Mixed Media Sculpture

I sketch and refine my character ideas using a wide range of reference materials including books on costume history, art, fashion, fiber arts, and sculpture. The busts are sculpted out of polymer clay over an armature with a rod that mounts on the pedestal. Next, they are cured, sanded, and polished to a soft luster. I paint all of the features by hand and hand-dye natural fibers to make the wigs. The costumes are embellished with trimming, beading, and a wide range of decorative materials. The pedestals are designed to enhance the character of the bust. The vessels are made in much the same way. I create the textures with impressions from tools and various objects. The finials are made of glass and metal beads, wire, and other embellishments.

Materials

I am a pack rat and collector of treasures old and new. This feeds my passion for working with a diverse range of exotic, unique, and lush materials. My studio contains a vast collection of vintage fabric, buttons, beads, handmade lace, fine silks, feathers, found objects, pieces and parts from jewelry, molding and hardware from antique furniture, and whatever I discover in attics and antique stores. I also use a variety of polymer clays, resin castings, paints, dyes, lacquers, mohair, trims, semiprecious stones, glass beads, and glues. These wonderful, diverse materials comprise my palette and provide an opportunity to experiment and explore a wide range of possibilities as I create each piece.