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

Face Chages and Hair Tdoay

I decided that the problem I'm having with the face is it's length. He just isn't looking like an American Indian. So made some major facial re-construction. Then once back on his shoulder, I added hair and then the starting of the Headdress.



Final Photographs
Photograph of the style of headdress I'll attempt to make.







This video is just astounding. So astounding I wanted to share it with you all as a parting shot.

The Belt of the Day - So To Speak

I started out the day, feeling kinda down, it happens. Artists live so much on an edge of a sword. Anything can make them fall into a mood. Best way to pull yourself out of that is just live and keep working.
I fleshed in the the right fore arm first today. Then I worked out a few kinks on the face. Then I started his belt. Making little balls of clay to act as brass tacks on it. This is going to take a lot of time, this kind of small detail.
Oh, I feel great tonight.



Final photographs

Photos below show the belt as I start adding little balls of clay to act as brass tacks.

Actual belt shown in a photograph from one of my reference books.

Finishing Up Fleshing In The Indian's Torso

Spent the day today, fleshing in the upper torso. I don't want him to look like a steroid filled, muscle bound person. I want him to look like he could have actually lived.



Final Photographs..

Still Workein on the Right Side

Cut the right arm off today to work on the torso under it. Then worked on the underside of the arm. Even experimented by adding a vein on his Bicep.



Final Photographs today... See you all next week.

Arm, Chest, and Shoulder Today

Started and finished the right arm, chest, and part of the back and shoulder today. I started with the bone structure, to lay a base for the outer surface of the arm. I followed a anatomical figure for the under the skin structure but I didn't let it be the determinant of what the figure would look like. I just used it as a guide post.



Final Photographs

Loin Cloth and Ribs

Worked for a few hours on the loin cloth and then on the ribs. Before I could get very far I had a couple of my artist friends stop in to look at my studio in the back. We're thinking of putting on a set of workshops for people interested in painting or sculpting. I'll keep you informed on this.
So needless to say, the day ended without me getting much further. I'll pick it up tomorrow.



Final Photographs today

Birthday for a Fellow Artist Today

I'm helping with a surprise birthday party for an artist friend of mine today. He's been there for me in the past. So I owe him that much.. I'll be in the studio tomorrow.

Again on the Legs - Ths Story Starts to Come Alive

As I worked on the legs and prepared to add the front loin cloth, a story starts to fill my mind. A warrior, with the gentle breeze, causing his clothing and eventually when I get the War Bonnet on, his feather, start to come alive, moving in unison with the breeze.



Final Photographs. I'll be back in the studio Monday.

Another Major Correction to the Clay Today

Didn't have enough time make a full video, showing me putting the leggings on the Indian, and there wasn't enough video to make two videos, so Today, it's just me talking. I also made another major correction to the clay.



Final Photographs

Short Day - Long Legs

I went visiting an artist friend of mine. I picked up a painting he did for me. Then got back to the studio and worked on the Indian's leg and got one legging started. Had a couple of guests drop by my studio to see how I was doing and so did a lot of visiting today..



Photograph of Todd Connor's painting. Todd is a very accomplished artist. Tom Brokaw has commissioned several painting by this amazing artist. I'm just fortunate to recieve this small oil sketch he made.

Adding Height

Added height to the Indian today. I'm feeling great after two weeks of suffering from a cold. The cough still hangs on, and my voice isn't as strong, but I'm up to working again.
Today, made some major changes, and then started to add clay to the torso.



Final Photographs

Off to Mountain Trails Gallery to Deliver Artwork

Drove 170 miles to Jackson Wyoming to deliver a bronze, and two clays to go on display at the, Mountain Trails Gallery there. I was just put into that gallery last week. So this is my first time meeting the people who run that gallery.
Then I drove back to Ennis Montana another 170 miles and arrived home at 7:30 pm.



Photos from my trip ... in Idaho and Wyoming

Below, the east side of the Tetons looking north. Wyoming side

The West side of the Tetons at sunset. The Idaho Side.

I'm Back... Worked on the Rib Cage Today

Well it wasn't a long day. Only about an hour or two. Just to weak to put in more time. I added the scapula's, the collar bone, and ribs. Heading to Jackson Wyoming Tomorrow and Friday.

Yeah, Another Update

Today was the best day yet. I'll probably not go to Jackson Wyoming till Thursday. Weather again. I'll be in my studio tomorrow.. back on the figure, if I didn't push to hard today. Sorry about all this delay.

No Way To Start A New Year

I'm still down with this cold. Better, but not good enough to think straight. I'll probably be out this week. Wednesday I may be driving to Jackson Wyoming to deliver clays. That will be a trip I'll put up here on my blog. Of course that's going to happen only if the weather cooperates.
I will be back... stronger than ever. Love you all.