The Labyrinth

I have a overflowing work schedule, my lower back is not doing too well ever since I made the unconscious decision to paint standing up (upper back is fine now, though), wonderful people from around the world keeps coming up with requests I can’t refuse because they’re too interesting to pass up and I’ve stretched my once leisurely 6 hour painting days to 11.5 now and have given up Daily Fun Time to accommodate the new work hours. But I’m not complaining because I get to do stuff like this:

In this version of The Labyrinth I have ordered a coil of blonde weft and attempted to make a Jareth wig out of it. The first one was a disaster and it made me appreciate people in the beauty industry all the more so. This one is slightly better but I can still use a crash course on hair styling.

Here’s Jareth. The best part of creating this set is gluing shiny bits on his lapels.

Sara Williams, Ludo, and Didymus.

And of course, Hoggle and Baby Toby.

I also created a mini-set at the same time at the Pygmy Hippo Shoppe’s request. The thought of making another wig had me whimpering quietly into my smock so I made Jareth’s hair out of resin.

It’s more manageable but I doubt that I have the strength to recreate this again!

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Bo Everlasting

A little while back I lost my Bo, who was, really, the backbone of this little enterprise. He was such a special friend that I had a really hard time dealing with his passing.

It was fortunate that I managed to pick up and save one of the baby tooth he spat out when he was a puppy. It was also inevitable that I turn to the only woman in the world I trust to fashion a little piece of Bo into wearable art.

Alix Bluh of Modern Relics creates some of the most interesting jewelry you’ll ever see. She’s made the Hubs’ and my wedding bands as well as my engagement ring. They were so unique that you can most definitely pick them out of a lineup. Since she’s already made me the most important jewelry of my life, I needed her to create a wearable memento of my Bo.

I’ve asked her to include a piece of Herkimer Diamond as it quietly exudes powerful energies. She also threw in some floating topaz, whose properties are thus enhanced by the Herkimer. I know, hippy dippy, but who’s to say it doesn’t sync up one’s chakra?

Thank you, Alix, for finding a beautiful way of allowing me to keep a little part of my best friend with me for always.

London Calling

For months now it seemed as though all I’ve been painting are the Stefon dolls. I’ve painted my last one early this month so I am absolutely delighted to tackle new projects without the weight of repetition nipping at my heels.

This set of “The Clash” is a bit of a Frankenstein monster. I’ve had to pull apart a few sets now and again to accommodate a few special projects so I have a drawer full of loose dolls. I’m able to pull together a set of 4 for this one, which I knew from the start was going to be bonkers because come on, we’re talking about the Clash!

 

In the original version Paul Simonon and Mick Jones both have flat hair, which didn’t really cut it, so I quickly whipped out my mousse clay and sculpted some bad ass punk locks onto them. This is a good practice for an upcoming set featuring David Bowie.

Clockwise from top: Joe Strummer guitar, Mick Jones guitar, Paul Simonon bass, Topper Headon drums.

Supreme Court Justice Matryoshka

My BFF from way back when is one of those people who can be counted on to answer questions concerning the events of the human race, be it past or present. I mean, there’s nothing that girl doesn’t know. She was like this when we were eleven, and even more so at the ripe old age of (not applicable). So when I posted this “teaser” photo of my current project on facebook, I said to myself, “that girl is going to know exactly who this guy is.”

I was right. Despite wrangling three small boys from six months old to four, she still manages to know every single one of the nine supreme court judges of good ol’ USA.

When the idea to paint the nine supreme court judges was proposed to me, it was suggested that Judge Roberts’ ears ought to be prominent, as they are quite large. I eagerly looked for photos of Judge Roberts, hoping it’d jut out like Ross Perot’s except comically bigger. To my disappointed, Hon. John G. Roberts turned out to be a rather handsome man and his ears, although large, didn’t resemble Alfred E. Neuman‘s.

I initially thought I’d have to painstakingly sculpt a few ears, cast them, and then spend a few days sanding them down to identical sizes. Since I now often have to choke down meals at my work table and resent the easy lifestyle the ginger cat down the street was living, I was not looking forward to this extra work. Then I remembered that I had eaten straight up Ramen for many many months just so I could invest in a 3D printer and everything started to come together after that.

From biggest to smallest: John G. Roberts, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen G. Breyer, Elena Kagen, Anthony Kennedy, Samuel Alito, and Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

This was a set of 10, which means I had to leave out the last doll and put something else in its place…as a surprise for the buyer. So I looked around and found the best accessory for these judges:

This fabulous miniature gavel!

Also, here’s the 3D printer, which the Hubs has modified somewhat. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this thing. One one hand, it has the ability to print me a pair of ears. On the other, the sound it makes whilst printing is driving me insane.