Here a WIP, There a WIP, Everywhere a WIP

I am mixing new batches of paper mache clay daily right now trying to get ready for Halloween and Vine plus two other local fall shows I will be participating in. I build in stages and thought I would show you how the figures evolve. In the photo below you can see some basic sphere forms (the top hat is setting on top of one) that develop into pumpkin shapes with the addition of clay, and later develop faces by pinching and pulling bits of paper mache clay to form noses and mouths. I use to build the entire head at one time, but I got tired of removing fingerprints, fingernail pokes and flattened spots and realized I needed to complete the heads and torsos in stages.

This weekend I completed 9 of the bases I use for my "legged" figures, which will need to have the boots added, and then the torso placed on the legs, which will get arms and hands added. It takes several days to complete one figure to a state that it is ready to dry and then eventually be painted. There are many little components such as bow ties, buckets, scepters, hats and other little elements that I sculpt separately, and then add them to the figures as they are finished and dried.

This photo shows some of the figures with their heads painted, which establishes the personality for me and helps base my decisions on how they would dress and what type of additional accouterments they might need. Often the original sketch I begin with doesn't match the finished figure as anything more than the origin of the idea.

I need to get back to work now!! As I finish some of the WIPs (Works in Progress) I will pull a few together for peeks at their progression.

Have a great day!!!

Laurie