And Then There Was This One

 

Old School Selfie

Some ideas just flow beautifully like a serine creek in a quiet wood.  The idea comes whispering sweet nothings in your ear and the melody of the creative dance begins.  From start to finish it is a pleasure to manipulate the tools, found objects, and watch the seed of an idea grow.  You get the picture. 

Not this one.  Nope.  It came out spitting and hissing like a caged feral cat.  

                                           

Maybe it was because all of the parts had been sitting around in their respective places, not socializing with others.  I crafted the head out of air dried clay and left it unpainted, picking it up on occasion hoping to help it find its way.  The camera was passed from one, to another, then onto me so maybe it felt abandoned and therefore uncooperative.  

The application of the movement varied from moment to moment.  I started with an elaborate construction of a metal wire cage with gears.  No.  Next was a paired down version, removal of gears, addition of wire cam shaft. No.  Complete removal of wire cage, start over.  After a hard fought fight I ended up with a dowel connected to the viewfinder creating a tipping point, simple but somewhat effective at this point.   The crow awkwardly rocks back and forth with the use of a wire lead (seen in picture).  You just grab the wire and force her into submission.

The only highlight of this project, with the exception of when I finally called it complete, was making the wings.  Once, years ago I had some now forgotten brilliant idea to do something grand with those thick paper bar coasters touting which beer is the best.  Thanks to eBay I have a box of these packed in the deep recesses of my supplies.  With wire, the colorful coasters, and knowledge gained at an Arrowmont art class the crow is able to fly, so to speak.  Oh, and the eyelashes! It was with this glorious addition that I knew this drudgery of a piece was done.

Lastly, this project spent more time in a Time Out Bag than it did to actually complete it. The crow has no good side to photograph.  And to have the last laugh, I have run out of shelf room for bigger projects ( she is 16 inches high x 15 inches wide and 13 inches deep) so she sits on the dinning room table mocking me every breakfast. 

I'm sure I will come to revel in her awkwardness at some point.  Think positive!!

We are in the definite throws of summer with the heat keeping many inside.  Hopefully this finds you cool with a tall glass of sipping lemonade. you know the kind that makes you pucker with delight.

Peace,

Hilari

We Got Cows - Twister - 1996

 As time waned on my desire to communicate with others, both personal and online, waned as well.  Like an early spring breeze breathes life back into the world, seeing engagement of others has helped lift the gray of covid winter.  My hope is that it will quietly recede into the medical depths of normalcy but if not at least we are better adapted for what may come.

On to personal engagement...

New ideas have been in full flow with the reemergence of longer brighter days.  With the fleeting light of winter I hunker down with yarn and a cozy blanket but flower blooms and sunny warmth sends me outside where I work with other mediums.  This season has led me to creating hanging art mobiles.  It actually started in the winter gloom, creating a Twister movie themed one for my son.  This is one of his favorites, being way, way too young to watch and actually a bit traumatized until a close tornadic call in an open shelter at Boy Scout camp brought ideas of storm chasing into his forethought.  

My first completed mobile was made with a coke can, wire and string, experimenting with the process.  It flows as it should, easily in the breeze. I got this!  Now let's make one that does not follow traditional rules. Do I have this?? For those who have not seen this cinematic masterpiece ( I jest, there is no sitting on the fence with this one.  You either love it or hate it) there is a scene where cows are flying through the air.  This was my starting point.  I wanted the cows to look erratic, out of balance, as they should in the middle of a tornado, but after many unsuccessful drafts, continuing to prove to myself that drawing is not my strong suit, I ended up with very stoic, pasture grazing cows.  In the end I was just glad they looked like cows.  Next off to the wire wind vortices which came about with much more ease.  Again, taken from the movie was the addition of a car being swept away, as this was a pivotal scene.   Up into our small, full attic I go in search of one 4 x 6 inch box containing Micro Machines (there is a very small portable world full of cars and other transports vehicles which my son was gifted, bribed, when needed), finding one that was a perfect fit if not the right color.  A little spray paint and touch up with a sharpie, the hot pink hot rod was transformed.  Parts pre-assembled and looking great laying flat on the workspace, whooo, this is awesome.  Hum, huummmm, hum...having only made the one now I am in a quandary how to proceed.  I now needed to think through the weight counterbalance to make this work.  I left it on the worktable enjoying the awesomeness while being mocked by indecision until the solution of fishing weights woke me up one morning.  Having a stash of these I was able to adjust the length of wire and size of weight until the storm blew as I had thought it would.  

He loved it and all was right in the world.

I hope this season of sunshine and warmth finds you happy and healthy.

Peace,

Hilari