Laurie Hardin: Open Eyed Santa on Base WIP

Monkey-Cats Studio

These are the reason for "Monkey-Cats" Studio receiving the name. Pretty cute when they were kittens but they are now 9 years old, still think they are kittens and try to fit in the same spaces on my studio table. For some reason these two have very long tails like a monkey and received the nickname monkey boys from my husband. We are sure they can swing upside down by those tails! Their real names are Jake and Elwood, after the Blues Brothers, because they try to do the right thing but they are just naughty.

I almost have a new Santa finished on a base and instead of painting the base as a chimney I decided to paint a little landscape below the Santa, plus I sculpted him to allow me to paint his eyes open. Not many of my Santa figures have open eyes so this makes him a bit more unusual for me. Santa is made of fastmache and the base is made of wood. He sits freely on top of the base in a slight indentation and his mitten covered hand holds him in place.

Below is the close up of the base with an evening winter scene showing the moon already in the sky above a small home with a snowman and evergreen tree. I may add snow flakes to this today.

Side view of Santa's torso and head below...Santa has a stocking made to hang from his hand, but I don't have it antiqued yet so it isn't in the photograph. I will finish it later today. We are so overcast I hate to paint on these days, but I need to finish him up!!

Close up of Santa's face below with the tassel hanging down to his cheek...Santa can be such a fashion diva!

Need to get to the studio. Lots of little things to finish for the show on Saturday!!

Happy creating and have a great day!! It is feeling and looking like winter is approaching here today! Brrrrrrrrrr

Laurie

7 comments:

Christopher A. Klingler said...: Laurie ~ Your handpainted bases are just breathtaking on these new style pieces!

Hope you are having a good week. :-)

Chris; November 6, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Monkey-Cats Studio said...: Thanks Chris!! I like to do them because they are "Hallomas" like as you would say!!!
Sorry for not stopping by--show this weekend again so then maybe things will calm a bit!
Laurie; November 6, 2008 at 1:11 PM
Nancy said...: Oh Laurie...He is wonderful! I just love the painting on the base....a magical piece!

Have a wonderful show!
Hugs, Nancy; November 6, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Kristen Beason said...: Hi Laurie,
Your Christmas pieces are still my fav! Happy creating!

Kristen; November 7, 2008 at 7:52 AM
vintagepaletteart said...: Your santa is amazing Laurie............and we want to see show pics! Good luck....but you won't need it! Your talent stands out in a crowd like no other! =D

*Lori; November 8, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Huckleberry Arts said...: Love the scene painted on the base of this Awesome Santa!; November 8, 2008 at 6:06 PM
Amy Short said...: Laurie!!

I ADORE him. Your painting is fantastic! I love the tassle touch instead of a fluff ball too, gives him a special feel.

Another fabulous piece.

:o)
Amy; November 9, 2008 at 9:16 AM