Tutorial Tuesday - Clay Birds with character

Yet another bird came to town, this time in the form of 'Hortense'.  I think that she is a duck, well my Grandson stated quite clearly that he thought it was a duck - who am I to disagree!  

Doing something different with the clay

She is not the final bird I will be making but I thought it would be a good idea to get on the road to finishing the many projects that I have laying around and that are bursting to be completed.

I think that I have finally convinced myself that I like working with clay and sculpting and my sculpture pinterest board is building up some amazing pieces of work by very talented artists who are also an inspiration.

I would really encourage you to give it a try, there are loads of courses, tutorials and videos that will show you the ropes, all you have to do is get some clay and start to play and don't worry what your first piece looks like, as you progress you will be surprised at the results.  Working with clay also has some therapeutic benefits that are worth exploring.

This bird was fun to make especially adding the accessories

Selection of the birds I have made so far

I will have some more art dolls to share and some larger pieces at the end of the week, and I am super excited by these pieces and can't wait to show you them along with some other paintings that I have been doing.  Until then stay blessed and be a blessing!

Material Mondays - Music Shakers

For the past couple of years my mum – who has dementia has been finding textures quite fascinating especially the kitchen table which has a tiled effect – being smooth and cold to the touch.  I realised that texture is important to her and I am in the process of putting a few things together that will not only be stimulating but provide some therapeutic benefit for her as well, so while she is not able to communicate how it feels she can express it in other ways with a smile of remembering what she used a particular material for or just go with the experience.

I have found that music is also something that she really enjoys, and made these shakers, because music therapy is something that can have a great impact on those who are dealing with dementia.  These shakers are made from a variety of materials and I will see which one/s she prefers holding.

 

Shakers filled with pulses and covered with a variety of materials

I made them because sound and music can have such a positive effect on our health.   While I have been caring for mum for over 15 years I am still learning about dementia, how it has affected her and how it continues to affect her as her health declines.  Loneliness and isolation is something that many elderly go through, even those who are carers can find the role goes hand in hand with isolation.  I have found that until you have experienced dementia, or know someone who has you really don’t have any idea of the impact it has on lives and the once simple things that you took for granted can no longer been seen in the same light.

Duct tape shaker

I know that it has changed me in so many ways, and talking about the experience helps others to understand from another perspective.  I have shared much in this blog and you can find a link HERE and sharing is a good thing, even those hard to express parts knowing that you are not along in the walk can make such a difference.

Washi tape shaker

I made these shakers very easily with paper towel rolls and toilet roll tube.  You can fill them with a variety of materials, pulses, dried pasta, lentils, or a mixture.  

Fabric tape shaker

It is good to experiment cause they make different sounds depending on the size, you can cover them with whatever material you desire, and I have used duct tape, washi tape, fabric tape and chamois leather.  

Chamois leather shaker - painted using stencils

My favorite is the leather because of the scent as well, and I am looking forward to seeing which one becomes mums favorite and will let you know how she gets on with them.

Do share what you create and how you use it, remember as you are a blessing you will be blessed.

Gratitude's and Celebration - Week 78 - Growth

Gratitude’s and Celebration – Growth

We all want to grow and much of the time the experiences we go through can be instrumental in that growth.  Our experiences are not always positive and we can often search ourselves to find out why it may have happened to us, or what we could have done differently and more importantly I think we need to think about what we learn about ourselves through those experiences.

Growth

I see everything we go through as potential room for growth depending on our perspective.  Each experience has something that we can learn about ourselves or the world around us, and eventually we will be able to share what we've learnt for someone who is going through or experienced the same thing.

I have learnt many things thorough my experience with my mother who has dementia, I learnt about strength and faith - my mothers and my own that has developed and carried me through.  I learnt value of changing relationships, and with time adapt to the changes that come and make room. So many situations over the years that had a different impact on my life but enabled me to view it from a different perspective and share my story with others.  

I celebrate and am grateful for continued growth in my life, that has impacted and helped inform the person I am today.

Gratitude's and Celebration Journal - Growth

Where have you felt that the most growth has occurred in your life?

I am on a creative journey in my journal and hope you come along and join me. Why not start your own journal, keep it as simple or complex as you wish, but do something!

Gratitude and Celebration Journal

Material Mondays - Clay Adventures - sneak peak

For those of you who have been visiting regularly you will know that I have started to do quite a bit of work clay and sculpting and it is another creative activity which I intend to incorporate with what I do as a mixed media artist.  Whilst working with the clay, I am still incorporating different mediums together to get the final piece complete, and some that I have made before have included fabric, beads, and jewelry.  You can see some of the things that I have created so far HERE

I thought I would give you a few sneak peaks of what is to come on the clay front, and I have been beavering away with ideas and really enjoying the process.

Work in progress clay duck ready to be complete

I have expanded from creating the smaller dolls to bigger pieces and at some point I would love to create life size pieces, but currently don't have the space so I praying into that, a lovely big studio space is now what is needed to do bigger art pieces.

Work in progress - figure

These figure sculptures are around 12 - 15 inches tall, and what I find myself doing is starting quite a few at the same time, so when one piece is drying I can move on to the next.

Clay artwork waiting to be completed and go on a new journey:)

I have quite a few that are waiting to be complete, and I am so excited I can't wait to finish them.   I am still playing around so I haven't yet found the one style that I want to work with.  I am finding myself thinking a lot about what I want the sculptures to say, their clothes the way they hang, and the story that they can tell as they reach completion.

Larger art work to be completed.

Over the next few weeks I will completing the pieces, in between travelling and working on other ideas - I have made a sculpture sketch book to put new ideas in and reign myself in a bit.  I will be sharing the completed pieces here on the blog, do come back and take a look.  Stay blessed and be a blessing!