The Protector - Worked on the Left Hand Today - I'm Also Featured On Another Blog

All I was able to work on today was one hand. I had a very enjoyable day, having friends drop in and visit and that's about all I did today. This is the week of the 4th of July, so it's expected. People come from all over the country to their summer homes and they try to be here for the 4th of July parade on Sunday. (I will be videoing that parade) So this is about as much as I'm going to be able to do this week.
Be sure to read about Angela Swedberg's contribution to this clay below the video.
Thursday and Friday I'll be videoing the coloring of two bronzes



I just wanted to add something I just saw on Angela Swedberg's blog, she was talking about how her blog has brought her into contact with people she'd probably would never meet in real life. I saw that she started following my blog so I checked hers out and was blown away with her incredible ability in creating wondrous reproductions of Indian clothing from the 1800's.
The following is from her blog, explaining a little about herself
"Howdy. I am using this Blog to show the artwork I do. I make 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). I also restore and do conservation work of antique Indian art. I am a tribally certified Indian Artisan in accordance with the Indian Arts and Crafts act of 1990. Recently I have been exploring the world of art glass and the ways of incorporating it into a modern expression of established tribal art forms. Lastly, my other passion is horses. They often influence my work, and give much to my soul. I have quite a bit of material posted on here, so be sure to look back at the earlier entry's. Thank You for looking at my work, and I hope you enjoy it. If you are interested in my work, I can be contacted at angela@ medicinecapstudio.com Thank You."
She's been an incredible artist, and I've found her generous with her knowledge, and giving me insight into the Blackfeet culture. The feathered bonnet I'm reproducing here, on my clay, was inspired by one she reproduced. It's pictured below. Here is a link to her blog, ANGELA'S BLOG, please check it out.

A Day Of Waiting And Cleaning The Studio

I needed to get the clay of THE PROTECTOR up onto my other sculpting stand so I could start working on the lower areas of the clay. It was late in the afternoon before he got there and helped me lift it up.
Thursday and Friday, I'll be coloring the first bronzes of AIN'T NO COWBOY and WAR MEDICINE. Pictured below.



Photos of the two clay that will be colored this week

The Protector - The Headdress Finished Today

Pretty much spent the day working on the headdress. Finally got all the Ermin sculpted on today. Monday, I'll finish up the headdress with the Blood Feather at the crown of the cap. Then I'll start to finish up the lower part of the clay.. that is if I can find someone to help me to lift it up onto the sculpting stand...



Final Photographs.

The Protector - Reworking the Face - Adding a Scarf

My goal today was to continue on the headdress. I didn't. Well I did, but didn't.. The video will explain all.
I'd gotten some opinions of the mouth and the youth of the warrior. I have to wait till I'm in the mood to make changes like that. Well today I was in that mood. So the face went through a change today.
I re-thought the adding of the shell neckless. I was going through a huge book of portraits by Edward Curtis, taken in the latter part of the 18 and the very early part of the 1900s. I was looking for mouths that I could put on this warrior's face. I noticed that most of the men wore scarfs. This made sense to me. Especially those Indians who lived on the great plains and in the mountains. You still need to wear a scarf against the dust and cold. It wasn't any different back then.



Final Photographs today.

The Protector - Adding Ermine To The Headdress

I started the detailing of the headdress. It's very complicated headdress as you'll see in today's video.
I'll be out of the studio tomorrow. Be back Thursday.



Final Photograph

Ermine is a small weasel type animal, and it's skin was used in decorating headdresses, clothing, and hair. Photo of Ermine below.

The Protector - Headdress One Step Closer To Being Done

Once I got to the studio this afternoon, I created a cap for the feathers to be attached to on the head of the warrior. I then started to put the feathers on, one by one. All 26 feathers worked out just right. Then to make the piece less confusing to my eye, I painted the feathers and the cap, to match the color of the clay.
Tomorrow I start finishing up the headdress. Then it will be just adding to the detail and cleaning up and the piece will be ready for the foundry.



Final photographs.

The Protector - The Feathers Are Finished and Saturday We Got Dumped On

Yep they are finished... all 26 feathers. I'll work on the head of the Indian next week, sculpting the cap and then plotting out where each feather will be attached on that cap. I could be done with this piece next week.. Could be that is.. lol
Check the video I added on Saturday below this video.



Saturday... we got hail and rain..

The Protector - Feathers All Roughed In

Finished getting the 26 feathers for the war bonnet to a point where there's just a little more to do and then I can start on the head of the warrior and get it ready to receive feathers.
Still storming outside and 60 degrees.. love it...

The Protector - Feathers, Bell and Kadian

Today was special. Anchalee (Bell) Satiman from Thailand and Kadian from Jamaica Stopped into my studio today. Bell, as we all call her here in Ennis, worked here in my town for a year, 2 years ago, and she's been going to a University, I think, in Bangkok Thailand.
Kadian, just arrived here a couple of weeks ago to work here till the end of summer. So amazing to meet people from around the world.
Well after they left.. I got to work on my feathers again but only had time to do 3. I was again giving private instruction today.



Bell and Kadian... click photo to increase the size

Final Photographs.

The Protector - Wax Feathers and How To Make them

I've decided to make a full feathered headdress for this warrior. I'm making the feathers out of wax because the wax just holds up better than clay and weighs about a quarter of the weight of one clay feather.
I attempt to show you how to make a feather today.

The Protector - Sculpting Is Writting A Song In Clay

The clay just hasn't sung to me yet... sculpting is kinda like casting a bell. If the bell ain't made right, it don't ring, and this clay ain't ringing yet.
Still nursing my foot. It's fine though. Just hurts...



Just want to pass on another blog, that you might find interesting.. Deb Shmitt's Blog.
She's an incredible artist.. Please take a look at here site.

A Clay Head, A Human Foot

Started to work on the hair of the Indian. Taking off the last hairdo. At some point I realized the head needed to be placed further back, about a 1/4 inch back, from over the chest. Once replaced and anchored, I was picking up a sculpting tool under a big hammer, and that caused the hammer to slide off the table onto my foot.... OUCH.... Foot soaking and pampering it, for at least the rest of this day.. Hopefully I'll be back in the studio tomorrow.

In Studio on Wednesday

Had business in Bozeman... You really should go to Angela Swedberg's Blog and view an amazing Headdress.
Photograph of the headdress... well worth looking at her blog.

The Protector - Club and Hands Today

Started the day working on the Stone War Club. Fine tuning the stone head. Then I got onto the hands. After positioning the club. Had to make sure the club and hand looked natural. Ain't as easy as that sounds.



Photographs of the original pose.

Final of the clay

A Day Of Private Instruction

A lady in Bozeman, asked the foundry if there was someone who could help her with the eyes of a sculpture she was doing. They suggested me. So I went over today to give her a private lesson. She was working from a young girl who came over with her mom. The sculpture was of the little girls head and shoulders. The piece was really capturing the girls personality. All she needed was a bit of help with the eyes.
I didn't video the session because I felt uncomfortable showing the little girl on the net.

Another None Creative Day

I'm just in a creative slump. You can't force it. You kinda have to just let it happen, and then, when your over it, you get back to creating. I'll try again tomorrow...

The Protector - Shield Placement

It was an off day for me today.. the planets weren't aligning, and I was in a funk mood. It happens.



Final photographs.

The Protector - Shield and War Club Re-Thunk

Short day today. Was asked to take a friend to Bozeman to the airport. I re-thunk the shields position, and then re-did the war club before leaving my studio today.