Peter has been busy adding fine details to the two mermaids using a variety of techniques. The seaweed and shell clothing was added by hand with sculpting epoxy. He then drilled some holes into the sculpture and fashioned some beautiful knots onto them. Then he brushed on a thick coat of Coastal Enterprises’ heavy bodied primer and then he quickly created the delicate woodgrains by dragging a variety of different tools through the wet primer. when the water based primer dried he used a cutoff wheel in an angle grinder to create some deep splits in the wood, carefully following the undulating lines of the woodgrain. Now Becke will work her painting magic to make the beautiful pair of sculptures look like 200 year old antiques. Stay tuned…
Just enough detail
As I designed and fabricated the little hot rod I often pondered how much detail to include. The little car, of course, had to be believable and it had to look like the real thing. But it also had to withstand the rigours of thousands of eager guests sitting in it, leaning on it and playing around the little car. The features I did include had to be virtually bullet proof. And so the particulars are often suggested rather than being totally accurate and functional. The butterfly valves of the intake scoop are sculpted in one piece. I omitted the fragile throttle linkages that should have been there. Other details I did include, like the spark plug wires, I fashioned from sturdy, steel pencil rod rather flexible wires. Gas and brake pedals were left out along with the shifter for they would be tripping hazards and most likely not survive unless people pushing and pulling them endlessly. But there are still plenty of components abounding throughout the little hot rod. People’s imagination will fill in what isn’t really there. The biggest ingredient I included was a whole lot of fun!
Mermaids - a pair
Peter has been busy fiddling the details on the two mermaid figureheads and they are coming along beautifully. One of the pieces is now fully detailed and textured with woodgrain and the other mermaid will be at the same state before the end of day tomorrow. Then it is on to paint. These pieces are going to look fabulous in place and that will happen very soon!!
