Sculpting with Marilyn Radzat

I am taking an on-line sculpting class with Marilyn Radzat over on "A is for Artistic"

http://www.aforartistic.com/character-heads-hands.html

I'm probably never going to be great at clay sculpting, but I enjoy the challenge!!  We are using "ProSculpt" which is a polymer clay.  As far as polymers go, I like it better than Sculpy, but I am remembering why I went to paperclay.  I have hot hands. Funny I always thought they were cold, but when I handle clay they heat right up!   Meaning, after just a few minutes clay becomes soft and squishy and impossible to mold.  So I'm learning to keep my hands away from my sculpt as much as possible and work in 15 minute increments.  I've also kept my studio at 65 degrees, which seems to help a bit.

This class is sculpting head and hands and painting them.  I've also signed up for the follow-on class, which will complete the figure, rising from a seashell.  Right now I'll consider it a sucess if I figure out the correct place to put the ears and how to get 2 the same size...

My Shelly doll is completed

In September I was lucky enough to take a class with Shelly Thornton on needlesculpting heads.  I usually don't complete a class piece, preferring it to work as a learning tool, but this little girl spoke to me, and so I created patterns for the body and worked away.  Four months later... well she was worth it, I'm very pleased!  Just found out Shelly is teaching hands, boots and ribbons at NIADA next September.  Think I'll take the class and do this again!  Let me know what you think of her.

Finally a doll is born

After 5 long months, I've got enough range of motion back in my hand and wrist to begin some creative work again. I signed up on Doll Street to do a Travelling Doll. Not a swap, the dolls go about and visit others in the group, exchanging gifts and sharing photos from the different locations. Great fun. My doll is off to visit Dayton Ohio and I'll be entertaining a doll from Madison Kansas next week.

The pattern for this doll, as well as the terriffic idea is from the brilliant Angela Jerichi.