The Traveler

One of my favorite pieces from 2018 just happened to be the first one I started in 2018. It took several months for the entire piece to develop, but the head was sculpted during a session on Jan 1, 2018. I have learned thru the years that a character will tell me when it is ready to be finished.

2018, where have you gone.

One of my favorite lines from Dances with Wolves.....I'm sure someone back home is thinking, "Now why don't he write?"

So why don't he write? Looks like I dropped off the face of the earth for all of 2018. No posts here whatsoever. If you follow me elsewhere, you will know that while I have scaled back on my shows and etsy listings, I have still been active artistically. So why don't he write?

I was scheduled to exhibit at the first Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween in 2017, but fate stepped in and put me in the hospital with a nasty MRSA infection in my knee. Right before the show...all is well now after a surgery and full recovery with no lasting effects, and I was able to pull it all back together and participate in the 2nd Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween. It was a fantastic show, and I will certainly be back!

But why don't he write? 

II suppose I'm still working out the answer to that question.

Kintsugi

I'm Baaaaack!

 Overdue update to my sorely neglected blog.....Seems I have regained some of my mojo. It has taken a while, but I believe the time away has allowed me to form a set of guidelines to work by, artistically speaking.

• 1- Be true to my own style. I am unique in what I do, and I should play to my own strengths. 
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• 2- Only make things that I am truly engaged in. (no mindless "inventory"). Don't force the artistic process....take my time to get to know each piece, and let them build character. 
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• 3- Have fun. If it doesn't seem like fun, then why the heck am I doing it anyway? 

With these simple guidelines in mind, I have made the decision to limit my shows this year. At this point, I will only be exhibiting at The Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween (the reincarnation of Ghoultide Gathering)  I feel it is truly an honor to be invited to participate with this group of artists, and while it can be intimidating to show alongside such a talented group, I feel that participating pushes me to do my absolute best work.

Coming to Chelsea, Michigan this year on September 30th! Many of the artists from the infamous Ghoultide Gathering will be there, as well as quite a few new faces. I am thrilled to have been invited to participate in this top-shelf show.

Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween

The largest ghoul I have made in a long time will be headed to Ghoultide Gathering (Sept 24, Chelsea Michigan) This beast has taken me over a year to complete, and stands a full 32 inches tall.

Crunch Time!

Getting ready for the 10th annual Ghoultide Gathering (September 24th in Chelsea Michigan)...more info to come.
Here's a few ghosts that will be looking for new homes to haunt this year.

2016 Spring

Still here...still creating. Still not finding the urge to write, other than brief little quips here and there.

Still hoping it comes back.

Maggie Sagebrush

Maggie Sagebrush is one of those characters that fought me tooth and nail as I tried to bring her into existence. She has been in the works for about a year now, and last week she finally spoke to me loud enough that I could hear what she wanted to be. She will be available for sale at The Ghoultide Gathering in Chelsea MI on October 3rd.

Bunny Boy

Boo!

Vampire

It's been a while since I have sculpted a vampire. This guy really had no identity to begin with...just sort of a plain, somber face with no direction to speak of. As it sometimes happens, I shelved him for a while until he let me know what he wanted to be. After I got his approval, it was a race to the finish.

Lesson learned...its ok to step back and wait for direction.

Grave Robber

 Here's the newest Shadow Farm creature! He will be available at Days of the Dead Indianapolis June 26-28.

Still here....

Just popping in to say I'm still here. I've been busy working in the shop, and have my busiest show schedule yet on deck this year. I promise I'll do better with updates...really I will.

I the meantime, here's a pair of Cedar Waxwings that came a-courting right before the mulberries ripened. Ain't they pretty?

Dave

Merry Christmas from The Shadow Farm

October Dreams

Sweet Dreams, Banjo Ghouly

Crows and stuff

Sketches sometimes help me get my mind wrapped around an idea before I sculpt. In this case, a friend has asked me to make her a crow in the Shadow farm style. She asked for a classic crow profile, so I knew I needed a vague reference point to keep me within some sort of realm of crowiness. A google image search and several rough sketches later, sculpting has begun....