Clothing the Mountain Man

Today, I got started by putting on the loin cloth on his front, then quickly fleshed in the wool shirt with a leather belt around his waist.
Then I decided to not just have him in his shirt and leggings. I thought it might add something to the piece if I added a knee length leather coat. Got that sketched in and then added his shot pouch, and powder horn, hanging on his right side.
I won't be in my studio tomorrow, but will be back on Wednesday.



Final Photographs. (Remember you can click on the photographs to expand them)

Answering Questions Today For Diane in Auburn California

I had to answer Diane's questions in two Videos. In yesterday's blog entry, I showed some questions Diane asked me. Here are some of those answers in two videos





This is Diane in Auburn. A real Cowgirl.


These are some of her Pastels. She, like myself, is self taught.

And this is one of her hand made horse headstall and Bosal. Very talented lady.

Photographs from today's video.. remember to click on them to expand them.

Comments and Questions from Diane A. in Auburn California

Dear Mr. Lemon, “David”… I am just giving you a Shoutn''Howdy up there in MT. And I would like to send you my best wishes for the HAPPIEST of THANKSGIVINGS and for the upcoming HOLIDAYS, from one of your faithful subscribers down here in Sunny Northern Cali.. I very diligently watch the progression of each of your sculptures and I hope you will never stop sharing with us whom enjoy this genre of art. I continue to learn something each time I watch you work.

I am very interested in your thought processes when you’re considering what the foundry needs an artist to consider while constructing a piece. If you could please expound upon this area... a bit more ... especially when you’re at those junctures of development in your pieces... which you know you have to make certain adjustments and your reasons. Another area, I would love to hear how you know when a Foundry is pricing a piece fairly; and what are some of the ranges of getting master copies made and subsequent copies, how the foundry arrives at its pricing. Share what you think a rookie /newbie in sculpting, artist should be watching out for working with contracting foundries. I am sure it would be of use to more than just me... Thanks again for your blog. Diane

Answer to Diane: I'm honored... Thank you Diane for contacting me. I'll make a video just to answer these questions tomorrow.. Look for it tomorrow night.

To Cold Today

Went to the studio to put a couple of hours in before I had to run to Bozeman, and found everything solid cold, and not enough time to heat it all up...



Reference photographs for the shirt I'll be sculpting on Monday.

Todd Connor a friend and Western painter. These were his photographs.

Terry Connor, Todd's dad.... He could tell you some stories believe me. Very colorful fella.

Jackson Hole Wyomimg to Ennis Montana in under 10 minutes

I shot this from Jackson Hole Wyoming to my home Valley just south of Ennis. Ran out of memory on my second 8 gig SD card.. I had to cross over Teton Pass from a very foggy Jackson Hole Valley, into the sunlight. Then northwest up to Ashton Idaho and then Finlay into Montana and the Madison Valley. I got a great view from the Western Side of the Tetons. All pictures are usually from the East side of those mountains.
The Tetons were a major land mark for Mountain Men and Indians, as well as explorers. You can see them for hundreds of miles around. I just have to drive 50 miles south to the Idaho boarder, and I can see them from there on a clear day.
Following are a collection of photographs I took today. Some of these make great computer screen backgrounds. These first ones were in Idaho along the Snake River, close to the boarder of Wyoming. About 8 am.

These were an old shack in Idaho near Ashton Idaho

I'm In Pocatello Idaho Tonight

I left the house with my lap top to do my blog tonight.. Problem is, I left my power cord back home. I won't be able to do my blog tonight, but I'll combine my trip here to Idaho and then to Jackson Wyoming tomorrow night or Friday Morning. Depends on when I get home. I knew I should have stopped before I left and try to think about what I had and didn't have. Argh..!!!

Photograph of the Grand Tetons this afternoon

Preparing Travel Today

Spent today getting everything ready for me to spend the next two days on the road.

More Work ON The Mountain Man Today

Just a note: I'll be on the road Wednesday and Thursday

Heading to Pocatello Idaho to pick up bronzes

and then delivering them to Jackson Hole Wyoming. Look for video.

I spent the day working on the mountain man. I moved the Indian woman's hand to cover his hand in an intimate moment. Then I started to add legs and then leggings and loin cloth.

Today's photographs.

Out With A Neck Pain

I'm schedualed later today for an adjustment.. so no studio time today. See you all Monday.

Re-Doing The Mountainman's Face

It's time to work on the anatomy of the mountainman today.. I start roughing in the upper torso. then using wire, I cut his head off, so that I can work on it separate.



Final Photographs.. His head looks a bit weird, but so would yours if there was no muscle or shoulders on you.. haha

Mountain Man Re-Worked

After spending yesterday looking at horses around Ennis.. where I live.. I came to the conclusion that my horse was fine. It was the mountain man that was to small. So today, I made a new armature for the mountain man and then started adding clay.



Final Photographs.

Not in the Studio today

I am doing research. I'm also thinking I'm going to re-do the horse. I feel it's way to big for the figures. Old west horses, especially at that time frame, were small. People were small to, but I have to find a happy medium. I'll be in studio tomorrow.

The Mountain Man Gets Legs

Well today was cold outside and the studio was the same. The clay took a while to warm up this morning, so I could work with it. Once everything heated up, I started to work on the legs of the mountain man.
Then I decided to start clothing him from the legs up.

CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S VIDEO

last photographs.

Still Working on the Face

After I got home last night I looked at the photos I took of the woman's face and decided to work a little more on it. This morning got an email from a friend who felt the face should be worked on a bit more.. had to agree with him. So that's what I did today.



Final Photographs today.

The Blackfeet Indian Woman Takes Shape

Over the last two days, I've worked on the Indian woman's face, and then most of today, worked on her two skin style dress.



These two dress styles are what I'm working from

Last photographs of the clay.

Leg Then Her Head

I started the day working on the right leg of the Indian woman. Putting on the leather legging, that would have been tied just below the knee, and would cover the lower leg to the foot. Then I finished up the blanket she has wrapped around her waist.
I then began to rough her face in. Tomorrow I'll fine tune her face, then I can start the upper part of her dress, and then her hair. (Remember to click on the video link below)



Final Photographs.

Two Days on the Clay

Over Thursday and Friday of this week, I worked on the Mountain Lion horse blanket. That was Thursday.
Today, I worked very little on the skin and started to wrap her blanket around her waist, then worked on detailing the legging on the left leg. Then a final move, I put the mountain man's hat in his left hand.



Final photographs. (Remember you can click on photo to enlarge)

Horsing Around Today

Worked on the neck and head of the horse, after removing the two figures. Then started the blanket on the back of the horse, that the Mountain Lion skin will be on. Made use of my Pasta Machine to roll out clay for the blanket.



Remember that you can click on the pictures to increase their size.