I live in Cordova, Tennessee in a house that is on the edge of the Memphis city limits. There are woods behind and on one side of the house so I love seeing deer, rabbits and other misc. critters wandering around us. Animals inspire much of the work I do in my studio in the upstairs part of the house. I worked as a graphic designer and then as an illustrator for many years and began making sculpture about 15 years ago. I've had shows at Memphis' Cooper Street Gallery, Jay Etkin Gallery and Winter Arts. I sell my work in the Brooks Museum of Art gift shop and online.
This gorgeous Black Swallowtail butterfly has been busy checking out all my Zinnias this morning so I couldn't resist taking his picture. I suppose he's a he and not a she. Not sure how one would tell.
Here's a peek at what I've been working on lately. I was working on four dolls, as you can see by their various parts scattered around my work table, but I decided to go ahead and finish Mr. Horse. He's being made out of Papier Mache and I'm still trying to decide how I'll paint him. I've also started a dog sculpture a cat sculpture. Making crazy animal sculptures is just something I have to do every now and then for therapy. :-)
I'm not quite finished with her but I'm not sure what else I'm going to add to her ensemble. A hat or shawl perhaps? Anyway, I thought I'd show you how she's coming along so far. I don't have a name for her either. Any suggestions?
Here's the next dolly I've been working on. She's a bit smaller than the last two. Her body is already made and she'll be about 15" tall when she's all put together. I've done her hair in an elaborate Romantic Era style so I'm planning a costume for her of the same period.
Well here they are, Maggie and Jiggs! It took me forever to get their clothes just right. I did a lot of research to see how they dressed in the cartoon strips and wanted to stay as true to that as possible. I made several outfits for Maggie but none of them really suited her until I found this black and white fabric. Somehow it just works for her!