Something New to Announce!

Something new to announce at Monkey-Cats Studio.  Starting tonight, I will now have my work available not only on the EHAG Emporium, but I am very happy to announce I have joined PFATT Marketplace.  

UPDATE: All gone, thank you!! 

For my debut tonight, 9 p.m. Pacific, I will have three spring works available, all one-of-a-kind originals, created without the use of molds and made of paper mache.

 

"Eggster Rabbitty"  (**SOLD**, Thank you!)

"Pinky Candy Container" (**SOLD** Thank you!)

and "Ralphie Rabbitty"  (**SOLD**, Thank you!)

All three works will come signed, numbered and dated.

I hope you like the little hoppers

and as always, I thank you for your consideration.

Laurie

Two Long-Legged Boys Available on SpookyTime Jingles Friday Night!!

Hmmmm...a little pastel coloring and some Halloween mischief will be available Friday night (the 12th) at midnight EST, (11 pm Central, 10 pm Mountain, 9 pm Pacific) from Monkey-Cats Studio.

"Purkins Goodnight" and "Winston Wabbit" will be searching for new homes to keep them warm (poor Winston even has his bunny slippers on!). They are tired of the Plains' winter this year and they are hoping they can find a location with Spring beginning to warm the air to help uplift their spirits. Do you know of such a place?


I have seen some of the "sneak peeks" being shown by the other artists of SpookyTime Jingles this month and it promises to be a visual delight to tempt collectors!!! Don't miss out!

Happy shopping Friday night!!!
Laurie

"Winston" Is Done, Now On To Little Squash Head

I finished "Winston" yesterday after painting his bucket, Easter egg, stockings and bunny slippers, and putting German glass glitter on his bow tie. Here he is amongst his works-in-progress buddies!!

Those silly slippers took me hours to paint, but "Winston" likes the look so isn't that really all that matters? After all, you can't name something like "Puff" and "Fluff", and not give them some detail and character.

I also decided to carry the circle motif from Winston's body onto the top border of his Easter bucket, and then painted a coordinating egg. I had some lovely Bethany Lowe tinsel that matched the German glass glitter on Winston's bow tie so I used it like Easter grass to give a cushion for the painted egg to be placed in. I think it all helps pull his look together.

"Winston" is now a happy little wabbit!!

Below, is a new little squash head I worked on last night. So much work yet to be done on him, but his head just clicked for me and that made me a very happy painter. He hasn't told me his name yet so I will have to introduce you at a later date.

We have sunshine today and we are suppose to be in the 40s so I am thrilled!! Off to the studio to go soak up some of that sunshine!

Have a great day!
Laurie

WIP Update and My First Robin This Spring

WIP update...I'm gaining. Hats have been made, scepters sculpted, buckets pinched, faces added and second coats completed. I still have a lot to do to finish this group up, but I feel good about checking items off of my list. Speaking of list, I didn't use to create them. I'm finding now that lists keep me on track so they are now a part of my creative life. Do you create lists?

They don't look like much now, but I'm hopeful!!

This morning when I opened the door blind I was greeted by a robin (on the grape vine), a Eurasian collared dove (on the ground) and a group of house finch (everywhere). Why is this exciting? This is the first robin I have seen since winter started here, and the doves just returned to the yard the end of last week. I also heard them report that the first Sandhill cranes have arrived on the Platte River (just south of town) for their annual migration rest before starting north. We have about 4 good weeks of crane viewing and it is a sight to behold. They rise in groups off of the river in the morning and then return to the river in the evenings for overnight protection. The skies are filled in the morning and night and their ballet in the sky is something everyone should see at least once in their lives. Yes, there are crane fests, crane watch gatherings and the Rowe Sanctuary where you can have guided tours. Such a wonder of nature. Shhhh, I think Spring is coming

Have a great day all. I need to get back to this group of white clay misfits!!
Laurie

Bartholomew Bunny

Here is the last little fellow of mine for the update on SpookyTime Jingles this month, "Bartholomew Bunny." Bartholomew is a fastmache, paperclay, wood, German glass glitter and tinsel figure painted in acrylic paint and sealed with a matte polymer varnish. He is hand sculpted and painted by me and Elwood (that darn cat is getting pretty good with a paint brush....I will try to capture a picture for a future post!)


Bartholomew has a sweet little face, and unlike my Halloween boys, I think you can trust him with the small egg at the bottom of his tinsel wreath.

"Bartholomew Bunny" is a preppy little rabbit that loves his polka dot sweater vest, matching dress socks and glittery bow tie. He is shown carrying a green tinsel wreath with a coordinating Easter egg painted to match the design in his sweater vest....a little over the top? Bartholomew smiles, .... he doesn't think so!

Don't forget that SpookyTime Jingles Marketplace is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week....wink!!

Laurie

Bernhardt Bunny (alias Pinkie)

There has been pastel paint in my studio......oh my land!!!!! The little fellow below is "Bernhardt Bunny", but was given the nickname "Pinkie" last week by a very serious little boy. (Consequently, the name has sort of stuck with him.)

"Pinkie" is sculpted from paper-mache and paperclay, and has German glass glitter on his bow tie and gold tinsel surrounding the Easter egg carried in his paws. The body is painted in a highly decorative egg pattern with lots of circles, dots, horizontal stripes and diamonds adorning the surface. The same color scheme on his body is used to decorate the egg he carries, and if you look closely at his inner ear color, nose and eye color, you will see that the color palette continues onto his head. To tone down the pastels and give a more vintage feel the piece is finished with a burnt umber wash.

This little bunny will be on SpookyTime Jingles Friday night at midnight. (EST) Hope you enjoyed the sneak peek!!

Have a great evening!!
Laurie

Count Bunnicula ..... Peek

Yes, another month has flown by and it is almost time for another SpookyTime Jingles update!!!!! Friday night at midnight this little character, "Count Bunnicula," will be available. (oh, and a special thank you to William Bezek for giving this little bunny his name!!)

"Count Bunnicula" is a sleepy eyed little character because he really isn't a very good vampire. You see, this little fellow is vegetarian and stays up late, but he does sleep at night...just not very well and that is the reason for his sleepy look. Also, his favorite feedings come from carrots, broccoli, kale, lettuce and a variety of other garden delights, and it has been said he faints at the sight of blood. Nothing but carrot and celery juice for this little fellow to sip in the evenings!! "Count Bunnicula" is a harmless bunny that just happens to have fangs and consequently feels it is never too early to look forward to his favorite holiday...HALLOWEEN!!! (Even his "Easter" eggs have Halloween overtones.)

I'll post another figure tomorrow so you can see what else is coming up on the update!! It looks to be another great month over at STJ!!!

Have a great evening!
Laurie

"Wabbit" Number 1

Working on rabbits this week and hope to get this one started in paint tonight or tomorrow depending on how the other "wabbits" go this afternoon. I sculpted arms on four rabbits yesterday and did not like how they dried overnight so I will be working on them again today. Sometimes the paper mache clay has a mind of it's own.

From time to time I get emails and facebook messages asking me how I get the surface to look the way it does using Fastmache.... well, sometimes it doesn't work for me either!!! I work with this material all the time so if you have a failure the first time out don't give up on this usually cooperative paper mache. Occasionally I get a bad batch of paper mache clay mixed and it doesn't show until it has dried and it shrinks and dimples in an unpleasing manner. I finished the arms and paws on this figure with a batch of different clay and the arms dried just the way I like. I do think this clay has humidity and temperature issues when drying, but I so like working with it I don't throw fits when I hit a speed bump here or there.

This is the first "wabbit" for 2010. He will have eggs in his bucket and the wire handle will be rolled for a finished look. German glass glitter on his bow tie or not? I'm leaning toward yes, to give him a little more "something-something." I love making those big ears in this clay....always up for a challenge!!

Have a great day ....I'm off to mix a new batch of paper mache clay!!!
Laurie

Bunny WIPs

They aren't much yet....just heads on body forms, no arms or feet to speak of, but I thought I would share with you that the bunny "wabbits" are coming next month. They will all have a smile, of course, and baskets with eggs and stories to tell so as I mix clay and watch the little faces evolve I'm having a thought that I need to make one big Easter egg piece of some sort. Hmmm.....the wheels are turning.

Not to worry, the vampire wabbit is a vegetarian too, just like all of my good little vampires and counts.

Stay tuned...more to come!

Have a great day!
Laurie