"She Who Emerges", my first attempt to somehow marry driftwood and clay brought a refreshing break from fabrics, buttons and bows. I really enjoyed sculpting more body parts other than a face and I think she turned out pretty cute. I noticed a few areas that needed work, like her hands, arms, eyes...well, basically, everything but I still love her despite her flaws!
I really enjoyed teasing her out of the driftwood, working with the shape of the wood as inspiration and listening to the whispers of the spirit ready to be captured. I completed the sculpture but she didn't feel complete and so I started work on resolving those things that bothered me.
Her lovely hair, made out of twine, painstakingly separate, attached and braided, brought me one step closer. Still, there was room for something else, the crowning touch. I tried all sorts of things, sparkling beads, interesting buttons, nothing seemed to work. Then I tried this preserved moss which 'fit' her perfectly. The bottom 'fan' is a piece of dried moss that my husband had carefully packed back home from a hike in the mountains.
Finding just the right base that would be heavy enough and match with the other piece took a little time. Lastly, I shaved a bit of the clay, touching up parts of the wood with acylic paint and sealer. At last! She felt finished.
I'm working on a third driftwood sculpture right now, stalled out on the ears and debating whether she needs a wire armature to keep her head and arms positioned correctly. This work requires more planning and a precise rendering but I've been discovering more artists, like Jeanne Fry, who emphasize more stylistic sculptures and, hopefully, with practice, I'll be able to bring my own style out, pushing my skills and continuing my creative evolution.