Pumpkins / Paper Mache

It has been a long time since I have posted to this blog. This is a paper mache pumpkin I created two years ago for a Halloween decoration for out doors. This is one of many created while I experimented with techniques and processes. The first ones were very crude and experimental and this is why they are not posted!
This attempt was finally close to the surface and paint finish I was aiming for.

This paper mache pumpkin is from 2018 and is about 24 inches tall. I am happier with the character development and a simple design allowing for an open bottom and easier placement of battery operated candle lights. I did discover that the lights had to be more than a single tea light at this size. The photos are not spectacular but at the time I sculpted this pumpkin, I had not intention of posting for sale or teaching methods. I will work on that.

Twig Man Doll

I made this doll from found twigs, a discarded alabaster candle holder, some felt, feathers and sculpy to make his face. The face was finished with acrylic paint to match the twig color and texture. My goal was to experiment with articulated limbs.

Gas pumps and a challenge from James Gurney

Took the challenge from James Gurney's blog site and painted gas station pumps last summer. The painting was not a super success but it was a learning experience dealing with guoache paint, July heat and using my newly constructed pochade kit on site. Thanks to my other half for help with the building of this handy unit ( picture below) and to James Gurney's site for information suggesting ways to build your own kit.

Black and white guoache painting on watercolor paper

Here is the set-up on site where I painted the gas pump.

USA gas station in Corona, CA

The pochade folds like a book with piano hinges. The upper part holds the watercolor paper and the horizontal half holds the palate with magnets and a hole cut for a cup of water. It is attached to a camera tripod. Only had to purchase a few pieces of hardware to complete the project. It worked well for me.

Pochade kit

Irish Story Telling

Spent an evening listening to a storyteller talk about the Irish History (especially the common folk), eating home style Irish food, hearing Irish folk tunes and speaking kindly of fairies. The link below gives detail on the evening's offering at Brazen Head Pub.

http://www.brazenhead.com/story-telling/index.php

This is Christ Church Cathedral. Our dinner mates tried to attend mass there on Sunday and were turned away because the church is anglican and they were catholic. This is evidence that the rules are still restrictive here on certain issues.

This is the River Liffey that divides the city into the north side and south side. It rises and falls with the tides from the Ireland sea on the east side of the island.

I composited four photos together to assemble a view of The National Museum of Ireland. The Museum building was originally Collins Barracks. The interior is a large square with buildings on all four sides. Unless my info is wrong it housed the British army while they occupied Ireland.
Below is a link for more information on the clothing collection. It was closed on Monday and I was unable to see the exhibit. My bad luck. I will have to try on the next trip to Dublin.

http://www.museum.ie/en/exhibition/the-way-we-wore.aspx

This is lentil and nut loaf. It was savory and warm and served with a shredded carrot salad. I have no idea if it is Irish, but I want to find a recipe and try this dish at home. It was served at the National Museum of Ireland. We have had some great food at the museums we have visited.

Dublin Countrysi

We took a bus out of town to visit Enniskerry, an estate with beautiful grounds, a Japanese garden and a golf course out front. The link will lead you to a brief history of the estate.

 http://enniskerry.ie/about/history

A view from the estate building looking toward the lake

Neptune fountain in the middle of the lake

Me in the Japanese Garden at Enniskerry

Looking back at the estate building from the garden

Picture of the golf course at Enniskerry for Craig

Dublin City Tour

Dublin Castle with the original Normandy tower to the right.

View of the original tower

Spent the day touring the city of Dublin looking at historical sites. Pictures come from the Dublin Castle and the Chapel Royal located there. Chapel Royal used while filming The Tutors. I will have to go back and watch for the scenes showing the interior of this place.

St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, St. John pictured in the stained glass window.

Sculpted head above the doorway with a key.

This sculpture is placed over the doorway as you enter the  Chapel  with the key in hand.



 

St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin built by Guinness family. 

Benjamin Lee Guinness at St. Patrick's

Add captionBottles at the Guinness Factory Tour

This is a detail from the stain glass window in Chapel Royal with the four apostles.

Don and Erin talking to Gerry at dinner at the Porter House Pub

Day spent traveling

We finally hit our hotel after about 16 hours of travel. Feel like I have been up forever. The weather is what we were told and the cool air feels great. No rain yet. Looking forward to the tour of Dublin. Love to here the Irish brogue!