Monthly themes are how the associates at McGuffey Art Center in Charlottsville, Virginia work. Sent out in the months preceding, we are then tasked to create or resubmit work that fits the theme. For January we were asked to create artwork that demonstrates "Quiet". With time to contemplate and arrange items on hand, I came up with what looks like a silent tree but is actually communicating within itself, from roots to branches. The process began with a porcelain doll head and wires. The doll had only holes for eyes, so I used clay to make them look closed or sleeping.
Foil is wrapped around the wire to bulk things up, the epoxy clay is relatively expensive, and foil is cheap in comparison and easy to crimp and wrap. As the first branches are bent and coated, more wire is added for secondary branches. This process took at least 2 weeks, each layer of clay needs at least a 12-hour period to harden.
Roots were created with wrapped wire dipped in an epoxy paste for strength. As much as I was trying to have the roots not look like hands, they kind of went that way, but then I was also trying to capture the feeling of reaching, feeling, and touching. As clay work is finished, all of it is sanded prior to the first paint layers.
Dry brushing with white paint is a step that begins to define the details. I worked hard on making the root surface much different than the branch surface in my tool work.
Colors of paint, often exaggerated, become the base to work from. This stage can be helpful in guiding the direction, but there are times that all of these base stage end as something completely different. Wet washes are applied to create multiple layers. This is often the ugly stage, which seems unavoidable, but as paint is laid down things get better.
At the finishing stage, small details are added with a tiny paint brush. Other items can be added and in this case I used dried moss and thread with some glitter (tied around the roots) to give them a bit of character. The tiny birds were detailed as well as the faces hidden in branch holes. My plan was to represent a sleeping tree of winter that communicates with its roots and within itself even though it looks dormant.
As December was marching on, I added a small piece which was finished the day of delivery. The parts are; an antique door plate, doll house items, and a small train person.
The title is "Waiting" and the plan was to make the overall look industrial and worn, like this will be a long wait.
My last piece of introduction began in Mexico and was finished in December. Based on the theme of Luche Libre (Mexican Wrestling), I built a luchador along the same lines as the sleeping tree with a wire frame, foil and clay. His name is "Rojo Joe Joe" and he's 14 inches tall.
His cape is red velvet with a silk teal lining. The boots they wear are often metallic in color, so his are silver. I adore how he came out.
So on January 6th of 2024, these are a couple of items I can share. There is always something cooking in the studio!