Out of Town - BACK ON WEDNESDAY

I'll be in Helena Montana for another day. I came up to Helena to visit a friends family on Monday. They asked me to spend another day. Wish I had my camera with me. We drove to the Gates Of the Mountains. It's on the Missouri River. Lewis and Clark passed through there.
I'll be back in my studio on Wednesday. See you all then.

Shield and Stitching

Today I started the shield. Before I could actually detail it and attach it to the back of the Indian, I had to get the bow and arrow quiver tightened up. I added stitching to the top edge of the arrow quiver and then once it was placed in position on his back, I added the fringe to both ends. That took the day to do.
I'll be back in the studio on Tuesday.



Final photographs

Bow Quiver Today

I was contacted via email from, Angela Swedberg, who has a wonderful blog. She makes original Plains and Plateau style Indian art, based on 19th century aesthetics and use authentic materials that were available in that time frame (1820-1900). Angela also restores and does conservation work of antique Indian art. She is a tribally certified Indian Artisan in accordance with the Indian Arts and Crafts act of 1990. She's sent me some amazing photographs that will help me greatly.
Today I worked on This warrior's bow and arrow scabbard or quiver.



Final photographs today.



Sunset from Todd Connor's studio

Researching Today

I'm just going through tons of research. Talked to a friend today who will lend me a War Bonnet to work from. Gloria D recreates authentic Indian clothing. She actually worked on the movie "Dances With Wolves". I went up to her house this evening and borrowed a war bonnet. Her husband Joe Red Feather (Wee-akaluta) sat down with me and I shot this video.



I'm also trying to figure out the bow scabbard I'll be putting on the Indian and the shield design. Tomorrow,I'll start those two items.

Page from one of my books, showing moccasin patterns and headdress shapes.

Belt and Knife Today

I did a lot of running around today trying find a particular book, Mystic Warriors Of The Plains. Finally found one this afternoon. Todd Connor my artist friend north of where I live had a copy in his studio. This book is a great reference book on the Indian Culture.
To proceed on to the War Bonnet I needed a copy to study. Got back to my studio and placed the belt with all the tacks sculpted on it onto the warrior's waist. Then I smoothed the upper chest and stomach of the Indian. Finally I sculpted a knife and knife sheath for the belt.



Final photographs.

I've Been Asked, Where I Get my Clay and Tools

First of all, I'll be out of my studio on Monday.
Second, I thought I'd pass onto you all who view my blog the collection of items that can be used in your sculpting. I put the items below together as answers to questions others have asked me in the past through emails as to what I use and where I get them. Hope the following helps you who are interested.

This is a good sculpting stand.. http://www.sculpturehouse.com/detail.aspx?ID=25 You could build your own though.
I buy a lot of my tools from Sculpture House in NYTools for sculpting
http://www.sculpturehouse.com/detail.aspx?ID=7http://www.sculpturehouse.com/detail.aspx?ID=9http://www.sculpturehouse.com/detail.aspx?ID=111
these are great for fine tuning a clay
http://www.sculpturehouse.com/detail.aspx?ID=16
not sure about this clay... It looks ok..
http://www.sculpturehouse.com/detail.aspx?ID=84
You might subscribe to this newsletter as well.. you can buy supplies from them as well. http://www.sculpt.com/Emails/April09.html

Sculpture 1: The Character Armature ~ John Brown (DVD - 2003)
Sculpture 2: The Character Maquette ~ John Brown (DVD - 2003)
Sculpture 3: Sculpting the Detailed Character Head ~ John Brown (DVD - 2004)
Sculpture 4: Molding and Casting the Head ~ John Brown (DVD - 2004)
Sculpture 5: Molding and Casting the Maquette ~ John Brown (DVD - 2004)

You need tools for your type of clay. You can find those here http://www.sculpt.com/ Get a couple of the small loop tools at the top of the page (I would suggest 16131 for sure, and 16127 as another.) and then some of the larger ones below those (16147, 16151, .and 16152).
On this page http://www.sculpt.com/ Pick the following... 17215, 17405, and 17212. I cut off the long wood handle and leave only 3 inches of it behind the wire. ON the double wire tools cut their handles in the center between the two wires. The reason for this is if you have to work up under a clay, you can't if the tool is so long that it hits your base or board. Making them shorter makes them easier to use. Never buy tools with brass wire. they're to soft of a metal. they'll bend.
You need some wax working tools as well, go to this page http://www.sculpt.com/ and purchase the following. 3062501, 3062503,
on this page http://www.sculpt.com/ 307W32
Those are my suggestions for tools. They are the tools I use. Some more than others. You can of course choose any you want, but the ones I've picked are the best all around the others you'll never use more than likely.

See you next week and I hope the above helps you.

Lemon

Short Day, and a Thank You to You