Wanting to further develop my characters and somehow incorporate a story became my next focus. I still wanted to make stand alone pieces but with a depth that I wasn’t able to achieve using the bold colours and doll like faces. I changed clay again after more research – there are more products on the market now than had been a few years ago. I settled this time on a Japanese clay. It is light, white, has virtually no shrinkage and sand to a porcelain finish.

I looked inwards this time to my own quirks and vulnerabilities to create a collection of 15 figures called ‘Being Me’.

The final pieces have a plaque attached to their wooden bases made from baked sculpey with the title of the piece. The pictures that follow were taken before the plaques were attached so that I could run a small print series from the photographs.

Being a deadline orientated person, I needed an event in order to create a collection of characters. I signed up to be a part of the Kapiti Arts Trail 2015 and then got busy making all these people for the two day exhibition.

Beautiful Helen. Full of compassion and love – your willowy self so courageous and strong. A gorgeous mother to your 3 beloved babies. A carer, a nurturer and a beautiful soul. I miss you.

 

 

This Domestic Goddess will bring a bit of magic into your home. She loves to dance the flamenco, enjoys high teas and an afternoon tipple. Clarissa May stands 150mm tall.

Phoebe is a nurturing spirit. She provides protection and safety for her growing family of feathered friends. Phoebe was created in stages, melding wet with dry pieces over several days. She stands at 170mm high.

The Gothic twins Edwin and Lilith are born. Adorned with some vintage rick rack trim and seed bead jewellery, these two stand as a pair at about 15cm tall.

Inspired by bathing caps and swimming costumes from the 1950′ s, Edith emerged.

Having sourced and trialed a variety of clay’s, I settled on one made in Barcelona. Nice. It has a low shrinkage rate, adheres wet with dry, and has a fine tooth. It is also very cost effective, which until I have fully developed my figures, is important.
I love the Barcelona puppets but wanted to create stand alone figures that would sit unaided, as artpieces, on a surface. The Bronte sisters were the first three of the block. Emily, Anne and Charlotte are molded around PVC plumb

ing couplings and stand about 11cm tall.

Out of a need to maintain a source of creativity in a smaller and non-toxic work environment I began searching for an outlet to replace oil painting. The process started in a the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona when I saw a quaint little shop with a window full of finger puppets.

I made a bee-line back there the next day and after much deliberation purchased these five little characters.

I loved the individuality of these puppets. With hand modeled and hand painted faces each had its own personality, they made me smile.