Percy Pumpkin

I'm back in the studio working in paper mache clay again so it will be awhile before I have new painted figures to show you...but,  I mentioned to you two posts back that I would share Percy Pumpkin with you.  Percy is the little fellow shown below.

Unlike most of my pumpkin-boy figures, Percy has a jack-o'-lantern face instead of having sculpted and painted human features. I did a few of these jack-o'-lantern faces last year as free standing pumpkins and liked the idea of giving them bodies this year to create something new and different. I have a few more of these silly fellows, and ladies in mind so I'll keep you posted on my progress.


Have a great day!!

Laurie

Chester Chimp and Barnabas Bat

I finally finished Chester Chimp, but not without some extra steps being involved.  As many of you know I have two cats, Jake and Elwood, the Monkey-Cats.  I've never been good about keeping them out of my studio and off of the table...I guess I'm just a bad kitty momma.  Anyway, when I sculpt bow ties, small bats or other little extras for a figures adornment, I usually sculpt them separately before adding them to the body of the characters.  Well, one of the two boys, who shall be nameless (Jake), took a liking to Chester's bow tie.  I have searched and searched for that little piece and it is nowhere to be found, not even in his favorite hiding spots.  Consequently, a new bow tie had to be sculpted (twice mind you) before I finally got one to add to Chester's attire. 

Chester's bow tie is now firmly attached, as is the wire for Barnabas Bat.  Chester also went into the cabinet to prevent a cat tail or imaginary wind from making the bat vibrate and creating the need for a cat attack.

Remind me if I have new kittens in the future to keep them out of the studio space.

Hope you like how he turned out!
Laurie

Chester Chimp Work in Progress

As mentioned in my last post I started working in Halloween colors again and have a figure in the works that I thought you might enjoy.  Below is a picture of Chester Chimp, standing by his pumpkin friend, Percy.  (I'll show you more of Percy later.)    Chester isn't finished yet as he has many details that need to be finished on his garment, hat and extra additions to be placed in his hands.  I have found it is those additions and details that take the most time to complete, but I also think they make the pieces have more character and interest.

Chester is only the second monkey to be created in the studio, and I'm sort of liking how the little fellows are beginning to develop.  I currently do not have plans for another monkey this year, but I might have to add one to the list as this fellow gave me a great idea for another one.  Decisions, decisions. 

Hope you like the peek and I will keep you updated with his changes.

Have a great President's Day!  My boss is making me work!

Laurie

Bye-Bye Pastels, Hello Halloween!

Darned as I have tried to stay in the pastel paints for one more month, the orange and black paint wouldn't hear of it one more day and jumped out of my paint holders right onto new Halloween work.  Yes, it has happened, the Halloween pieces have already started to emerge from the studio and I'm off to work on another one today.  (I am smiling!) 

This is "The King and Mini-Punk on the Skelly Throne".  They are headed to Chelsea, Michigan, in October to Ghoultide Gathering.  If you haven't already heard, Ghoultide Gathering will be moving to the Chelsea Fairgrounds this year to a new location where all of the artists will be under one roof!!   Acres of free parking and other conveniences for the customers, and the artists are all a buzz about the new location.  Give the link a look and start making your plans soon for a weekend of Halloween merriment!

Off to go paint...have a great week!
Laurie   

Jack-o'-Bunny and Cornelius the Easter Crow

Update:  Cornelius has sold, but his buddy, Jack-o'-Bunny is still available at PFATT Marketplace.

 

The winter snow has been good for me getting work done in the studio the last 5 days...perhaps I need it to snow more often!  I was able to finish Jack-o'-Bunny, seen below, and a fellow paper mache figure, Cornelius the Easter Crow, for the PFATT Marketplace update.

Both figures will be available Friday, February 10th, at noon Central Time.   

Just a little warning about the candy these two carry... remember they are Halloween characters dressed up to help the Easter Bunny so as good as their intentions might be, some things are just part of their nature.   A pumpkin boy will always prefer dirt to chocolate and crows would select a warm worm filling over vanilla any day of the week.  Keep an eye out for them Easter morning and if your eggs happen to be delivered by one of these two fellows, I would suggest they be inspected prior to consumption.  Just saying..... : )

Hope you like them!

Laurie

Winter Wonderland

The National Weather Service predicted heavy snow for last night and were they ever right on his one.  Below is our 6 feet high privacy fence and gate leading to our backyard and garden, and let's just say that I won't be using this entrance for awhile.

We had rain prior to switching over to snow so the surfaces of the fence and house were wet when the wind driven snow started falling.  It created some interesting patterns on the vertical surfaces.

Not only did my maiden, zebra, Japanese, feather-reed, fire and Indian grasses get flattened by the weight of the snow, but my hearty pampas grass also got pushed down to the ground.  I don't ever remember it getting this flat before.

The Crimson Maple in the front yard is covered in snow and the two Scarlet Oaks in the backyard also have a slight bend to the branches bearing the most weight.  No broken limbs, so I'm really enjoying the frosted look of the trees today.

Even the weigela bush in the front yard received a nice dollop of snow on it.

I'm off to go paint, but thought since many of you hadn't received snow this winter you might enjoy a look at the winter goodness.

Have a great weekend!
Laurie

Jack-o'-Bunny Update

Just a very quick update on Jack-o'-Bunny's progress.  I had a full day of painting yesterday and this is what he looked like at the end of the day. There is still so much to do to pull him all together, but I thought I would show you him at this stage so you can see this character develop.

Hope you like the little fellow so far!

Off to go mix colors and start on his second day of painting.  Snow is in the forecast so it is a great day to sit with a cup of coffee and paint the day away.

Have a great day!
Laurie

Jack-o'-Bunny and the Easter Crow WIPs

No rabbits this spring for Monkey-Cats Studio, but I did manage to get the bunny ears on a pumpkin boy, plus I finished the sculpting on an egg carrying crow.  Below is the photograph of Jack-o'-Bunny and the Easter Crow as works in progress (WIPs).

I hadn't done one of my pumpkin boys dressed to help the Easter rabbit in several years and this little character seemed to demand a pair of rabbit ears so I felt obliged to fulfill his request.  Along with the pumpkin boy I finished a crow carrying an Easter egg with his right wing.  The sculpt on this one was a bit of a challenge, but I think his little curved wing worked fine to hold the tiny egg.

Off to go do some sanding to get them ready for some paint.  I'll keep you posted!

Have a great day!!

Laurie