I need this like a hole in the . . .

Whoops! I guess there *is* a hole in his head. For the first time THIS particular hole was intentional. Since he's meant to be a baby unicorn, he needs a horn. . . but something sticking out like that on a public art piece needs to be sturdy. Fortunately, Dad is a whiz on this sort of thing
and he quickly put my concerns to rest by fashioning this creative little bolt reinforcement.
You can see the washer and nut on the outside. . . there is another washer and nut on the inside. The washer took some fancy maneuvering to get through the hole! Once it was properly seated on the inside, the outside nut could be tightened and . . . Voila! The bolt is being firmly held onto it's little forehead between the two washers! Nifty huh?
So, now he's taken his first step toward being a proper unicorn. The horn won't be very long (he is just a baby after all!) and once it has the epoxy packed into the hole and around the bolt, it should be solid as a rock! This is a good view of his new butch haircut too. More holes. *grumble* Not to mention the ears, which are headed toward having fuzzy texture put in them. . .but first, some stuff had to come out and. . .you guessed it! MORE HOLES!

Destruction, devastation and general mayham

Well, it was bound to happen. . . after a week of seeing the mass produced fiberglass horse sitting in his basement, my Father decided it had some "issues" that needed fixing. I could see all the issues too, but I was having an easier time ignoring them. I just wanted to paint it and be done. After all, it was Saturday, and the colt needed to be finished and delivered back to Lake Geneva by Friday at 3 p.m. But, we hauled it outside. . . and started talking about it. . . pretty soon somebody was brandishing a grinding tool . . . and then a larger grinding tool. . . before we knew it, we discovered that certain areas of this fiberglass critter weren't very thick!

So, we had holes to patch. . . and then there were more holes. . . and a few more. EEK! Holes everywhere, and grinding marks. . . lots of grinding marks! Hahahahahahaha! But we kept going because the overall silhouette looked better with each alteration. The tail looked a bit like some sort of exotic cucumber so one challenge would be to try and make it look a bit more like hair without grinding the whole thing off and starting over.

Can you see the fellow disappearing into the basement there? That's my Dad. . . he didn't want to be seen participating in this. But I can't remember if he was avoiding a photo. . . or if he was going in for a bigger tool. . . or if he was simply escaping from me saying something like "wait a minute! *somebody* is going to have to patch all of these holes, you know?" Another issue our fiberglass friend had was seriously curved rear cannon bones. I never did get a good shot of that before I did my best to camouflage them. They were sort of hook shaped from the hock to the tip of the hooves. Yikes! Another area that could use some improvement was the mane. It had the same sort of texture as the tail but with little short grooves instead of loooong ones. Again, of course, more holes in that thin surface. No wonder he's so light! He weighs about 40 pounds even though he's 55" to the tips of his ears.

The ground off area on the left side of the pic was the location of a good sized lump. . which proved to have something to do with the fact that the neck/head was attached separately instead of being cast all in one piece. See the straight line running through the gray area? Interesting. Also, probably best to avoid that area from here on since I can probably patch all of the small holes without much trouble, but having the head fall off would be *just* a bit more than I could handle so close to the deadline!

Just to prove that I am, indeed, working on this project, my Mother insisted that I pose for this photo. It was the end of a long day and, as you can see, my thumb is not actually on the throttle because I couldn't bear the idea of making any more holes that might need patching! The mask was a MUST! UGH That stuff produced such a thick cloud of stinky dust every time it was ground, filed, or sanded. Take my word for it. . . wear a mask if you ever need to work with fiberglass. . .even if it's going to be "just for a second" it isn't worth risking your health. Ear protection too. . . power tools and ear protection should always go hand in hand. I haven't always felt that way. . . but. . . what? Did you say something? You'll have to speak up! I should have had on some sort of approved eye protection but I honestly couldn't bear the thought of strapping yet another item to my already aching head. Looking at the pic though, I guess I *could* have removed the ever so fashionable head band. DOH! O.k. I should have another installment on here soon. I am juggling some house sitting duties along with taking care of my own house and trying to produce some new work while simultaneously writing about old work. Ahhhh! A procrastinator's work is never done. . . before it absolutely HAS to be! Haha!

P.S. Oops. . . I found another pic that sort of belonged in this section even though it hints at what comes next. This does show some of the re-textured areas on the mane though. Originally, the mane was a continuous, stiff looking mass. . .more like a zebra mane, so yet more holes were created by grinding off the fore top and breaking up all of the straight lines. The tips of the ears have also been worked on here. . .although one of the ears was about 1/2 inch shorter than the other. . .so I'll address that later once the putty comes out!

And now for something completely different. . .well, sort of.

Whew! It's been a bumpy year so far and I haven't had much time for blogging. . .although I *want* to do this regularily because it keeps me thinking and I honestly believe it will encourage me to work more consistently. Something which I am terrible at. Blah!
Anyhow, I am going to prove to you all what a hopeless procrastinator I am by putting up an in-progress diary for a project that was completed almost three weeks ago. Pretty impressive, huh? To be fair to myself, I should probably give some background.
My Father-In-Law was very ill for three months at the end of last year and the beginning of this one. He was in and out of intesive care units at three different hospitals. From day to day we never knew what to expect. Because his condition was very serious, we spent many hours and many days there at the hospital, just *being* there for him and for each other. In the course of conversation my Sister-In-Law mentioned that there was going to be a public art project in Lake Geneva, WI like the ones they've done here in Racine for many years. She has a clothing store downtown there called Strawberry Fields, and she was wondering if I would be interested in painting one of the fiberglass colts that could be displayed in her store. I looked at the information online and thought, "what the heck, it'll be fun." Surprisingly enough, as it turned out, I didn't even have the opportunity to procrastinate on it since the proposals were due the next day! Haha! It was pre-procrastinated for my convenience!




I sent the forms with my proposed design drawn over their supplied outline. . .

and then I promptly forgot about it. Sadly, my Father-In-Law passed away in Mid March about a week before I needed to drive to Lake Geneva to pick up the life-size fiberglass form. We drove down to get it and fortunately it *just* fit in the back of the pick-up. My first thought, upon seeing it in person was. . .oh boy, it's *really* big. My second thought was. . . I don't think I feel like doing this now. *sigh* Indeed, my heart wasn't in it. . .and the big critter sat and stared blankly at my garage walls for the next 2 months. Eventually though, the deadline loomed. (my deadlines never "approach" like they do for normal people. . . for me they "loom" and they "creep up" and "threaten" and, worst of all, "rush" up to meet me and "barrel down on me." *shudder* ) So, I had to put on my big girl panties, get over it, and start working. . . as fast as humanly possible! O.K so I *did* take it to my Parent's house and let it sit for another week. . .but then, by golly, I was ready to roll up my sleeves and DO IT! Hahahahahahahah!

Wasn't this supposed to be a sculpting blog?

I know that has to be what the 2 or 3 people who are actually trying to follow this blog must be thinking. So, in the spirit of not letting my procrastination completely take over, I shall put something on the sculpting stand so you (and I) can feel like things are actually being accomplished!

Some folks have asked about the mysterious and blurry sculpture on the far right hand side of my title banner for this page. Well, here she is. . . the world's oldest yearling filly. She has been haunting my studio for almost 7 years! Technically she's a fully matured mare by now, but since I never worked on her, much less finished her, she's stuck in a state of perpetual, roughed in, youth.

I started her sometime in 2001 using the clay remains and armature from my Strawberry Jam (saddlebred weanling) sculpture. I repositioned the wires, shortened the legs a bit by adding a base, lengthened the body a smidgen for slightly "older" proportions, gave her just a little touch of personality and then promptly began to ignore her. She's been glaring at me from the corner of the room ever since. Up on her shelf, looking down on me with her nose high in the air.

She's all dusty because I never bothered to cover her up. . . silly me, always thought I would get around to finishing her in less than a year. Now that I'm looking at her again. . .I like her. I don't *want* to like her because she's been taunting me all this time.

Her presence has actually interfered with my ability to focus on every piece I've started and finished as she sat and waited. Now, her time has come. I can't leave her sitting around any longer. Besides, I REALLY need to finish something for my own mental well-being and she's far enough along that it isn't as daunting as starting from scratch. So, I am sharing these photos of her in the hopes that I can finally get started making this blog into what I intended it to be.

I can't promise that I won't tell more stories about my dogs. . .or post photos of my newly redecorated bedroom. . .because it's all a part of me and it's what makes me who I am and effects, in every way, what I do and don't accomplish on a day to day basis! Goodness, the bedroom project has been interferring with my sculpting AND blogging in a really big way since mid December when we had to move our bed into my small studio/office while the floors were being refinished! Do you know how hard it is to be the Midnight Sculptor when a "normal" person who has to go to bed at 10 pm and wake up at 6 am is camped out in your SPACE? Hahahahahaha!

Anyhow, enjoy the photos of the little no-name girl. This is probably a BIG reason why I haven't felt like finishing her. I ALWAYS name my sculptures before I start them. . .but this one? Nothing. Ideas anyone? It might help inspire me!

P.S. There was an exciting bit of news at the end of the year that I never got around to writing about. My sculpture Equus Maximus was awarded 1st pace for Sculpture and Best in Show in the Ex Arte Equinus International Art Competition! Exciting stuff! The show was sponsored by Art Horse Magazine. Many thanks to them for giving "Max" his day in the spotlight!

The things that silence the muse. . .

That dirty little face belongs to our baby Murphy. We got him right after we were married. No, we didn't need another dog, we already had three. Jim got it in his head that we needed a Frenchie though and before long we were ensconced in a cozy little interspecies six-pack. Right from the start Murphy was a troublemaker. He dedicated himself to antagonizing the other dogs into defending themselves with bared teeth and bristling hair. Always the clown, there wasn't anything that happened in the house without Murphy being smack dab in the middle of it. He also urinated EVERYWHERE! I don't think there is a single corner, piece of furniture, cabinet, rug, or square foot of flooring here that wasn't christened by his generous little bladder. He even peed on me a few times. Fortunately for him, he was also adorable and snuggly and funny and completely without shame. He was the baby of our little family and he died in my arms on Christmas Eve as we were driving him from the emergency clinic to a surgical specialist for spinal surgery. It turned out that there wouldn't have been any way to save him, even if he'd had the surgery months before when his seemingly minor disc problem was first diagnosed. We had all continued on, playing and snuggling and running as both ascending and descending myelomalacia crept in and slowly began to steal him away from us. It's a rare and unstoppable condition that I know more about now than I wish I had to. But the details don't really matter anymore. Murphy is gone and while I should be making good use of all the extra time I have now that I'm not cleaning up rivers of dog pee every day. . .I just feel cold and sad and helpless. I've lost other beloved dogs before. . . it isn't a new experience, but it always manages to *feel* new. I guess it makes sense, since each one is different, that we should mourn them in their own way. God help me though, how each one drags up memories of the ones that have gone before. The cumulative effect must be staggering when one is old and has known many wonderful animals. I hope I will always be able to have them though, one after the other, until I have reached an age when finally one of them will outlive me. Without my animals I am incomplete.
I know everyone loves that Rainbow Bridge poem for these occasions, but I prefer to look to Rudyard Kipling for the right words. . .

The Power of the Dog

There is sorrow enough in the natural way

From men and women to fill our day;

But when we are certain of sorrow in store,

Why do we always arrange for more?

Brothers and sisters,

I bid you beware

Of giving your hearts to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy

Love unflinching that cannot lie -

Perfect passion and worship fed

By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.

Nevertheless it is hardly fair

To risk you heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years that nature permits,

Are closing in asthma, or tumor, or fits,

And the Vet's unspoken prescription runs

to lethal chambers or loaded guns,

Then you will find - it's your own affair

But - you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way

When it comes to burying Christian clay.

Our loves are not given, but only lent

At compound interest of cent per cent,

For when debts are payable, right or wrong,

A short time loan is as bad as a long -

So why in Heaven (before we are there)

Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

When the body that lived at your single will,

When the whimper of welcome is stilled

(HOW STILL!)

When the spirit that answered your every mood

Is gone - wherever it goes - for good,

You soon discover how much you care,

And give your heart to a NEW dog to tear.

RUDYARD KIPLING

Fare thee well Murphy, have fun playing with Chester, Laddie, Caesar, Prima, Abbie, Ricky, Buddy, Sherman, Tucker, and all the others until we finally come home.

Tis The Season. . .

I don't know about anyone else, but around this time of year my mind turns to tax season. When you're self employed, December is the month you start to look at just how much money you earned during the year and realize you probably should have worked *just* a little harder. With Christmas looming around the corner, and that final tax payment due in January . . . somehow, just like EVERY other year, the old checking account isn't quite where I hoped it would be this late in the game.
I suspect that this may be the case for a lot of my fellow artisans out there as I am seeing a drastic increase in the number of new pieces being started. So, why do we start sculpting furiously *now,* so late in the game and during such a busy time of year? Guilt, my friend! Pure guilt! If we can work hard enough from now until December 31st, perhaps we can make up for all the time that was wasted through the year when we should have been working but just didn't feel motivated.
To heck with inspiration for awhile! The gig is almost up and soon our secret shame will be known to accountants (and husbands *gulp*) all over the country! So, for now, we do our best to look busy and hope that somehow this last little sacrifice to the Gods of labor will save us from the starving artist stereotype and build enough momentum to carry us, steaming full force, into the New Year, ready to be better disciplined and more prolific than ever!
If I say it enough years in a row. . .someday it shall be true!
Anyhow, I'm back in the studio and I've got things to show as soon as I get my camera working. It feels good to get that clay warm again and start bending up a new armature or two!

Kathi

P.S. Oops! I almost forgot! The AAEA show was a great success and they sold both of my bronzes. . . so now I get to enjoy one of an artist's most time consuming endeavors. . .waiting to be paid.

Indulging in one of the seven deadly sins.

Last weekend was the artist's reception for the AAEA fall juried show.
I wasn't going to go since Jim couldn't take the time off from work, but my Folks talked me into it and we all had a great trip together. Just like old times! Ha!

We got a late start. . . it took 5 hours to get through Chicago alone. . . FINALLY got to Lexington at 4 a.m., making the entire trip 11 hours long, an all time record since it usually takes 8 hours or less!

Their German Shepherd puppy kept me awake the rest of the night so my Parents decided to take the dogs to the Horse Park during the day, so I could finally get some sleep. I managed a couple of hours of shut eye before it was time to get ready to go. I've heard that the puppy was slumped on the ground, sound asleep, every chance he could get while they visited with friends at the park. Grrrrrr!

The reception was very nice, lots of people there. It was a big show with a total of 85 pieces. (550 pieces were entered for jurying)

The complete show catalog can be seen here http://www.aaea.net/2007fallshow/default.htm

The big thrill of the evening came when they announced the awards. One of my bronzes was given the Founder's Award for Sculpture!

What a neat surprise! O.K. so I admit that I have been wandering around with a swelled up head for the last several days. (partially due to a head cold and partially from allowing myself the deliciously sinful luxury of excessive pride.)

I was so pleased that my Mother and Father were there with me. I think they might have been even more excited than I was!
It really was a great weekend. . .

top: Mommy, Daddy, and I in front of the case where my bronzes are.
bottom: a view from the other side of the case.