Ready to paint

Here's a batch of creepers almost ready to paint. At this point they still look pretty rough, but will soon be showing their unique personalities. 2012 is starting to look like a busy year here at the Shadow Farm with plans to attend several conventions and art shows. Eyeing up the calendar, I'm going to have to get the creative gears moving in order to keep up.

Professor Phynn WIP

I have put a few teasers out about this new piece in the last few posts. I feel it is time to introduce Professor Phynn properly. ( if not briefly) Professor Phynn is the first of a pair of intrepid explorers that I have in the works. Armed with charts, maps, and a heavy load of scientific instruments, Professor Phynn is off in uncharted territory to explore the secrets beyond the edges of the map. At this point, I am satisfied with the basic elements of the sculpt...pose, , emotion, and concept. The skin tone has turned out really well, although I must say the above picture does not do justice to the depth and variation of color. The details have yet to be finalized, and will make or break this piece in their execution. I have no time frame in mind for completion of this project. I prefer to work as inspiration ebbs and flows, riding the tides of strangeness wherever they may take my imagination.

What did you do on Misgivings Day?

....Or better yet, what IS Misgivings Day? Well, if you are familiar with Ghoul Friday, I am sure you are aware she is a Halloween enthusiast, blogger, author, and artist. Now you can add Holiday Creator to her list of accomplishments. You can read her post on this new holiday HERE. Basically it is the 7th Sunday before Halloween, and the unofficial, official start of the Halloween season...so go ahead and decorate that yard..it's OK, now.
So in the spirit of Misgivings, I spent the weekend holed up in my shop working on pieces that were in various sages of completion, starting new projects, and generally wrapping myself in a creative coccoon for a 48 hour stretch. Here's the fruits of my labor.
So what did you do with Misgivings Day?

Character thoughts

Here's some disjointed thoughts bouncing around my skull. I have two new characters in mind that will be related in a way. They have started as two completely different pieces, and have gestated on the bench just long enough that I am starting to see an association between them.

Character 1: Professor Phynn. large round head, very wideset round dark eyes. tentacle-like appendages in the mouth area. Cthuhu-esque, (without the menace of the mighty one.) Explorer. shoulders draped in a well-worn cloak, holding gnarled walking stick. scientific instruments attached to a harness or leather "bandolier" . Wise. Soft steampunk influence. maps and charts in a scroll.

Character 2: yet unnamed. Taller than prof phynn, bird-like head resembling plague doctor. More of a steampunk influence on this one...bio-mechanical elements. Implanted goggles in a bone cranium. brass or copper plated beak. leathery wings. Also an explorer(possibly a chemist), with accoutrements of the trade. Large scarf around neck, extends over shoulders as a cape of heavily draped fabric.

It can only get stranger from here...

I just finished up a batch of small ghouls, and a few other projects now loom on the horizon.





..strange projects indeed.

New witch completed

I just finished this witch as a custom order for one of my past Etsy customers. I do not mind saying this gal gave me quite a bit of trouble....there was something elusive about her facial expression early in the sculpt that drove me nuts. Early on, the expression was blank...no character or emotion displayed whatsoever. The unfinished piece sat on my bench for several weeks, staring up like a dead fish, mocking my lack of creative inspiration. I have learned that when a piece doesn't feel right it is best to put it away until new thoughts emerge. Such was the case with this witch....last week a new approach on the facial features came to me, inspired by the twin witches I posted last week. I raised the cheekbones, dropped the brow, defined some deep scowling lines in tightly pursed lips and all of a sudden she had an attitude. After I overcame that hurdle, the rest of the sculpt was relatively easy.

Poe revisited

One of my favorite characters that I have made was Poe. There was something magical about this creature. All the creative elements came together at once to produce what I feel was one of my best pieces. The sculpt, the paint job, the sad, dejected pose and the backstory. I have toyed with the idea of attempting to recreate poor Poe several times but have been intimidated to try. Many of my methods are so unique that to duplicate a piece like Poe seems almost impossible. I have, however, taken the task on...not to produce a direct duplicate but to make a similar character. One with the same type of aura and essence that has made Poe one of my favorites.
Wish me luck.

Witchlette : testing the costume

This is the first test fitting of the fabrics I have chosen for the Witchlette. Most are vintage fabrics that I have collected from various sources throughout the years. I fell that this is a good mix of colors and textures to give the old hag a real-world appearance. At this stage I like to let everything sink in for a few days, observe her in different lighting and take note of any changes or additions that need to take place before attaching her wardrobe permanently.
For instance, as much as I would like to press onward, the painting on the cauldron needs to be finished before any fabrics are applied. The plastic hands stand out as a beacon of laziness at this point, prompting me to push my comfort zone a bit to make them blend in with the rest of the piece. The forearms need some work as well since the fresh clean burlap glows like a beacon. Accessories, knickknacks and other bits and bobs will be the final touch to give her an authentic presence.
Overall I am pleased with the way this is turning out.

Witchlette: The eyes

Her eyes told of a soulless determination. The task at hand was a daunting one indeed and nothing would stand in her way.

Progress has been made. Between events at Great Lakes Fright Fest, I worked on painting the skin tone of the Witchlette. Normally I have a clear idea of how I want a skin tone to look, but Witchlette was a puzzle to me. I knew I didn't want a stereotypical green skin, but felt that leanings toward green would be appropriate. I fumbled along, adding bits of color here, a wash or two there until I reached a point of utter confusion. I told Ghoul Friday, my camping companion at the event, that the old gal had reached a point where she was either almost done or almost ruined. Upon arriving home, the final stages of painting slowly came into focus, leaving Witchlette with a stony complexion to match her fixed gaze.

The final pieces of the puzzle will be her hair, costume, and accessories.

Getting close now. She has begun to whisper her wicked mumblings in my ear, telling me how to bring her to life.

Witchlette: Dressing begins

Ok, not really much to look at here other than I have added plastic bottle over top of the mech to keep everything nice and secure inside. I then covered the body in burlap that has been soaked in Sculpt or Coat. The resulting body is lightweight and fairly stiff. I have also mounted the cauldron to the top of the books and the motor inside the cauldron. At this point I gave the the dual motors a 24 hour test run...they worked flawlessly with absolutely no heat build up.
I decided to go with a dual voltage desktop power supply with 5vDC going to the head motor and 12vDC going to the cauldron motor. This keeps the two movements out of sync with each other adding to a lifelike illusion.

I have a feeling the outfit on this nasty little gal is going to be a whole bunch of fun. I will be staying away from traditional black cloak and hat and stay in earthy fabrics with alot of texture. I am not looking forward to making a pair of small hands though, and might wuss out and use a pair of plastic skeleton hands.

Witchlette

Here's the start of my next animated, motorized figure. This one is already taking on a life of her own and developing a creepy personality. Like Luther, she will be a motorized prop stirring a small cauldron. I may try to coax a little more movement into her, but haven't quite figured out how to hide the mechanism I have been thinking about in such a small space. I also need to make sure to leave access to any inner workings for potential troubleshooting and maintenance. It is also possible that the stirring motion will be enough. Decisions, decisions....

Stirring Cauldon Sculpt In progress

This guy is the start of a series of Cauldron Stirring figures I have planned for this year. I have some finish work yet to do, but have proven that he is mechanically sound by running him off and on for hours at a time over the last week or so. The sculpt is mostly paper mache with paperclay as a topcoat to give the final texture. The figure has a small electric motor mounted inside the cauldron that revolves slowly, his jointed arms following the stirring stick. Overall size is approx 21 inches. Finishing touches will include some crazy hair, a large stiff collar, and some paint and texturing on the cauldron. When completed, this figure will be available to purchase on Etsy or in person at Great Lakes Fright Fest.

The Ghoul Army- new recruits!

I've been taking advantage of the wet weather lately to further expand my growing army of ghouls. sadly, I now have to wait for my order of Sculpt or Coat to arrive before I can continue my ever expanding Army of Ghouls. If you are unfamiliar with Sculpt or Coat, check it out! It is an excellent product with a huge variety of uses...my Ghoul production is at a standstill without it.



I originally planned this series to sell specifically at Indy Haunt Fest, but have just this week committed to joining the fun at Great Lakes Fright Fest June 3, 4, 5th. I am working like crazy to make sure I can take a battalion to each event.

The Tar Phoenix: back to the ashes

Every so often a series of creatures will naturally run its course. It is as if the idea that once burned hot has fizzled to a small ember and threatens to go out entirely. Rather than force the idea and run the risk of extinguishing it forever, it becomes time to let the ember glow in it's bed of coals. Perhaps a new breath of life will uncover it in the future, fanning the flames of creativity until it burns white hot again. Perhaps it won't. Either way, I have learned that once an idea has gone cold, it is best to walk away. What will be will be.

I have three nearly finished Tar Phoenix sculpts currently on the bench. The final textures and painting will happen this weekend and then I am going to put the idea away for a while. I can't explain it any better than I have tried above. It just seems like time to allow the idea to rest in my subconscious once again until it decides to rise back up from the ashes.

More thoughts on names

It has been nearly agonizing to me over the past day or so struggling to find a name for my new creature. Those of you who follow me on twitter have some idea of what I have been going thru. I have been obsessed. During this time I have come to the following conclusions, which relate to my own experience only. Other artists will certainly have different opinions and experiences than this.

1. I enjoy developing a story to go with my characters. I feel it gives them a feeling of authenticity, and helps to explain and define some of their unique quirks. It is a process of exploration that I sometimes leave behind, but is very satisfying when I give it my all.
2. A name is important, but sometimes a general description can suffice. This advice was given to me by Ghoul Friday. Sometimes giving a creature a "scientific name" is more effective than a formal surname. For example, I feed the squirrels in my backyard, but I don't have individual names for each squirrel. calling an animal 'squirrel' defines what it should look like and how it should act. Sometimes that is enough.
   
3. There are times when leaving details out allow for the viewer to fill in the blanks and build stories of their own. A backstory can be helpful to a character, but an outline is usually enough....now if a character really speaks to me and has alot to say, then it is my duty to tell the story.
   
4. I have been obsessing over this issue, but that is ok. I feel like It has been a good experience and has stirred up some of the old creativity.

So without further ado, I present the first photograph of the mysterious Willowmite. A proper introduction to this creature will be unveiled this weekend.

What's in a Name?

Naming a character that I create is a very personal experience for me. I have had many comments on how unusual the names are that I give some of my creations and thought it is time to jot some of my thoughts down. Please forgive me if this post makes no sense whatsoever. I have no formula for assigning a name and therein lies much of the fun. In my experience, the name is sometimes as critical to the character as the sculpting details.

While I sculpt, I find that there are two distinct scenarios that come in to play. The first is when I know the name from the beginning. There are times when the perfect name comes to me, and I just know that I have to create a character to go with the name. In these cases, the sculpting process is usually a mad dash to the finish line where I have a clear and distinct vision to follow. I already have the character's life framed in my mind, so I already know what he looks like, how he moves, lives, thinks, and breathes. Sculpting is simply a matter of giving all these notions a physical form. It can be frustrating when the form doesn't seem to cooperate with the concept, but for the most part the process is already deeply rooted in my mind and I just have to follow what I already know. ( If that makes any sense)

The second scenario is when I start to sculpt without a clear idea of the character. I will have a general idea of where I want to go with a piece, starting with a shape, pattern, or texture that caught my attention somewhere as I daydreamed, and I use a very loose 'stream of consciousness' style to my sculpting process. I allow my imagination to wander while I sculpt, sometimes wandering far off the initial rough concept into uncharted territory. When this happens, it is almost as if I am being introduced to a stranger. I have to observe the creature and get to know it before a name is given. As the creature develops before my eyes, I discover things I never knew...where does this thing live, what does it like, how does it go about its day to day functions? Normally at some point when I have learned enough through the very act of creating, the perfect name will just pop into my head.

So why all this introspection? Well, it is because I have a piece that is giving me trouble. The sculpting is nearly done and no name has come. I am beginning to panic as I fear I have missed the magic moment. I feel like I know a few things about this new piece. She is quiet. She is slow. She has a very ancient feel to her and most likely would smell of dry dirt. She has an affinity to dry-rotted wood, and very much likes to chew it into a fine paste. She is of the earth. I do not yet know if she is a threat to have around or if she is a blessing...I prefer the latter as I look into her eyes. She has a sadness and calmness about her. She is maternal.

But still no name. So what next? I will most likely study her and think about her for a period of time until the name comes. Then I will finish her painting and offer her up for adoption. I hope whoever purchases her does so because she calls to them in the same deep way as she is being created.

The Drifter: nearly complete

I last updated on this piece in late September. Since then, he has sat in various places around the house and on my desk at work, mocking my lack of vision. I just couldn't seem to pull this thing into focus, knowing it needed more work but not sure in what direction to take it. Should it be a water dwelling creature, drifting with the tides and currents until it is within reach of unsuspecting prey? Should it dwell in the desert, sun dried and bleached as it struggles to exist in the dry, hot climate? Finally, I decided that neither would do, and I would stray into my fears of the deep silent woods, tapping into the feeling of being lost and alone ,knowing that there is something watching. I am still not 100% done with this piece, but am beginning to feel at peace with the direction I have taken.

the Drifter, painting begins

Here I have laid down a basic wood tone paint job for the Drifter. It consists of an antique white base coat with washes of brown, black, and light grey.

Bishop-- work continues

Poor Bishop looks forlorn as he waits in line to be finished. Below he has donned a foil smock to protect his robes as he undergoes the first of many layers of paint.

The Physics of Creativity

Isaac Newton's first law of motion (loosely translated) :
Objects at rest tend to stay at rest, objects in motion tend to stay in motion, unless acted upon by an outside force. These words ring true to the creative process.

Last year prior to Halloween, I was in the the midst of a spurt of creative energy. I had more ideas on new pieces than I could keep up with. There were times that I was literally making half a dozen pieces at a time to sell on Etsy, working on large pieces to display in my yard, and still had more ideas than i could possibly deal with. It was a fantastic time to be an artist, and I found myself in the shop working late nights, getting up early, and spending as much time as possible in between working on art sketching ideas and daydreaming new ideas. Ahhh, it was great, I tell you. I was an object in motion, and there didn't seem to be an end in sight.

Enter the outside force. I do not wish to elaborate on what this force was, but a bad experience with a visitor to my Halloween display served as a metaphorical brick wall in the direct path of my creative inertia. Every bit of energy I had built up was gone, it seemed. Just like that, the ride was over. I waited for the creativity to come back and start flowing again. There were times that it seemed it was nearly back, but I just couldn't get the drive to keep it going. I was an object at rest, and I stayed that was for months and months.

Enter yet another outside force. Yet again, I will not elaborate on what set the wheels in motion, but I finally decided to claw and scrape myself up off the couch and start creating again. The Pumpkin Creature was a very difficult piece for me to make. It took every bit of energy and determination to force myself to stay on task until it was complete. The very act of finishing this piece has turned on the creative flow, and I now have half a dozen projects started. I can't wait to get off work so I can work on the little beasties. All day long, I seem to be thinking of details to add, painting techniques to try, and other critters to add to my 'make this' list. Hopefully I can maintain the inertia and there will be no more forces to slow my progress, because I am truly happiest as a human being when I am creating something.