Wax Bloom

Working title is “Self Portrait XIII”, but maybe I’ll call it “Surly II” when its finished – which it nearly is.

Some in progress photos:

Carbon Pencil on Card Stock

Colored Pencil on Pastelbord | 9 x 12"

Colored Pencil on Pastelbord | 9 x 12"

I had a pretty fantastic beard for the last half of 2013, and felt it needed to be immortalized in a drawing, so that’s what this portrait will eventually represent. Beard awesomeness.

The first person that makes a “Duck Dynasty” reference gets a punch in the nose. Just fair warning.

I really wish I hadn’t painted him. And then glazed him. I’m going to stop doing that … I hate the way they end up looking. The clean, matte finish of baked sculpey is so much more appealing.

The reason I painted him gray in the first place was because I have a can of textured spray paint that is supposed to make things look like stone, but there was too much texture, and after applying it there was a tremendous loss of detail. So, I cleaned it all off and in a fit of “eh, screw it” I glazed him. I regret not leaving well enough alone and leaving him as he was when he came out of the oven.

Oh well.

I’ve found a small, wooden container among all the random bits of stuff in the closet in my studio and have mounted Grimmy’s head to the lid.

I’ve been playing around with polymer clay again, super sculpey to be specific, this time making a gargoyle/goblin/thing. First, the original sketch:

Now, with a bit of progress:

And a little more …

And where he is as of now, recently given the designation “Grimmy Bignose” by my kids.

Carbon Pencil on Colourfix Paper | 9 x 12"