the morning. I've found I can combat that middle-of-the-night wake-up-in-pain problem by not going to sleep until 3 am!! But there's STILL not enough hours in the day to get everything done! Oh well, I'm so glad everyone here is patient with me in getting the sculptures done. Stiff joints & a 'dull' mind are not the best companions for an artist!! Well, I'd better get off the blog now & get back to sculpting... Hopefuly I'll have something 'to show' by tomorrow or at least by this weekend. Stay warm, everyone! We've got over 2 feet of snow on our deck & it's calling for MORE! UGH!!! Time to move to a warmer climate!!

flare, flare, go away....

I've got the sculpture nearly done, but I'm not happy with it's look and I keep making changes. I'm dealing with a surge in an AS flare (my pain has been a consistent 9) so maybe the inflammation is making my hand/brain coordination not working properly..... I've got a new technique for some really neat eyes that I may try and start all over again... I'm praying for a really good inspired day to get it started & completed quickly!

now you gotta see this...

So, I am starting on an open-eyed baby sculpture and figured I'd show you all the 'little' details on the way! I'm using small hematite beads for the eyes and have added white clay to the edges after they're in the socket. I will add liquid Fimo to the hole in the eyes during the final bake to give the eyes a clear 'lense'.

I'm always amazed at how 'alien' the sculptures look when they're in the beginning stages! LOL! Hope you enjoy! It's all a process of shaping, shaping, shaping.....

green light....

I'm going to start the next baby today on the list and will try to get some WIP's here maybe tomorrow. Does anyone know of an easy to use video editing program that is free or not too expensive? I'd love to get the focusing clicks off my videos!!

Oh well, here's a sculpt I squeaked in while waiting.... This one will be sitting in a Cala Lilly:



Here's the YouTube blushing video...

videos on YouTube

I've uploaded my WIP video clips in YouTube. Someday I hope to be able to mesh them all together into one nicely working stream... but until that day, you can view them together in a post below or separately on YouTube. In the column at the very bottom of the blog has my direct links to my You Tube sculpting videos.

I have set a deadline for the current #1 person on my waiting list to contact me with pictures & payment or a response by Tuesday. If nothing happens, I will bump her down to #2 on the list and #2 will become #1. I definately understand if financial strife has happened & am not offended in the least if someone has to back out before I start their sculpt. Please let me know if something 'comes up'.

I thank everyone for their comments both here, on my website guestbook & on YouTube!

Strange thing with this talent, I've noticed my fellow artists have the same dilema... some days, no matter how HARD you try or how much you really want to be creative, your brain & hands cannot work together properly & nothing goes right! ugh!

So let's all pray for many 'good days' ahead so I can get some good sculpting done!

For those who are interested in learning to sculpt, here is a link to a fantastic forum with a plethora of tutorials & seasoned sculptors to ask questions & receive feedback. Many on the group focus on fantasy sculpts, but more & more baby sculptors are joining the group. You can learn a lot very quickly! www.ooakdollart.com

Happy New Year!

Hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas & New Year. We had a super busy trip to northern MN & back thru WI & IL visiting family & attending a wedding and visiting more family. Now time to finish cleaning from the trip & get back to work! This week is filled with dr appts for myself & my daughter, R. Her test results have come back showing she does have Turner's syndrome. Her endocrinologist wants to meet with us this week to explain the genetic diseases & the treatments for it. Nonstop things to do!!

I am awaiting payment & pictures for the next order of babies and will get them started soon. If you are feeling a bit generous, please click on the google ads to help give me a few extra pennies! I am also working on uploading my videos to YouTube under the name: madebytrudi, so keep your eyes open for those as well!