Morning Joe - Creation of a Late 1800s Cowboy Hat in Clay

Today I did the late 1800s hat for the cowboy. I made the armature for the brim out of file folder. It's paper quality lends it'self to this. I then made a start for the crown of the hat to establish the shape and size of the brim. I cut a hole in the brim armature to make an opening into the crown of the hat. Since the hat will be on his back, I wanted to show the crown was hollow. I added a thin layer of clay onto the brim's armature, both sides, then added the crown. I then, using a photo of a hat from that period, created the crown. Finally I added the hat onto Joe's back, and anchored it with screws so that it would stay in place. This now shows me the parts of the back that have to be more detailed. This is the position the hat will be, hung on his back with a, as the cowboys would call it, the hurricane strap, or stampede strap, .. or for you none cowboys.. a chine strap. That will come later.

Morning Joe - Fine Tuning His Upper Parts

Today I worked on his arms, shoulders and eyes. I also discus how useful the Silicone tipped tools are, from SkulpTools.com are. How they don't stick to the clay as I coach the details in his face and eyes. Tomorrow I'll do either the hat, or the shirt..

Morning Joe - Setting Up For the Shirt

I'm getting prepared for sculpting the shirt being held in the Cowboy's right hand. I went to the studio, and using arrows on paper to set up a anchor for my eye as I look at photos I take of the shirt.. then I set up the armature for the shirt and it also acts as a stabilizer for my figure. I then remove the external support, since it's no longer needed. Monday I'll start the shirt.. or the hat.. who knows.. whatever the spirit moves me.

Morning Joe - He Gets Boots and Pants

Today I put Boots and Pants on my naked Cowboy.. I also talk about some new silicon tipped tools I got from www.skulptools.com that I helped to design. I also mention the fact that in Italy, today is a national holiday there. They're celebrating the day that they were given their freedom back from the Allies in World War 2 on April 25th 1945

Pvt. Paul Oglesby, US 30th Infantry Division, before the altar in a damaged Roman Catholic church in Acerno

Morning Joe - Ruffing in the Legs

Today, I worked on the lower part of the clay. I'll be out of my studio tomorrow.. and will be back on Thursday.

Morning Joe - Fleshing in his Right Side and Hair

Cold and snowing here today.. Yesterday there was a complete white out blizzard. Got back to my home and worked again on the upper part of his torso.   

Morning Joe - Fleshing in his Left Torso

I fleshed in one side of his upper torso today. I'll be out of the studio tomorrow, so I'll pick this back up on Monday. Have a great weekend everyone.

Morning Joe - Ribs Today

Today I just started adding the anatomy to this figure..

Morning Joe - Creating his Face

Today I started the face by attaching the TruForm Armature head to a jig, so that I can work on it away from the full figure. Just makes it easier to work on.

Morning Joe - Starting the Armature, A New Cowboy Piece

I wanted to start a cowboy clay today. Haven't done one in years. So I start setting up the TruForm armature for the piece. Cup of Joe. 1914 Josephus Daniels was appointed Secretary of the Navy by President Woodrow Wilson. Among his Naval reforms were inaugurating the practice of making 100 fleet sailors eligible for the Naval Academy, the introduction of women into the service, and on July 1, 1914, he issued general order 99, which rescinded Article 827, the officers' wine mess. Rumor has it that from that time on, the strongest drink aboard Navy ships was coffee, and over the years, a cup of coffee became known as "a cup of Joe." The first real cowboys appeared in the middle 1800's during the days of the great cattle drives. Their task was to herd wild Mexican "beeves" up to graze on the open ranges of the American West. A cowboy's supper usually included beans, sourdough biscuits, oh yeh, and uh... beef, and (who knew?) strong black kettle-brewed coffee. It's rumored that this coffee could float a horse shoe, kill a Diamond Back rattler, or even make a cowpoke put his six-guns away! (lest his nervous trigger finger stampede the herd...Yipes!) This cowboy, up early, before dawn, trying to focus and formulate if he's alive.. That warm cup in his hand and his old shirt in the other, he waits for the chuck breakfast that cookie if preparin. Till then, he's just numb.

Migraine

Just suffering from a bit of a Migraine today, and trying to come up with my next piece. I'll be thinking on that over the weekend.. and see what I come up with next week. This is my daily video diary... so you get, sometimes even the mundane..

My 1,000 th Post - Working on the Face of the Protector - New Tools from Skulptool.com

I decided to hold off moving to my studio. It's been really cold and windy. So I'm going to wait another week or two before moving back into my studio Today I review three new tools I received from Skulptools.com. I'm just cleaning the face of the clay I did called "The Protector".

Down the Ridge Line - Final Go Over and Delivered to Foundry

Finished going over the clay once again this morning. Then drove to Belgrade Montana to the foundry there, Art Castings of Montana. Delivered the clay to Con Williams for mold making. Now it's just a waiting game. I'll be gone from the web for a week or two. I'm getting moved back into my studio. Going to take the rest of this week off to just relax.

Down the Ridge Line - Ok this is the Final Day - feathers

Overnight I saw something that bothered me. Three feathers on the shield all went in the same direction. I wanted to break that, so I redid one of the feathers and redirected it at a different angle. Then I made the feathers for the spear. Delivering the clay to the foundry tomorrow.

Down the Ridge Line - Final Day of Sculpting On It

Just putting the finishing touches to the clay today. Tomorrow I photograph it for promotions. If I have time, I'll take it to the foundry. If I don't tomorrow, I'll take it to the foundry on Wednesday. I started the horse almost three years ago, and the Indian Warrior in November of last year. I love how the piece has worked out.