A Blinking Adornment

 

This little darlin' whispered to my psyche the she needed to be introduced in this world.  Having been working with metal lately, I had my supplies ready to make the eyes and mouth.  I patina-ed the eyes the same as if I was coloring copper earrings, using an ammonia fume.   Color was added to the mouth with heat and boiling water ( I have discussed the process in a past post).  After those steps were completed she unfortunately sat and patiently waited for inspiration to move me again.  I could see what I wanted but was not sure how to proceed.  This is a normal occurrence, at this moment I have a three ideas sitting in limbo, just waiting for their spark to light.  Again, she whispered, and it was non-stop until completion.  Her hair is made from batik fabric sewn into tubes and stuffed, then sewn onto the wire base. 

The coolest part is that she blinks!  There is a small lever on the right side of her face, and when rotated her eyelids open and close.  I used a wire wrap that I had seen in a jewelry application, where items could be caged then hung on a chain.  Instead of a full cage I only needed half for my purpose, leaving an opening for the eye to be seen.

This idea was driven by my sister-in-law, who sent information about wall art needed at a location she and her husband patron.  The problem is that I make shelf sitters not wall hangers.  Well, not anymore.  As I was thinking about construction I knew I wanted to be able to reproduce the idea, allowing for freedom of personality in each piece.  I believe I will have the ability to do this through manipulation of features, hair styles, and materials used.  I still have to work on how it hangs due to the fact that it has to come away from the wall to allow the eyelids to rotate.  Even though this one is stable, a bit of refinement is needed.  I have had a drawing of a man that chatters, his mouth opening and closing, for quite a while and this may be the perfect application to give him a voice, so to speak.

Today we say goodbye to football season with the playing of the Super Bowl, so I must be off to get settled in.  I do not have a dog in the hunt so I can just enjoy the action.  It will be a long wait until next season.

Peace,

Hilari