Tuesday, July 27, 2010

TBAI Gallery - so far!

Here's a sneak peek at the Hobbit House I'm making for my little Bilbo bear for the Gallery of TBAI next month. I brought the piece home from the art center where I've been working on it and waiting for it to dry so it could be fired in the kiln. I decided to paint it with oils and acrylics rather than use the glaze which is used routinely on ceramics. It's made from the same clay used for teapots and other stoneware objects.
Cleo immediately had to taste it to make sure it wasn't some new kitty treat! The house is sitting on a plywood board with a layer of foam rubber on top to prevent damage on the way home.
So this is how the painting is going so far. I began sculpting the house a couple of months ago when I picked "The Hobbit" for my gallery piece. I hope to make a little booklet with all the steps involved in making the piece. You can see a little bunny on the right of the photo that I've sculpted from polymer clay. He's not painted yet and there's an owl, too, that may just sit in one of the trees. I'll be sure to show you little Bilbo bear before I leave for the show!
Oh, by the way, with lots of things going on here, I'll probably not list Beezer and Lady Buggly on Ebay until I return from TBAI. I hope to have some photos of the bears (and an elephant and a turtle) that are going to the show.

4 comments:

Elanor Clare Andrews said...

Oh my Donna that is amazing, you are so talented, I soooo can't wait to see it for "real" and I'm very much looking forward to meeting you too!
See you soon
Hugs
Elanor x

Donna Griffin said...

Thanks, Elanor! I hope I can get it to Binghamton without breaking it!! I'm really looking forward to seeing you soon!!
Lotsa hugs,
Donna

Carolyn said...

Donna, it looks wonderful. The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series are my absolute favorites. I am SOOOO disappointed that I won't be able to attend the TBAI this year. I will miss seeing you and your wonderful show piece. Please take plenty of pictures to share with us. I wish you safe travels and good luck with the judging. I'll be with you in spirit!!!

Many Hugs,
Carolyn

Donna Griffin said...

Thank you so much, Carolyn! I am so sad to hear that you won't be at TBAI this year. I do plan to take camera, laptop, and (and this is what I forgot last year) the cable to connect the two. I shall report on all the festivities. Hopefully, I'll have more photos of the gallery piece before I leave...and some of the trials and tribulations involved! You know the old saying of "which came first, the chicken or the egg?" well, I've made two Bilbo's and several parts of Gandalf to get the proportions as I want them. I'm very pleased and have now made some little furniture for the Hobbit House.
Thanks so much for writing, Carolyn, and I hope to see you soon! Love and hugs,
Donna