About a month ago I took a week-long sculpting seminar with the lovely and talented Deb Wood. I’ve taken so long to write about it partly because I was still absorbing this wonderful experience and partly because I’d rather be working on the fairy I sculpted there, than writing on my blog. ^_^ But my fairy is finished now, and so I write. She is not quite as refined as I would like, simply because we had 5 days to completely finish sculpting, and the class was moving on regardless of whether or not my meticulous tendencies were satisfied! We had things to learn, and learning is most effective if perfectionism is (at least temporarily) discarded. So I took lots of notes and made an imperfect but really cute if-I-do-say-so-myself fairy! (I finished her costume, hair, wings, and base at home after the retreat.) I named her “Windsor,” after the wine-country town we were staying in for the seminar. Pictures are forthcoming at the end of the post.

There were 8 other students in the class — not too many, so it was a very cozy atmosphere and we were all able to get to know each other a little bit. The best part of the seminar was learning sculpting and costuming tricks from Deb; the other best part was being with a fun group of people who understand and share my compulsion to create tiny fantasies out of clay.

And now I have to sculpt alone again. *sigh* But I have some great memories (and a fairy) to keep me company!

Many of the supplies were provided by Judy of OOAK Artist Emporium!

An off-topic FYI: I got 3 commissions in a row almost as soon as I returned home, so commissions are closed until sometime after Valentine’s Day. But inquiries are always welcome! See my FAQ for details about commissions.

Tomorrow I leave for a week-long sculpting seminar / retreat led by fairy maven Deb Wood! There will be 8 other students, ranging from beginners to already-amazingly-good sculptors. We will be learning to sculpt (and wig, wing, and dress) a miniature female fairy figure.

I plan to:
1. Learn a lot about sculpting
2. Have gobs of fun with other sculptors

I can’t wait to meet everybody. I met two of the other students at last year’s retreat, and I’ve “met” a few of the others in online groups. I’m looking forward to meeting them and the new people in person!

… and I’m hoping to be able to create something that looks vaguely human (or even vaguely fae). If it’s not too mortifying, I’ll share some pics when I get back.

Available now in my Etsy shop!

This beautiful Dragon Snail was born blind. No need to pity him, though…. He more than makes up for his lack of sight through his other senses, and “sees” the world more completely than you or I do with our eyes wide open. His curved horns and shell help funnel sound vibrations, and his tongue and other organs give him a plethora of sensory information. He is renowned among his fellow Dragon Snails for being a cunning and efficient hunter.

First Sight is #16 in my Dragon Snail™ series. He is 4″ (~10 cm) long and 2.5″ (~6 cm) tall. His eyes are white tiger’s eye beads, and he is painted in several layers with Genesis Heat Set Artist Oils.

Polymer clay and real seashell.

He’s available now in my Etsy shop!  You can see more pictures of him at my gallery site.

In other news, I picked up “Mean Old Goat” and “Candy is Dandy” from the exhibit!  It felt a bit like a mom picking her kids up from camp.  I missed them.    The Mean Old Goat is ready for a new home though — she’s available in my Etsy shop now.

Candy is Dandy will take a bit longer to get into my shop. I learned something new this week! Acrylic paint is like a dust magnet, and it doesn’t let go easily. Since it was sitting on a pedestal out in the open for six months, it got pretty well dustified, so I will need to take care of that before I list it for sale. Nothing got broken though! I am relieved. I was terrified that little hands might not be able to resist. (EDIT: Candy is Dandy is cleaned up good as new, and in my Etsy shop!)

I heard from more than one person that Candy is Dandy reminds them of Dr. Suess. This makes me happy.

Dragon Snail Kinoko a Featured Creature in Faerie Magazine Spring 2009!

Kinoko is representing the Dragon Snails™ in the Spring 2009 issue of Faerie Magazine! I encourage you to pick up a copy (I got mine at Barnes & Noble but you can also order it through their web site); there are lots of other wonderful artworks and artists featured in this issue.

Jennifer Carson, an editor for Faerie Magazine (and also an artist herself), asked me what inspired me to start making the Dragon Snails. My answer to that question, along with my story of the Dragon Snail species, appears under Kinoko’s picture in the article. I will type it here so you don’t have to strain to see the scanned article (though you can see a large picture of the scan by clicking here).

I was first inspired to make Dragon Snails while taking a sculpture class at a community college. The prompt was to create a new creature using aspects of two or more existing creatures. I love dragons, so I started there. In the course of brainstorming it struck me that Dragon Snails would be quirky, humorous, and strangely adorable!

The species Draco domiporta™, common name Dragon Snail™, first appeared in 2003. Little is known about this elusive species, as they tend to evade capture when biologists are involved, though they are tolerant and even affectionate to people with benign intent. Scientists are baffled by the apparent intelligence and parapsychic abilities of these creatures; most of the information gathered about them comes from laypeople.

It is not surprising, then, that the species name “domiporta” is something of a misnomer. Literally “one with her house on her back” or “snail,” Dragon Snails™ do not have the ability to retreat inside their shells as snails do. Rather, the shell appears to be an affectation adopted by the species as a way to attract food. Mostly carnivorous, the species seems to prefer a diet of snails. They will also eat some funguses and algae, as well as insects, frogs, birds, and small rodents whose intention was to make a meal of them. Larger would-be predators are strongly discouraged by a fierce nip or a sharp horn. Dragon Snails™ are far faster than they appear and may even snatch a swooping bird out of midair!

Kinoko (with his mushroomy setting) is available in my Etsy shop!

Just a quick note to let you know: Free shipping on all sculptures in my Etsy shop, June 10th-14th (2009)! There are lots of great deals on @Etsy for the “Yart Sale;” check it out! (“Yart Sale” = Art + Yard Sale.)

EirewolfCreations.etsy.com

As for what I’ve been up to lately… I was working on that fox mask for a while (see 2 posts back), in paper maché. I’ve discovered that I am not a great fan of the long and messy process of paper maché… at least until you get to the part with the surface details (which I didn’t). The mask form I was working on was apparently cast from a Neanderthal. I swear, this guy has the most a-typical features in the world — not good for a mask form. He has a huge head and very strangely shaped features, which ends up meaning that the mask is too big for my face but also manages to pinch the bridge of my nose. Very frustrating. I want my masks to be wearable by most people, not just Neanderthals.

Long story short, I have put away my maskmaking stuff for the time being. I may pick it up again later. But I decided that I need to (and want to) focus on polymer clay miniatures right now, and the masks were being a distraction. I’m very good at finding distractions and shiny things and new (for me) art forms, which are all very good things in their own right, but end up tearing my focus to shreds and sending it every which way.

So! Right now, I am sculpting a duck. Yes, a duck. I’ve never sculpted a bird before, and a friend of mine may want to commission a series of ducks (so she can get them all in a row, you see), and so I am trying one to see if I am any good at it. And when it is finished, I shall share, and you all shall be the judges.

So far, I am liking this duck. Maybe it will help me get mine in a row too.

Melody Peña, the sculptor behind Windstone Editions, wrote a blog entry today that really made me think about why I do what I do.  She’s been pondering the ultimate reason for art, the burning question that it answers for her.  Go read her short blog entry, and then come back.

Go ahead, I’ll wait:  –>link to Melody’s blog<–

Did you read it?  Good.  For the lazy sloths who didn’t (and for continuity’s sake), the question that Melody asks when she looks at art is “What is it like to be this artist?  Who is the artist as a unique person?  What is it like to look through her eyes?”  Okay, that’s three questions, and I’m paraphrasing (or expanding; I’m not sure which).  But it made me think about what my own art might say to someone.

Experiencing art is a very personal thing, and everyone will have their own reactions to it (or none at all).  I certainly don’t want to tell anyone how they should feel when they look at my art.  I would actually love to hear how you feel when you look at my art – what it says to you – even if it’s wildly different from what I’m about to say.  Artists live for this stuff, you know.  Please leave a comment!

Speaking of comments (and segues), the following was my response to the question Melody asked at the end of her blog: “So, you as an artist; what does your art say about you to all generations to come?”

(…) My sculptures are mostly fantasy creatures, sometimes with a “cuteness” factor, and they don’t overtly say anything of profound social importance.  But they do indeed say something about me, about what moves me.  If one were to listen closely, one might hear them say that I am fascinated by the whole and the minutiae of Nature, that I am in awe of the created order (and the apparent chaos), and the Hand behind it.  By sculpting these creatures that don’t exist in Nature, I am participating in the creation of new things, and I get to feel a tiny hint of what the Creator of the universe must feel.  “This didn’t exist before, and now it does!”

That, to me, is magical.  I hope that it comes through, at least in some small part, at least to some few people, when they see my work.

~~Eirewolf~~

And on an unrelated side note, since I’m here: TAX DAY DEAL! 20% off everything in my Etsy shop, April 15th only! After that, I’ll continue the tax relief with 10% off for the rest of April. Enjoy!

Apparently my creativity does not extend to blog post titles.

Ahem.  Anyway, I thought I’d give a little preview of what I’m working on.  I’m into maskmaking these days.  I love the idea of wearable sculptures, of becoming a whimsical creature, if only for a few hours a year.  When you’re not wearing the mask, you can hang it on the wall and enjoy the art year-round.

Pictured below is not a finished wearable mask, but a (roughly) half-scale prototype, in polymer clay.  I wanted to work out the design and form before committing to the full-scale piece, which is what I’m working on now.  But, once the mini is painted, I’m thinking it’ll be a pretty cool finished piece in its own right.

I’d love to hear what you think, and also, tell me what other kinds of masks you might like to see me create!

The lovely pair of Dragon Snails that I sneak-peeked on Valentine’s Day is finished and photographed!  They make a very cute couple.

Partners in Slime – Dragon Snail couple

The “Partners in Slime” are available now in my Etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21851911

For more pictures, please visit them at my gallery:
http://www.eirewolfcreations.com/?page=gallery&gallery_id=1&piece_id=109

In other news, your vote is needed!  Kinoko, my Dragon Snail on a mushroom/driftwood base, is in a “Critters” contest over at the International Art Doll Registry.  You don’t have to sign in or register; just pick your favorite critter from 5 choices (even if your favorite isn’t mine!).  :-)

Voting ends Saturday, so please vote now!
http://www.international-art-doll-registry.com/Default.aspx?pageId=277597

I really wanted to get this lovely couple finished in time for Valentine’s Day, but they’re pretty persnickety about what they want to look like.  The sculpting is finished, and the painting is under way, but there’s much color detailing yet to be done.  I wanted to give you a sneak peek, though, and my camera caught them in a cute cuddly moment.  Behold, the “Partners in Slime”:

"Partners in Slime" WIP preview – Dragon Snail couple on Valentine's Day (a OOAK sculpture by Eirewolf)

I just got back from the opening of the 2009 Sculpture Exhibition (sponsored by the Santa Clara Cultural Advisory Commission in cooperation with the Triton Museum of Art), where I got a nice surprise… I won a merit award for Candy is Dandy!  *warm fuzzies*  That was really cool, but it wasn’t even the best part of the event.  A troop of Girl Scouts was there, doing volunteer service by handing out brochures for the show.  I was told on multiple occasions that my sculptures (Candy is Dandy and Mean Old Goat) were the popular favorites among the girls.  It was like my own little People’s Choice award!  *big grin*  Thanks, Girl Scouts!  And thank you, Cultural Advisory Commission!  You put on a great show.

In other news…  Kinoko, my Dragon Snail with the mushroom-and-driftwood base, is available for sale!  Please take a peek in my Etsy shop for details.  (Pictures of Kinoko may also be seen in the two blog posts preceding this one, or in my gallery.)