Another journal page ...

I really love this graffiti style alien image and have been looking for an excuse to use it on an appropriate journal page.  Hard to believe, but there are those that don't share my enthusiasm for this image.... you know who you are.

Round Robin ATCs

Soon I will be sending off the remainder of my contributions to the Hawaiian Round Robin I have been a part of. I decided to make up packets of Artist Trading Cards to include with the spreads I will be mailing. These are of my favorite pages I made for this project and can be seen below.

Roswell

Another tip-in for the Robin Robin collaboration I am involved with. The theme for this one is "Having a great time, Wish you were here". I assume it's meant to be a travel journal of sorts. The size of this spread is 20" wide (including both pages) and 12" tall. I just can't get enough of this alien image which is adapted from some graffiti done along the expressway a few miles away from here. You can see the original here.

"Xenophobia"

And another contribution to the Round Robin I am involved with. I am determined to get caught up on it. This collaboration is based out of Hawaii, so a few of us on the mainland are doing tip-ins. I really prefer working like this rather than in a complete book, it's so much easier. The theme for this one was phobias. I, of course, jumped at the opportunity to use my Alien imagery when I ran across Xenophobia, which is the fear of foreigners, strangers or Aliens.

Yet another curious sighting

This photo was taken at the end of a long corridor in a hospital (at an undisclosed location). The room emanates a very eerie hum. The sign on the door says "Quiet Please" and has some cryptic letters underneath ..... A.I.R. ..... Alien Incubation Room?

Just saying .....

A most curious sighting

On our way up north (in a rather remote area of Michigan) we saw this most curious billboard. I have no idea what it means ... but, I'll admit ... I do rather like it.

"The Wall"

I am just finishing up this journal for a new Workshop. This is a graffiti inspired accordion style journal I have had in the works for quite awhile now and I am very pleased with the results. I have to admit I am very excited about this one and just couldn't wait to share a few sneak peek photos before finalizing everything. More photos and info to follow soon!

Waiting....

It's only been a month since I first came up with the idea of making Alien and Skeleton dolls. To get to this point has to be a speed record for me, but then again this is pretty much all I have focused on in the past month. I am still waiting for parts to dry before I finish loading the kiln. I hope to fire in a few days, but then this project will be put on hold for awhile. After firing the next step will be to make patterns for the cloth bodies. While I can't continue on these dolls right now, there will at least be parts available to work with when time allows.

Alien and Skeleton dolls

Lots of molds have been made and are somewhat dry now. Thank goodness it's winter and I can stand them on the heating vents to hasten the drying process! I am now starting to pour parts, then the pouring spouts and seams will be removed. As the parts dry I will refine them further and once dry they will go into the kiln. I'll start making the body and clothing patterns after the firing process as the final parts will shrink considerably from the original sculpted pieces. I believe the dolls will end up being the size of a standard fashion doll of about 15". The Aliens and Skeletons will have the same bodies aside from the Aliens having longer arms.

I am giving serious consideration to making these dolls (choice of Alien or Skeleton doll) available as an online class. Clay parts and paper patterns would be mailed and a password given to view online videos. Sound like something that would interest you? I'd love to hear some feed back!

Alien Update

About 2 weeks ago I came up with an idea for an Alien and a Skeleton doll. At that time I started to sculpt the original pieces out of clay and then made master plaster molds of them. Now that the molds are dry I am able to cast them in slip (liquid clay), make a few changes, refine them and production molds can be made from those pieces. I'll make many so that I can pour lots of pieces without having to wait for the molds to dry before I can start casting again. After pouring the production molds, waiting for the clay to set up, removing the parts from the molds, seams and pouring spouts can be removed and a final smoothing and refining of the parts is done. I'll have to wait for those parts to dry and then the parts will be put in a kiln and fired. Only after all that can I start actually working on the doll body. Phew, Makes me tired just thinking about all the steps!

This is how I have always made dolls, it's a very labor and time intensive method of working. From concept to completion it takes months for me to complete the first doll. I have chosen to work in this medium for doll making as it is a time tested, stable medium ... I like that.

Alien Dolls

I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later .... Twenty plus years of doll making just doesn't go away. I'm thinking (if time permits) I might make a slight temporary detour from Art Journaling to make some Alien Dolls ... and/or skeleton dolls. Who knows, if there is interest, it might lead into a Workshop ....

Alien Journal pages

This spread is done in my "Extraordinary Life" Journal. I am still on this lime green kick, just can't get enough of this color lately. I'm also still working with my Alien imagery (far too much fun!) and what better way to enjoy both of them, but to combine them in a journal spread?
Now that the New Year is well under way I have been reviewing my Workshop schedule and realise I will be extremely busy (It can be seen on the right hand side bar of this blog). These are only the confirmed Workshops as of now, there are still several others in the works. I am terribly excited about all these Workshops, but also realise that organizations skills are going to be paramount in preventing myself from getting overwhelmed. I pretty much have all my ducks in a row for the actual Workshops, but have a few loose ends, such as updating my website with class prep tutorials and such. It's going to be a very busy, but wonderful year indeed!

Speaking of Aliens....

I found this lone photo on my camera this morning. I didn't take it.

Searching for Aliens

I'm not really sure why, but lately I have had a fascination with Alien imagery. Awhile back I noticed what I thought was Alien Graffiti peeking through from inbetween the trees and shrubbery along the expressway not far from home. So, today my husband and I decided to do a bit of exploring on foot to see if we could find it. Sure enough we did, almost a mile away from where I thought it would be. It was well worth our afternoon adventure to find it, I just love this Alien! I think I shall play around with the image and come up with my own version.