Some more watercolor paintings

I thought I had posted these a while ago, but it seems I didn't. Hope you all enjoy. Sorry it's been a while, I've got some other projects going on, but I'll be back at it before to long. 

Water + Color = Much Fun

So I have been spending the past week or so experimenting and playing with watercolors mixed with pen. I have to say for the first time I am really enjoying using color and seeing my pieces gain a new sense of life. Here are some recent pictures let me know what you think. 

 I am really just playing right now and seeing stylistically what works for me. So far so good. Well see what comes next. 

Sedna the Destroyer

Well shes been a long complicated process, but the time has come to introduce Sedna the Destroyer.  But before we see the final final, process... 

Early stages.  Placing the eyes getting the spacing right.  Roughing in some eye lids and the curve under the dome.

 

Some different stages of refining.  Using the wax pen, flame polishing, and rakes to refine the shape and contours.

 

Adding in some of the most fun textures I have ever attempted, The suckers.  I was very indecisive with what I wanted to do in place of the realistic beak.  

 

I finally decided on sensual lips.

 

Getting everything blocked off to create the first piece of the mold.

 

A small fleet of Sedna's after being freshly cast.

 

Detail of the underneath cast in resin.  Look how sensual those lips are.

  

A shot of the custom box I made.  I really should post on just the process of the box for this one.  This box was one of the more challenging projects I have done.  I probably went through 5 prototypes before I got the proportions and size that I wanted.  I am so pleased with the final product.    

The first of the ladies are boxed and ready to go.  I did a smaller run of these, only 20.  10 Are already gone, have you got yours yet?

 

Üdolf the Star Gazer

Well its been a busy couple of weeks, but at last Üdolf has finally arrived.  The first couple of pics show the progress from a funky little blob into a some what recognizable little creature.  I wanted to create some space in between the legs to make him more interesting.  In the end I built the nose on to make it look like a dogs nose.   

This is the final original sculpt.  I added some fur like texture and smoothed out the nose and ears.  

 Here you can see the mold making process even better.  The first side is blocked off with water based clay and I use an old pizza box to create my mold walls.  The second side is made after the water based clay is cleaned out and the sculpture and the mold are scrubbed so that all the residue is removed.  Finally you can see the two halves of the mold with the resin cast that just came out.  You can see how he has this things coming out of his nose.  I chose to pour through the nose in order to preserve the texture on the bottom of the paws and the belly. 

This is the final product, notice how I had to refine the nose back to a high polish.  This takes cutting off the sprue with a small saw.  I then go through 8 different sand papers, and three polishing solutions.  I also use the polish to enhance the surface of the eyes and inner ears.  Notice the pitting on the forehead.  This was one of the first casts I did and had air bubbles.  It took a few tries, but I was able to eventually get the bubbles out of the later casts.  

I wanted to create an interesting box design.  The dots represent the points of interest on the sculpture.  I wanted it to look like a constellation since he is the star gazer.  I also wanted to do a little bit nicer box, so I got some heavier card stock and chose to do a double flap on the top.  

The final product comes with a figure, a custom box, and a certificate of authenticity.  If you are interested they can be purchased here for $20 plus S&H.

As always thanks for looking.  Questions are always welcome.
If you are interested in the tools and materials follow the links:
Smooth-Cast 325 - Resin
GI-1000 - Silcone (mold)
Various tools
Cx5 - sculpting material

Etsy!!!

Well I finally took the plunge and decided to open an Etsy Store.  I named in UnderTheLadder, because that's where my studio exists right now.  Under the ladder to our bed.  As always thanks for looking and enjoy the shop.

I like you all to have images as well so here is a sneak peek at what's next.  I call him the star gazer.

 

Corvax the Omnipotent

I know it has been a while since I have posted and apologize, but I promise I have been hard at work.  I made my first official collectible art toy.  In the past ten days I have gone from an idea to an edition of 30 cast resin little bundles of joy.  I put together a few pictures so that you can understand the process. 

The original Corvax sculpted in Three 60 wax made by Willow products.  Unfortunately they no longer produce wax, but don't worry I found an amazing replacement.  Cx5 is my new jam.

This is half of my "studio", the other half being my couch.  What you see is a 24"x18" vintage school desk in the nook underneath the ladder leading to my loft.  Behind me there is about 24" to my kitchen.  Tight quarters, but my new motto for the week is "Don't make excuses, make art."   

This is the mock up for the custom box that Corvax, comes in.  It was all originally hand drawn, then scanned. 

  

This is the mold I made for Corvax.  I used GI-1000 from The Compleat Sculptor. It is the first time I have used this particular silicone, and I must say its fantastic.  It is rigid enough to hold shape and be extremely durable, but still flexible enough I was able to create a one part mold, and still get my piece out with relative ease.  Notice I didn't even have to cut mine very much.     

  

These are the first five pulls from my mold.  I cast them with Smooth Cast-325 tinted with So-Stong black tint.  

Everybody has been scrubbed clean to make sure there is no residue of any kind.  Now waiting for you to take them home.  

 

A couple of detail shots of the final product.  Corvax Lives!  I have already sold a number of these guys, but still have a few left if anyone is interested.  $15 + $5 Shipping.  E-mail me at reesetchamness@gmail.com for inquiries.

Thanks for looking, already got the Star Gazer in progress... stay tuned for more updates, and thanks for looking.

Shape Orgies

Well it seems as if I am in a constant mode of drawing similar things.  I have been going down this path now for a couple of weeks, and just experimenting and seeing what I can come up with.  I really like the direction, and I could see these images as not just small drawings, but potentially large or monumental pictures.  I will post the finished pictures I have done over the past few days.  You can see the evolution of the images.  As always thoughts are appreciated.

The first two are smaller images with many many shapes.  

 

The third continues the addition of color, with larger shapes with more detailing.

I wanted to try with a shade of grey in place of the color to see what would happen.  Also, the addition of the elongated shapes. 

And finally, the directed interaction (penetration) of the shapes as opposed to just sleeping in the same bed.  Much larger, more of a study.

Thanks for looking!

Get in Shape

Let me begin by saying this is not a post about exercise or eating right.  In fact, I have been on the opposite road as of late.  Over the past few weeks I have started to see and feel a shift in some of my art work.  I think it still has the same vibe, maybe just represented in a different way.  Who knows.  either way I really like what I am seeing and have been getting pretty positive feedback so far.  Im open to hear hear what anyone has to say.  Thanks for looking!

 The first is a pen rough, just a quick sketch with a ball point. 

 The second is a more finished, but still kind of rough idea more finished from the first.

 

The third is a trying out a different shape with modified shapes, and all the holes pointing in a more random, but still considered fashion.

color next....?