Dear Patrons,
Everyone is probably aware of my surgery last December for a ruptured disc but you may not be aware that due to the stipulations put on me by my surgeon I will not be able to continue my sculpting.
This has been a long journey for me (twenty years) and probably the most difficult decision I have had to make in my entire life. After my physical therapy and my post op visits I reviewed what was said and suggested and have changed a few things I do but it was not quite enough.
My surgeon has told me he does not want me back again and that back injuries are the most frequently abused just due to the fact no one does what they have to do...quite abusing our backs.
I promised him that I would not lift over 25# and that limits me to a lot of things.
My tent alone is over that limit even divided into four bags, even with the breakdown pedestals I purchased and wagon it is just too much. I am not whining I am just admitting that being an artist is not for injured backs.
Even when creating a miniature and my clay is put onto an armature and board that I have to transport to the foundry I am over my pounds much less a large piece. So it is not because I have not thought this out I am just trying to re-think what I want to do for the rest of my life and also stay healthy.
I have enjoyed creating these past twenty years and meeting all my patrons, that part I will miss the most. Also I have made friends of other artist all along the way which have been a family to me. I will go to each of the entities that have helped me in creating all my work and let them know how appreciative I am of their support and friendships...without them there would have been no "me".
I wish to thank Art Castings, Madd Castings and Josephs for being my foundries over the past twenty years, Ric Eighmy (best mold maker in the world) Jafe Parsons (best photographer in the world) and Deb Bakel (best patiner), Tom Love I will never forget you.
Currently I am selling everything that has to do with sculpture from tent to clay so wiping the slate clean as to begin again.
I do not know what life holds for me I just keep hoping that the old saying is true "when one door closes another one opens".
Happy Trails.....Peg
Friday, August 5, 2016
Monday, June 13, 2016
What is a "calling"?
I have heard "everyone has a calling" all my life. I used to worry for years that I did not know what my "calling was" until I began to see a pattern in my life.
My Mom used to tell the story about me going to the hospital at five years old to have my tonsils removed, I promptly told the Doctor I had to hurry home and "take care of my little family".
Afterwards, growing up, even now, I love animals and humanity as well. Having all kinds of pets as a child as well as giving my children all sorts of "critters" I also have enjoyed volunteering for numerous human endeavors.
I have on my website a statement that echoes my feelings about caring for animals being important for it speaks to the issue of our treatment of our land, air, water and mankind in general.
When you recycle, not use toxic products , care about the elderly and wish to pass something along to our children that isn't poisoned, destroyed or used up, that should be everyone's "calling".
Take care of our "little family" whether it has two feet or four they don't make more "Earths"! How do you want to be remembered. Remember the old saying in the hippie days of the sixties? "If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem."
My Mom used to tell the story about me going to the hospital at five years old to have my tonsils removed, I promptly told the Doctor I had to hurry home and "take care of my little family".
Afterwards, growing up, even now, I love animals and humanity as well. Having all kinds of pets as a child as well as giving my children all sorts of "critters" I also have enjoyed volunteering for numerous human endeavors.
I have on my website a statement that echoes my feelings about caring for animals being important for it speaks to the issue of our treatment of our land, air, water and mankind in general.
When you recycle, not use toxic products , care about the elderly and wish to pass something along to our children that isn't poisoned, destroyed or used up, that should be everyone's "calling".
Take care of our "little family" whether it has two feet or four they don't make more "Earths"! How do you want to be remembered. Remember the old saying in the hippie days of the sixties? "If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem."
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Fun of Commissions (Gertie)
I realize that I have shared a few commissions with you but I am not sure that I have discussed them in length in the creation.
Commissions are gained either by being a request from a patron that has your work already or a patron that sees you at a show or online, I have a small sign in my booth at shows. Often they have an animal or even a business that they would like reflected as a desktop because of their love of a particular animal or wanting to depict their business in their office.
The commission that I recently finished was for a couple that had a few of my pieces already so we had formed a relationship. This piece, "Gertie" was of a black and tan coonhound and it was easy to fall in love with the subject she was so sweet.
During the next seven months the journey from start to finish was interrupted slightly with my back surgery but usually commissions take that long anyway if not longer especially because there are other entities involved that take at least two months of that time. If you are an artist you always have to remember once your wax is poured and cleaned you have to draw an outline of the bronze for the base and show where pieces extend over like for instance the front feet or neck or tail then you can design the wooden base you are using to place under the subject. This particular one was of walnut but I have included stone in combination of larger pieces such as Refuge in the Wetlands...go to http://www.peggycampbellanimalsinbronze.com to check it out.
Naturally the first step is to view and acquaint yourself with the dog and take as many pictures as possible to give you accuracy and also see the dog move and interact. I took measurements to back up and reinforce the visual references that way you have two sources. I ended up taking over 200 pictures and even returned for more pictures when I got to details like the paws and nostrils and color pattern. A black and tan has a very distinct pattern all over their body and I fell in love with Gertie's ears.
When you begin your clay you need to make sure you are building on a solid armature that will not shift or move after mold is placed. As you work you want to allow patrons access to this piece (it is their piece) so that they can be a part of the creating, they become your best source for details as they love this animal and have lived with this animal 24/7 and know every little detail literally by heart. This is an area where you can not have a thin skin, listen to them not your ego.
This is what I meant as having very distinct markings typical of coonhounds.
Even their faces are very defined. Believe it or
not most of the markings were an echo of what the other side mirrored.
Beautiful markings!
This was the final position chosen by the patrons with the exception of my turning her head slightly as though she were looking to the left (one thing I have learned through the years is that you never want a piece of sculpture to look stiff and looking straight on, it ruins the piece and gives it an elongated look.) Turning head slightly gives it life.
This is a close up showing some of the detail of Gertie even down to bone structure, collar, nose whiskers. You may not be able to show detail such as whisker hair but you leave the impression of the deep marking that give a distinct design to her muzzle.
Commissions are gained either by being a request from a patron that has your work already or a patron that sees you at a show or online, I have a small sign in my booth at shows. Often they have an animal or even a business that they would like reflected as a desktop because of their love of a particular animal or wanting to depict their business in their office.
The commission that I recently finished was for a couple that had a few of my pieces already so we had formed a relationship. This piece, "Gertie" was of a black and tan coonhound and it was easy to fall in love with the subject she was so sweet.
During the next seven months the journey from start to finish was interrupted slightly with my back surgery but usually commissions take that long anyway if not longer especially because there are other entities involved that take at least two months of that time. If you are an artist you always have to remember once your wax is poured and cleaned you have to draw an outline of the bronze for the base and show where pieces extend over like for instance the front feet or neck or tail then you can design the wooden base you are using to place under the subject. This particular one was of walnut but I have included stone in combination of larger pieces such as Refuge in the Wetlands...go to http://www.peggycampbellanimalsinbronze.com to check it out.
Naturally the first step is to view and acquaint yourself with the dog and take as many pictures as possible to give you accuracy and also see the dog move and interact. I took measurements to back up and reinforce the visual references that way you have two sources. I ended up taking over 200 pictures and even returned for more pictures when I got to details like the paws and nostrils and color pattern. A black and tan has a very distinct pattern all over their body and I fell in love with Gertie's ears.
When you begin your clay you need to make sure you are building on a solid armature that will not shift or move after mold is placed. As you work you want to allow patrons access to this piece (it is their piece) so that they can be a part of the creating, they become your best source for details as they love this animal and have lived with this animal 24/7 and know every little detail literally by heart. This is an area where you can not have a thin skin, listen to them not your ego.
not most of the markings were an echo of what the other side mirrored.
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| "Gertie" The most difficult part of this entire piece was the patina and getting the look that patrons wanted. |
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| This was an eight inch piece and perfect size, not too small to show details not too large for carrying or desktop |
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| Gertie Thank you Art Castings and Deb Bakel for doing a great job. Thank you Adam and Diana for giving me the opportunity to work with you and your family and hopefully if there is another artist or patron reading this they have a pet or animal they love and will give me the opportunity to work with them. What Animal do You Love! |
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Lubbock
This was my first time to pack, travel and show by myself and it was not that bad thanks to being an inside venue and also thanks to my ProPanel pedestals I could stuff everything in my Subaru Forrester.
I traveled around thirteen hundred miles and gone five days and considering the back surgery I had recently I was proud of myself. Another big help with setting up was a newly purchased wagon which with wheels off fit just fine also.
The weather was overcast and there were tornado warnings all around but the eleven and a half hours included breaks every two hours in an antique shop or local eatery. Speaking of, if you are ever through Dumas, Texas be sure to stop for a meal at Alberts, had best homemade burger (they list them separate on the menus rather than the frozen patty burger. Also homemade pies, I had coconut cream pie that was delicious.
Always if you are an artist keep your travels an adventure and if you are a patron enjoy those shows, artist have worked hard to be there, we even had an artist from Michigan.
One of the joys of traveling is meeting other artist, thanks Jim Clements fantastic oil painter of western scenes and animals, Katy and Don Scroggins, amazing jewelry, and the funniest guy that kept me laughing Terrell Powell with his three-d type of comical art.
Must get back to work, see you on down the road.
I traveled around thirteen hundred miles and gone five days and considering the back surgery I had recently I was proud of myself. Another big help with setting up was a newly purchased wagon which with wheels off fit just fine also.
The weather was overcast and there were tornado warnings all around but the eleven and a half hours included breaks every two hours in an antique shop or local eatery. Speaking of, if you are ever through Dumas, Texas be sure to stop for a meal at Alberts, had best homemade burger (they list them separate on the menus rather than the frozen patty burger. Also homemade pies, I had coconut cream pie that was delicious.
Always if you are an artist keep your travels an adventure and if you are a patron enjoy those shows, artist have worked hard to be there, we even had an artist from Michigan.
One of the joys of traveling is meeting other artist, thanks Jim Clements fantastic oil painter of western scenes and animals, Katy and Don Scroggins, amazing jewelry, and the funniest guy that kept me laughing Terrell Powell with his three-d type of comical art.
Must get back to work, see you on down the road.
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Year 2016 Schedule
So far shows are taking their time as usual in letting you know for sure whether or not you are accepted.
Until April 15th I will be in the Old West Museum Show in Cheyenne, Wy.
Then the 14th of April I will leave for Lubbock, Tx for the Lubbock Civic Center Arts Festival through the 17th
Then I will journey to Jackson Hole, Wy for the July Arts Festival
Also I will be in the Golden Arts Festival.
Other than those I will be playing it by ear and waiting for acceptances.
Appreciate you keeping up with me....
Until April 15th I will be in the Old West Museum Show in Cheyenne, Wy.
Then the 14th of April I will leave for Lubbock, Tx for the Lubbock Civic Center Arts Festival through the 17th
Then I will journey to Jackson Hole, Wy for the July Arts Festival
Also I will be in the Golden Arts Festival.
Other than those I will be playing it by ear and waiting for acceptances.
Appreciate you keeping up with me....
Friday, March 18, 2016
Artist Friend Information
Not too long ago I had another artist friend (Thanks Doug Moomey) let me in on a conversation that he had with artist Burneta Venosdel .
They were discussing the difference in animal anatomy considering what part of the country they were from. The discussion being about buffalo but it pertained to all animals. They adapt to the area that they developed in whether it be in the heat of the desert or the cold of Antarctica .
The discussion brought up the point that you had better know the environment from which you are depicting whatever animal you are doing in something as little noticed as the ears.
Think of the Elephant and those large sweeping ears or the water buffalo then think of the pika or tiny white arctic fox (those two are probably the exception because of the intensity of their hearing necessary for hunting in those extreme areas or the fact that they have to rely on their hearing for predators. Another thing to consider, what has developed in order to survive predators or provide food.
The entire subject was concerning the modern day buffalo and the fact that they were almost completed destroyed but thanks to people like the Goodnight family they survived. The southern herd developed around the Fort Sill area and the northern herd that survived and the buffalo you see in the Yellow Stone area were imported in from the Alberta area. Therefore you are looking at adaptation of the same animal in different ways due to the cold or heat. The southern herd having larger ears and the northern having smaller ears in order that the body heat not escape.
So not only do you have to make sure your animal is a particular age or sex you have to take into consideration the area that you are depicting that animal in...for instance the moose are fairly small below the 65th parallel but above they can stand almost 8 feet at the shoulder.
Thanks for dropping in...........
They were discussing the difference in animal anatomy considering what part of the country they were from. The discussion being about buffalo but it pertained to all animals. They adapt to the area that they developed in whether it be in the heat of the desert or the cold of Antarctica .
The discussion brought up the point that you had better know the environment from which you are depicting whatever animal you are doing in something as little noticed as the ears.
Think of the Elephant and those large sweeping ears or the water buffalo then think of the pika or tiny white arctic fox (those two are probably the exception because of the intensity of their hearing necessary for hunting in those extreme areas or the fact that they have to rely on their hearing for predators. Another thing to consider, what has developed in order to survive predators or provide food.
The entire subject was concerning the modern day buffalo and the fact that they were almost completed destroyed but thanks to people like the Goodnight family they survived. The southern herd developed around the Fort Sill area and the northern herd that survived and the buffalo you see in the Yellow Stone area were imported in from the Alberta area. Therefore you are looking at adaptation of the same animal in different ways due to the cold or heat. The southern herd having larger ears and the northern having smaller ears in order that the body heat not escape.
So not only do you have to make sure your animal is a particular age or sex you have to take into consideration the area that you are depicting that animal in...for instance the moose are fairly small below the 65th parallel but above they can stand almost 8 feet at the shoulder.
Thanks for dropping in...........
Friday, February 12, 2016
"Feisty Visitor"
This is not to say that I did not have trials with this tiny piece but it did have its challenges. In the beginning I was pre-fabing the branches and the foundry was cutting them exactly where the bird had to be welded therefore re-welding in exactly the same area that was already weakened by the heat. So after several hours of "holding, welding, falling apart" this became foolish.
In the end I molded the three branches so that they could stay in tact so then it was just a matter of holding the three branches while the wren was balanced correctly with the attitude that I was trying to capture while it was welded.
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| Feisty Visitor |
I originally created this piece with my sister who lives in Georgia in mind, she and I were chatting and she mentioned that she had a wren off her deck that had an attitude, so therefore I just had to create this little guy.
Remember the popularity of the angry baby robin pictures well the wren is a great example of memorable attitudes.
Thanks for dropping in.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
"Chicken Taxi" and armatures
I know we have discussed armatures before but I thought I would include a few pictures of them anyway.
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| This is showing one that you can purchase at an Art Supply Store (notice it has a jointed main post) |
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| This is one of the ways you can build your own of the above using a flange, pipe, T pipe and aluminum sculpture wire. |
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| You want it to be tight so wrap a fourth wire tightly around bundle |
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| This would be a basic armature for an animal leaving a wire for each leg, the head and neck and tail to crop as needed . This piece was actually one of my favorites because it was fun, quick and showed a sense of humor. The title actually came first and then the development of the work which will happen sometimes. This would have worked for Chicken Taxi especially since he has such a beautiful long flowing tail, you don't cut these until you are sure of what you do not need.      You will notice I gave it deep enough base to not overflow every time you pour that hot wax and also deep enough to accommodate the nuts and bolts placed underneath to hold it onto the base. Note: When doing this much texture make sure that you not only check each side to make sure your texture matches equally on each side but also call the attention to your foundry as to the amount of texturing so that the welder or chaser is aware. This was a fun piece and has already sold its first edition just from being seen in the clay, thanks to patrons that watch me demo and love animals as much as I do. Will add photo of finished piece as soon as I get one back from the photographer. This is also a very small edition of only 10. Thanks as always for dropping into my studio. Let me hear from you. |
Monday, January 11, 2016
Hero in Dr. Jeffrey Donner
Well it is three weeks since my spine surgery during which Dr. Jeffrey Donner of Loveland, Colorado went in and instead of fusing my ruptured disc he used a Coflex system where he removed the ruptured part of the disc and then placed the coflex which was a titanium H shaped piece in between my discs so that he did not disturb the muscles in my back and the surgery lasted one and a half hours and I was home eating broth for lunch within four hours afterwards.
Now not to say that I enjoyed this but this has to be the best way of treating a ruptured disc even though I do not know if everyone would qualify for this type of procedure. I do know two people that had the fusion done and within a short time had to have another fusion.
I was in so much pain prior to surgery that I was unable to use the entire right leg and buttocks area (now you try to do without those). I am not trying to be personal about this but just trying to let everyone know that fusions are not always the direction to go and often have repercussions afterwards.
I am still restricted for the next three months as to lifting etc. but slowly and surely I will be back to my old self which I intend to take better care of from here on out. Hope this information helps someone or at least lets them know there are options out there.
Hopefully this will help someone that is possibly considering surgery or having back problems, ask questions and stay positive. Have two shows already scheduled, one in the Old Museum in Cheyenne, Wyoming and the other Lubbock in April at the Civic Center.
Happy trails and take care of your bodies we don't have spares
Now not to say that I enjoyed this but this has to be the best way of treating a ruptured disc even though I do not know if everyone would qualify for this type of procedure. I do know two people that had the fusion done and within a short time had to have another fusion.
I was in so much pain prior to surgery that I was unable to use the entire right leg and buttocks area (now you try to do without those). I am not trying to be personal about this but just trying to let everyone know that fusions are not always the direction to go and often have repercussions afterwards.
I am still restricted for the next three months as to lifting etc. but slowly and surely I will be back to my old self which I intend to take better care of from here on out. Hope this information helps someone or at least lets them know there are options out there.
Hopefully this will help someone that is possibly considering surgery or having back problems, ask questions and stay positive. Have two shows already scheduled, one in the Old Museum in Cheyenne, Wyoming and the other Lubbock in April at the Civic Center.
Happy trails and take care of your bodies we don't have spares
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Ending year on a bitter note
I know that some of you are wondering since I usually post twice a month what is going on but this post comes with a warning to all my fellow artist as well as patrons that do not recognize when enough is enough and you can not keep lifting weights you should not be.
Had an MRI this week and I have ruptured a disc. Will go in for surgery in the next few days so will be cleaning up loose ends on work still in progress. I have a fox carrying a chicken called "Chicken Tax" and a whitetail named "The Chase" that should be finished and out of the foundry by end of January. For twenty years now I have probably carried way to heavy pieces for too far a distance and now I am learning that I must not do that.
Hope you all have a great holiday season and we all come back stronger in 2016, take care of your body He only gave us one.
Had an MRI this week and I have ruptured a disc. Will go in for surgery in the next few days so will be cleaning up loose ends on work still in progress. I have a fox carrying a chicken called "Chicken Tax" and a whitetail named "The Chase" that should be finished and out of the foundry by end of January. For twenty years now I have probably carried way to heavy pieces for too far a distance and now I am learning that I must not do that.
Hope you all have a great holiday season and we all come back stronger in 2016, take care of your body He only gave us one.
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Eric Maisel...again Coaching the Artist Within
If you have read this I am sorry but it is worth repeating, Eric Maisel is fantastic and I wish I had all his books." Creating is real work, takes more of our mind, heart, and hands....provokes anxiety, opens us up to the possibility of mistakes and messes."
Mental energy
generates - desire, anticipation, excitement, passion
saps - fear, doubt, worry and concern
replenishes - courage, clarity
How can you increase your mental energy
desire - think more positive about creating and less about money
anticipation - research a piece you really want to do where you are excited to complete it
passion - either reward yourself for each goal reached or renew your love of animals by doing something concerning animals
Really think about why you do what you do and regain your passion
desire - why do you enjoy what you do? This is not something that you just pick up for a day or two and drop, it is something that plays in your head all your life, maybe in the form of something other than your choice of medium but creativity is there all the same. Women say to me all the time I just don't have any talent...duh! You create in your meal planning, dressing, decorating your home even baking a cake or cupcakes everyone is blessed with the creative mode, men it is messing with gadgets. I have this best friend that has a husband that can't admit he is talented but he can look at something and create magic in his head or he can use something that is salvage to come up with a very creative idea.
"...positive, obsessions are forward looking...pleasurable and engrossing. These thoughts are characterized by feelings of competency and ability, even power...and lead to excitement and energy.
"...negative obsessions are backward thinking...chatter...replays of bad decisions, bad experiences, disasters etc...characterized by feelings of incompetence, stupidity or powerlessness." Rosemary Antel
"In fact, they will prevent us from moving forward and achieving our goals, because of the attention we give to them:. Aleta Pippin
"You must be able to create in the middle of things, or else you will not create.".
Everyone must think of themselves as unique and not like anyone else in the world and also that they create like no one else in the world, this is who you are and what you do.
"I would love for you to learn to drop everything and go create. The phrase "drop everything" means dropping your resistance, dropping your doubts, dropping those aspects of your personality that hold you down, dropping your nagging to-do list, dropping all the reasons that you and your effort don't matter..."
That was one of the most profound statements in the entire book, if we could just learn to do just that without guilt.
"suit up and showup" no excuses. Don't set yourself up for high expectations everything starts small - if you expect too much of yourself you'll fail. Enjoy, otherwise why are you doing it at all.
Have a great day..........
Mental energy
generates - desire, anticipation, excitement, passion
saps - fear, doubt, worry and concern
replenishes - courage, clarity
How can you increase your mental energy
desire - think more positive about creating and less about money
anticipation - research a piece you really want to do where you are excited to complete it
passion - either reward yourself for each goal reached or renew your love of animals by doing something concerning animals
Really think about why you do what you do and regain your passion
desire - why do you enjoy what you do? This is not something that you just pick up for a day or two and drop, it is something that plays in your head all your life, maybe in the form of something other than your choice of medium but creativity is there all the same. Women say to me all the time I just don't have any talent...duh! You create in your meal planning, dressing, decorating your home even baking a cake or cupcakes everyone is blessed with the creative mode, men it is messing with gadgets. I have this best friend that has a husband that can't admit he is talented but he can look at something and create magic in his head or he can use something that is salvage to come up with a very creative idea.
"...positive, obsessions are forward looking...pleasurable and engrossing. These thoughts are characterized by feelings of competency and ability, even power...and lead to excitement and energy.
"...negative obsessions are backward thinking...chatter...replays of bad decisions, bad experiences, disasters etc...characterized by feelings of incompetence, stupidity or powerlessness." Rosemary Antel
"In fact, they will prevent us from moving forward and achieving our goals, because of the attention we give to them:. Aleta Pippin
"You must be able to create in the middle of things, or else you will not create.".
Everyone must think of themselves as unique and not like anyone else in the world and also that they create like no one else in the world, this is who you are and what you do.
"I would love for you to learn to drop everything and go create. The phrase "drop everything" means dropping your resistance, dropping your doubts, dropping those aspects of your personality that hold you down, dropping your nagging to-do list, dropping all the reasons that you and your effort don't matter..."
That was one of the most profound statements in the entire book, if we could just learn to do just that without guilt.
"suit up and showup" no excuses. Don't set yourself up for high expectations everything starts small - if you expect too much of yourself you'll fail. Enjoy, otherwise why are you doing it at all.
Have a great day..........
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Armatures and finishing Whitetail
I know that we have touched base on armatures before but it seems that maybe everyone else is as bumfuddled with them as I was and still are often. They are something that you have to be able to produce a molded piece of work but you can not let it dictate direction to you.
In other words it has to be able to support quite a bit of movement and weight but yet give you enough flexibility to not have a pipe or wire sticking out where you do not need it to be interfering. There is nothing more frustrating then to find that after you start claying up, your animal looks really stiff because you have followed the lines or the demands of the armature rather than bending to the nature of a leg or neck and it will be sickening when you already have it in metal before you wise up.
This is a basic store bought armature versus a picture of one that can be constructed with pipes, T's, and L's and using wire that is either wound with more wire for strength or a single strong art store purchase of armature wire. You do not want something you can not move at all.
I have cheated and upon finding a wire in a bad spot and needing to eliminate it I have waited until it is a wax and trimmed it where the wire was visible in the molding process. I don't suggest this if you are like me and are absent minded...it might go through the foundry process like that.
I don't care what anyone says you may change a piece or tear it down and redo five to eight times before finding the angle or position you want and that looks good to you. Remember my story about covering up a piece between working on it so that your errors jump out at you as in this piece it was redone many times because I chose a different position than ordinary, it is called the "sneak" so you have to change to accommodate the neck, head and entire body language making it more difficult. It is the position of a buck when he is in pursuit of a doe. It is so beautiful to watch hopefully I got it to come across in clay. Much like having a baby this won't be out of the foundry for a few months and I will show the finished piece at that time. Thanks for dropping in hopefully I have shown something you enjoyed.
In other words it has to be able to support quite a bit of movement and weight but yet give you enough flexibility to not have a pipe or wire sticking out where you do not need it to be interfering. There is nothing more frustrating then to find that after you start claying up, your animal looks really stiff because you have followed the lines or the demands of the armature rather than bending to the nature of a leg or neck and it will be sickening when you already have it in metal before you wise up.
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| All starts with scaling your figure to where you can break it down into inches or 1/4 inches where you can be accurate. |
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| this is just beginning we already covered this in previous blog dated 5/5/15 |
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| several days later while trying to decide position I desired |
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| this is trying to figure out exactly what I wanted in antlers |
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| This is finished piece without the antlers actually attached because they will be molded separately. |
I have cheated and upon finding a wire in a bad spot and needing to eliminate it I have waited until it is a wax and trimmed it where the wire was visible in the molding process. I don't suggest this if you are like me and are absent minded...it might go through the foundry process like that.
I don't care what anyone says you may change a piece or tear it down and redo five to eight times before finding the angle or position you want and that looks good to you. Remember my story about covering up a piece between working on it so that your errors jump out at you as in this piece it was redone many times because I chose a different position than ordinary, it is called the "sneak" so you have to change to accommodate the neck, head and entire body language making it more difficult. It is the position of a buck when he is in pursuit of a doe. It is so beautiful to watch hopefully I got it to come across in clay. Much like having a baby this won't be out of the foundry for a few months and I will show the finished piece at that time. Thanks for dropping in hopefully I have shown something you enjoyed.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Finally down to the last show, I think
Sorry I have neglected this part of my keeping touch with everyone but during the summer I am usually so busy with art, shows, family and etc. that it is difficult to keep this current.
On top of that my daughter had another grandson for me (making it three boys) my husbands mom passed away and he had total knee replacement (not due to spousal abuse).
I have my last show September 19-20 in Boulder, Colorado on the Pearl Street Mall and I pull down my Estes Park show October 25th then I will close out 2015 unless I get into the Lone Tree Art Expo 2015 which I will not hear until later. It runs 9/24/15 until 11/09/15.
But did want to call attention to you artist that shows are already being posted for 2016 and the cut off dates are earlier than ever.
My option is still open for a class to be taught this Spring (I do not usually set the date until I get my show schedule) for only four days and only one person and to remind those that do not know me I only teach one person at a time because I like to develope not only friendships that have my complete attention during the class but also because this is when I donate my earnings to Operation Smile (so little can change a child's entire life). Four days for 375.00 what a deal, from clay to finished piece or close to finished plus I get to see a miracle in a child's smile.
On top of that my daughter had another grandson for me (making it three boys) my husbands mom passed away and he had total knee replacement (not due to spousal abuse).
I have my last show September 19-20 in Boulder, Colorado on the Pearl Street Mall and I pull down my Estes Park show October 25th then I will close out 2015 unless I get into the Lone Tree Art Expo 2015 which I will not hear until later. It runs 9/24/15 until 11/09/15.
But did want to call attention to you artist that shows are already being posted for 2016 and the cut off dates are earlier than ever.
My option is still open for a class to be taught this Spring (I do not usually set the date until I get my show schedule) for only four days and only one person and to remind those that do not know me I only teach one person at a time because I like to develope not only friendships that have my complete attention during the class but also because this is when I donate my earnings to Operation Smile (so little can change a child's entire life). Four days for 375.00 what a deal, from clay to finished piece or close to finished plus I get to see a miracle in a child's smile.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Busy but touching base
Been busy with shows but wanted to leave you with something again from one of the books I read. Walking In This World, The Practical Art of Creativity by Julia Cameron
This was written 10 years after Artist Way
"Making art is making love with life" Julia Cameron
"Instead of thinking about conquering an art form, think instead of kissing it hello, wooing it, exploring it in small, enticing steps. A small beginning is exactly that, a beginning. Whatever you think you can do, or believe you can do begin it, because action has magic, grace and power in it." Goethe
"If a plant cannot live according to its nature, it dies, and so a man." Henry David Thoreau
"It is only by risking from one hour to another that we live at all." William James
"Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you?" Fanny Brice
Today isn't like any other day you have known, create it.
"What a man thinks of himself...determines, or rather indicates, lies fate." Thoreau
"Every exit is an entry somewhere else." Tom Stoppard
It is so easy to become discouraged as an artist that we must all gain courage from the thought that we are able to create, not everyone is given that gift. To express a feeling in clay, paint, pastel, pencil whatever medium you choose or you purchase from an artist to create a mood or setting in your home or office...that is you pure and simple.
My last show is in September and you will have to be patient with me on my blogs and I will try to keep you updated. I realize I have not added to my armature post so that will be my concern when I find the time. Thanks for dropping in....enjoy your summer so far mine has involved around 4000 miles. Two more shows to go closer to home, Golden and Boulder.
This was written 10 years after Artist Way
"Making art is making love with life" Julia Cameron
"Instead of thinking about conquering an art form, think instead of kissing it hello, wooing it, exploring it in small, enticing steps. A small beginning is exactly that, a beginning. Whatever you think you can do, or believe you can do begin it, because action has magic, grace and power in it." Goethe
"If a plant cannot live according to its nature, it dies, and so a man." Henry David Thoreau
"It is only by risking from one hour to another that we live at all." William James
"Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you?" Fanny Brice
Today isn't like any other day you have known, create it.
"What a man thinks of himself...determines, or rather indicates, lies fate." Thoreau
"Every exit is an entry somewhere else." Tom Stoppard
It is so easy to become discouraged as an artist that we must all gain courage from the thought that we are able to create, not everyone is given that gift. To express a feeling in clay, paint, pastel, pencil whatever medium you choose or you purchase from an artist to create a mood or setting in your home or office...that is you pure and simple.
My last show is in September and you will have to be patient with me on my blogs and I will try to keep you updated. I realize I have not added to my armature post so that will be my concern when I find the time. Thanks for dropping in....enjoy your summer so far mine has involved around 4000 miles. Two more shows to go closer to home, Golden and Boulder.
Friday, June 19, 2015
Quotes 2015
If you have read me at all you know I love my sculpture but I love to read and love quotes. Here are a few more that impressed me.
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth-and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up-that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had". Elizabeth Kobler-Ross
"We are the hero of our own story" Mary McCarthy
The one above I dedicate to my friend Deb
"If you want to see God laugh, tell Him your plan." John Lennon
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you imagined." Thoreau
Thanks for enjoying these....I do. If only we could focus on them in the midst of mindless chatter.
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth-and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up-that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had". Elizabeth Kobler-Ross
"We are the hero of our own story" Mary McCarthy
The one above I dedicate to my friend Deb
"If you want to see God laugh, tell Him your plan." John Lennon
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you imagined." Thoreau
Thanks for enjoying these....I do. If only we could focus on them in the midst of mindless chatter.
Helpmates in pouring wax and packing for show
As I have explained before I have two cookers that I use and vary the temperature from 200 degrees for the first two pours (or if it is a tiny piece or relief 220 degrees) and the other stays around 160-180 degrees for the second two pours.
I have finally gotten smart concerning some of the safety issues of pouring wax.
These are inexpensive silicon gloves sold at WM for less than 5.00 and have saved my hands from getting the usual splatter and splash of hot wax during the pouring and rolling process. Love them!
I have finally gotten smart concerning some of the safety issues of pouring wax.
These are inexpensive silicon gloves sold at WM for less than 5.00 and have saved my hands from getting the usual splatter and splash of hot wax during the pouring and rolling process. Love them!
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| saves the skin...silicon cooking glove Also not shown is the can I pinched the lip into a dent to be able to dip into the hot wax and deliver it into even the smallest pour holes (believe me when I say some of mine seem to be smaller than a pinky finger tip. Also always remember that I keep a large bowl next to me in case I do get splashed to put the skin into to relieve the pain and also hardens the wax instantly. Below are some of the tips I have been shown by my base maker to protect the bases. I had no idea that bubble wrap can leave the same impression on wood bases as that of rain or water damage. He explained to me that you must wrap pieces in some type of soft absorbent cloth before you cover them with the flat wrapping pad (not the huge bubbles).      Hopefully these tips will help you along the way and not have to be learned the hard way along the way. Remember burns hurt and damaged pieces must be repaired before showing and that is all out of your pocket. Let me hear from you if you have run into any other problems that I might have already stumbled into. Thanks again for dropping in... Thanks also if you have left a message..love those! |
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Finally...Introducing Rocky Mountain Thunder (bighorns)
I can finally post a picture of the new Rocky Mountain Thunder, depicting two bighorn rams fighting on a rocky ledge trying to gain the rights to breed the females.
This was fun to do and I loved the research as this is one of my favorite animals to watch (if you missed the post where I created this one go back a few months) it was actually November 21st.
This was fun to do and I loved the research as this is one of my favorite animals to watch (if you missed the post where I created this one go back a few months) it was actually November 21st.
Creating new work...Whitetail Deer
I had so many people checking out the post on armatures that I thought I would take you from the start of the piece as I did in the beginning of this blog.
This will be a large piece of work and hopefully it will be clear, I used a standard armature for a sculpture around 15 inches high.
You will notice all the wire coming off the pipe and T for legs, neck
This will be a large piece of work and hopefully it will be clear, I used a standard armature for a sculpture around 15 inches high.
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| This shows where I have measured for all my leg joints which is very important to do before adding any muscle or movement to the figure. |
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| Book that I could not do without during research as to the position I want my animal and whether he be standing, running, walking etc. Muybridge was fantastic |
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| Here I am actually beginning to see the form, notice I have marked major muscle in rear and shoulder, the head is just stuck on to give me something to visualize while I get the "sneak" or following a doe look. |
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| Antlers have always been a problem because you have to have flexibility, strength, and strong hands to wrap the tiny wires (or unwrap if you are not lucky to get it the first time) and I always have to play with this so that I get what I want. I always run into the fact that my wrap ends up being wider than I want the clay to be so it gets unwound and rewound many times. I make my antlers separate from the animal just where they do not have to be cut off in the mold process. I place a small clear tube (Home Depot) in the head so that I can insert the antlers as I work to make sure they look correct. I will follow this up later because I am experimenting with different wire and may end up using different ones. I may tear a piece down several times before I really feel that it is coming together the way I want it. This may happen over a period of months. |
Thursday, April 30, 2015
New Website
Dear Friends I am so excited to be able to announce a new website. I have been wanting to do this for a long time so now I have
http://www.peggycampbellanimalsinbronze.com
I am so proud of this site and it has been needed for a long time but you know that is something that I have just procrastinated about.
So go and browse and enjoy.
http://www.peggycampbellanimalsinbronze.com
I am so proud of this site and it has been needed for a long time but you know that is something that I have just procrastinated about.
So go and browse and enjoy.
Monday, April 6, 2015
Muddling through the "Good Life"
I picked up the other day "The Creative Spirit" by Daniel Goleman and found one of my favorite people Chuck Jones had added a few of his cartoons being my favorite Wile E Coyote.
Chuck Jones "fearing the dragon of anxiety is the necessary springboard to creativity."
Concentrate on what truly matters and don't get caught up in the banter of life, tv, computers, all are distractions. Go for a long walk when needing refreshing or to clean out the trials of the day. Who doesn't think of great ideas or solve problems while showering or driving or on a leisurely walk.
"Four powerful tools for developing creativity.
Faith in your own creativity, absence of judgment, precise observation and penetrating questions. Remember the only dumb question is the one you do not ask."
Which brings me to add a note that I have declared 2015 to be the year of learning by asking dumb questions. If it saves me time or money I want to inquire as to "how" and learn. Humbling yourself by asking advice (something a lot of us have problems doing) is as it should be an adventure in learning.
"Interpersonal intelligence is knowing oneself". You know where you have doubts and fears or where you fall in your day to day creating journey so you know what needs to be worked on or supported. Everyone needs to embrace and cultivate this self knowledge.
"Life is, after all, not a question with an answer-it is a project to be lived." Eric Maisel
Listen to your inner thoughts more than the chatter of everyday demands, just remember to delete the negative. Mindless chatter does not benefit you, try to recognize beneficial ideas.
I wish I could watch Wile E Coyote cartoons in my studio all day as I work...I think it would add to my "joy", enjoy your creating.
"If one advances in the direction of his dreams, one will meet with success unexpected in common hours." Henry David Thoreau
Chuck Jones "fearing the dragon of anxiety is the necessary springboard to creativity."
Concentrate on what truly matters and don't get caught up in the banter of life, tv, computers, all are distractions. Go for a long walk when needing refreshing or to clean out the trials of the day. Who doesn't think of great ideas or solve problems while showering or driving or on a leisurely walk.
"Four powerful tools for developing creativity.
Faith in your own creativity, absence of judgment, precise observation and penetrating questions. Remember the only dumb question is the one you do not ask."
Which brings me to add a note that I have declared 2015 to be the year of learning by asking dumb questions. If it saves me time or money I want to inquire as to "how" and learn. Humbling yourself by asking advice (something a lot of us have problems doing) is as it should be an adventure in learning.
"Interpersonal intelligence is knowing oneself". You know where you have doubts and fears or where you fall in your day to day creating journey so you know what needs to be worked on or supported. Everyone needs to embrace and cultivate this self knowledge.
"Life is, after all, not a question with an answer-it is a project to be lived." Eric Maisel
Listen to your inner thoughts more than the chatter of everyday demands, just remember to delete the negative. Mindless chatter does not benefit you, try to recognize beneficial ideas.
I wish I could watch Wile E Coyote cartoons in my studio all day as I work...I think it would add to my "joy", enjoy your creating.
"If one advances in the direction of his dreams, one will meet with success unexpected in common hours." Henry David Thoreau
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