Touch the Clouds - Parts 20, 21, and 22

Part 20...In the above video just finishing up the 4 center feathers for the headdress today, then I have 12 more secondary feathers to create. Once those are done, then I'll assemble the headdress on the warrior, Touching the Clouds.


Part 21...In the above video another day of doing feathers.. the last of them ..



Part 22...In the above video I'm trimming the feathers down and adding the dark end to them. This is the result of doing feathers for over almost 50 years of doing feathers in clay and wax. These are in wax.

Touch the Clouds - parts 18 and 19 - Feathers

Started creating the feather blanks today.. I would place a roll of Victory Brown Wax, fairly warm, between two pieces of Masonite sheets a 1/8th inch thick and then I'd roll them till they matched closely the thickness of the Masonite. I'd then take a Dry Wall Spatula to shave off a thin layer that stuck up above the Masonite.. so that the finished blank was a uniform thickness for the next stage.


Brought the blanks home.. and now I'm doing them in a kind of systematic production into finished Feathers. Nice to sit home in a snowstorm in my PJs ... keeping warm and cozy.. I've been working on these feathers all day... Still working on them tonight at nearly 6pm.. and probably have another 2 hours before I'm done with them all and then I have to make 12 more feathers tomorrow

Touch the Clouds - Creating the first feather - Part 17

I started the armatures for a 32 feathered headdress yesterday, today I tried to get started with the wax feathers.. Managed to get three blanks for the Chief's Feathers, that will be in the front center of the Headdress... Managed to get on of them done so you can see how I do it. I'll be working on Sunday.. Hate doing that but the deadline is rapidly approaching to get this piece in the Gallery...

Touch the Clouds - Starting 32 Feathers for the Headdress - Part 16

I started the armatures for a 32 feathered headdress by cutting up Bailing Wire... I've decided that I'll be making them out of wax due to the light weight of the wax...

Touch the Clouds - His Face Begins to Appear - Part 15

Started Touch the Clouds portrait.. His face begins to appear..

Touch the Clouds - Working on the Upper Torso - Part 14

Started the upper Body today.. After visiting Gloria 'D' in Virginia City, getting advise on War Bonnets.

Touch the Clouds - Working on the Trade Blanket on the Warrior's Waist - Part 13

Today, worked on the Trade Blanket around the waist, of the warrior. He has wind pushing from behind, so through the folds created by the wind's actions, I try to capture a moment in time, that will also complement the figure. Creating the story.

Touch the Clouds - Really short day - Part 12

Forgot to get a block of clay softening last night as I left the studio. So had very little to work with today. Thus a very short day..

Touch the Clouds - Legs take shape then foaming again - Part 11

Started on the warrior's legs again. Just roughing them in, then I start to fill between his legs where the Robe will be. I need to fill the area in with foam. Can't have that much vacant space under the blanket that will be sculpted next, so I fill the area with Taxidermy Foam.

Touch the Clouds - Using a TruForm 12 inch Armature - Legs take shape - Part 10

Started on the warrior's legs. All sculptures need a good foundation. Working from the bottom up is how I'm going to approach this piece..

Touch The Clouds - Three Days of Videos for You to Enjoy: Parts 7, 8, & 9

In this video, I'm going to show you an easy and quick way to scale up items to match the scale of the figure or just about anything you are sculpting.. so guns don't seem to small or big.. and Feathers, you're creating, will not be to big or to small. I'm Using a publishing program called "Printmaster 8.0".
After doing the scaling video, I went to the studio to get the clay ready for the next day. I show how to warm it, and then cut it up for better handling. I use a plastic dishpan to put my clay in.



The following video, I start adding clay to the armature.

Touch the Clouds - Using a TruForm Armature - Starting the 1/2 Life Size - Part 6

Today.. continued on the base of this new clay.