Step Stool Project

Four of us got together on Monday and added the base coats to our step stools.  We each used different color paints, but oddly enough the colors all go together, hmmmmmm... In between coats we chatted, drank wine and nibbled on snacks.  Now that's what I call creative art-working!

I continued working on the my stool today and put in quite a few hours and I still have many more to go!!! Painting on plywood, not so much fun...  I am thinking I will give it an "antique" coating once the detailed painting is done.  The stool is titled "Dancing Dragonflies".

Field Trip

I am off on a field trip with my neighbor Linda this AM.  She is taking Printing I at Yavapai College this semester.  The class is visiting a local printer at his studio today.  I am not sure what to expect, but I always love to see other artist's studio.  I will take my camera and if he allows, I will take some pics and post later (updating this post) if they are at all interesting...

It rained last night and the pollen counts are a little lower today, so I plan to work in the landscape today and not in my studio.  Soooo much to do!  LOL

UPDATE:
The tour of Skyline Type Foundry was very interesting!  This guy, Scott, has acquired very old printing machines and refurbished them.  Although he has many printing presses, he mainly creates the metal font types.  Apparently there is a niche market for type set printing these days.  Everything retro...

This machine liquefies the metal and drives it into a "matrix" chamber to form the metal type. It is automatic once the operator sets up the spacing etc. which can be different for different letters and fonts.

I was very excited to see the all the old machines.  It brought back good memories of my career as a manufacturing designer and engineer!  I really did enjoy that work.  (Hmmmm, maybe that's why I enjoy the metal welding so much?!?)   In addition to enjoying the tour, I needed two photos for 16" X 20" prints on metal, only $9.99 Groupn from Print Pix!  I had purchased the Groupon in December and it was ready to run out in two days!  Below are the two pics I used.

 

PS Didn't work much in the landscape, by the time I got home and had lunch it was 2PM!  Shortly afterwards it began to rain again!

PSS Monday is our first session to paint the step stools, so look for a new post about that event...

Smaller Poppies

I made a few smaller poppies.  I like both sizes, so I think I will continue to do both sizes. In the picture the two on the left (they are a little lighter gray since they are drier) are the large flowers and the three on the right are the smaller flowers.  Actually you can't tell much difference in size from this photo.  LOL

I also created a wall figure that I had sketched at my recent workshop when I was bored...  It is my rabbit-raven combo.  Both animals are iconic in our area.  I am not sure what to call it.  I have several iterations of this figure I want to make.

I am using high temp wire on the raven 'beak mask"

First Poppies - Greenware - Completed

Yesterday I made 7 poppies.  I want them to be over sized from the real thing, but these may be too big.  Of course drying and firing will shrink them some.  However, I think I will make some smaller ones today to see which I like better...

I used my new hole punches for the first time and I love the size consistency I get!  I have one hole for the metal rod poppy stem which will be JB welded in place and a second hole for water drainage.

Speaking of poppies, the pollen counts are BAD!  On a scale of 0-12 below is the current and forecast.  I guess I will be spending more time in studio and less time in landscape!!!

My allergy testing showed that on a scale of 0-13 I am a 13 when it comes to juniper!  Ouch!

Finally in the studio!

Today is clean up and get ready for "lots of creating day" in the studio!  My cold is waning and I am beginning to get my energy back :).  I have lots of projects in my sketchbook!

In addition, I picked up the 4 step stools for painting on Monday, so I have to get the group together and get started.  They are due April 15th.

After this last winter storm, spring is in the air and temps will be in the low 70's soon.  Mid week the nighttime temps were in the low 20's so I had to blanket my already blooming fruit trees.  I will leave them on a few more days until the low's creep into the mid 30's.  And no doubt the local rabbits will be out to devour all of my new spring sprouts.  So a little rabbit fencing is in order too!

I will also set two new outdoor posts this weekend on which I will attached two of my found object sculptures.  I will post pics when they are done...