Friday, December 26, 2008

End of 2008 - Short Video Review

Put these together on http://www.onetruemedia.com/ last night, and after I got to bed at 6 am... and up by noon, I spent the rest of today putting these together for you all. Hope you enjoy.

Here is a video of my collection of bronzes, available, in galleries. I want to take this opportunity, to thank Stellar Art Publishing, all those who believe in me there. I want to send my love and respect to all the galleries that show my work. A special love I have for all who have taken hard earned treasure and bought one of my works of art. Without all of you, I'd be a printer, or a ditch digger, or a vagabond and a rake... Love you all. The following videos are my way of giving all of you a party. Thank you so much.



Creation of Cheyenne Courtship. I started this one during the last part of 2007 and took it to the foundry in early part of this year.



Creation of Sacajawea started near the end of March of this year.

Iron Horns creation started Sept 17th, of this year

I know this isn't all that I did this year, but I need to stop now. I'm seeing double.. lol.

Happy New Year everyone. Hope everyone enjoy amazing health and happiness this coming year. If you make a lot of money, accept it, and move on.. haha.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - In Gallery

Here are the photographs of Iron Horn in the Mountain Trails Gallery. There are areas of minor damage.






Not sure what I'm going to do yet. Stay tuned.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Standing Again

Just a short update. Adonis Bronze had the clay of Iron Horn standing up within an hour of me being there last Friday. They would have taken him up to Mountain Trails Gallery today, but it's snowing very hard, so they're going to put that off for a couple of days. I'll add photo's if the foundry sends me any.
That's it for now.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Delivering Iron Horn - Disaster

Check out this video I submitted to YouTube. It covers everything from the 11th to this morning, with comment boxes to explain things more clearly. It's a condenced version of the past 4 days. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO6-c02grcE

Check back next week, and I'll update the progress as well as what happens to Iron Horn.

P.S.
It's Sunday morning the 14th. From what I've learned from Adonis Bronze, the day I dropped off this clay for repair, and from the UHaul guy here in town, as well as thinking about all the factors of this trip, I've come to this conclusion.
from what I've found out, from this experience, through the Board of Inquiry in my Mind, the whole thing was doomed to break no matter what I would have done. The extreme cold here caused a change in the clay, wax, and foam's make up. Combined with the terrible roads and the lack of weight in the back of the truck, it was bound to break... I'm just very lucky it didn't break more.
When I built the frame I was building it for the lightweight sculpture it was. I mean it only had a little over a 100 pounds of clay spread from the feet to the head. Most of the weight, probably 40 pounds was in the head alone. The frame I made would have held it all up fine. The large amount of wax from the string laying on the board would have been enough to hold whole thing to the base and should have given plenty of support for the ankles. But single digit cold, as it sat in the back of the truck over night, caused the wax to become very brittle. It broke easily away from the board. With the bouncing of the truck, due to the lack of any kind of weight in the back of the truck, well it just put to much pressure on the ankles, once the wax, that had been glued to the base broke it's bond, was just to much, so the ankles cracked. This put way to much pressure in the wrong direction on the flange holding the support pipe down to the base, and it tore out. Once that happened the supports were pushed up and they collapsed.
The foundry is going to put pipe, welded to a plate on the base and set the legs and the clay down onto that. So that the pipe will be inside the legs. But that will only go up to the knees. So now the knees will be the weak point. Even if it had stood up, in the back of the truck, the foam would have crumbled at the ankles or in the legs from the weight above it.
I know how I'll frame it next time and how I'll support it, next time. But I would be hard pressed to be talked into transporting it ever again 400 miles... 50 miles would be fine but 6 hours of bouncing isn't good.
Sorry, long explanation... lol I did what I did, with the knowledge I had at the time. I'm just very thankful that the damage wasn't worse than it was.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - A Lot of Grunting and Wheezing

Finally have the Clay loaded and ready for the drive tomorrow to Utah. What a total relief to have it packed away for the night.


Well that's it. I'll take video of the trip. When I arrive back home Friday, I'll put them on the blog. So check back on Saturday morning or afternoon.

I'm going to do some major cleaning both at my studio and home. I've let all that sit by the wayside for far to long because of the deadlines I had to meet on clay. I am going to take the rest of this month off and just gather my strength for the projects to come.

Hope you've enjoyed this past years creations. Would love to hear from you. So email me at mtlemon@gmail.com See you in January 2009. Can you believe it's been nine years since the Y2K scare... lol

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Finaly Ready for Delivery

I brought Iron Horn to within a couple of weeks of being completely done. It's done enough to show it in Mountain Trails Gallery in Park City for the rest of winter. So I'm crating it up tomorrow afternoon and loading it into the UHaul for the trip to Utah. I'm going to try and beat a major snow storm coming in on Saturday from here in Montana down to Utah.


Ok, one at a time, here are the final photographs of this clay as of late tonight. I hope you enjoyed watching the birth of this clay, those of you who checked in every day. Thank you so much for taking this journey with me.









I'm feeling the weight of the incredible privilege I was given to be able to create such a piece. You really feel a religious emotion when you complete something. I'm feeling that now. I want to thank Mountain Trails Gallery and Adam, in Park City Utah, who commissioned me to create this piece, and Stellar Art Publishing for giving me the opportunity to do this. Without people of vision like these people, this world would be so different and a bit dull.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Almost Done

Started out the day preparing my clay. I decided to replace the quill roach I did yesterday. After looking at old paintings of roaches from the early 1800's, I decided the one I was creating was lacking. So after getting the clay ready, I started the new roach.


Then I turned my attention to the shoulder strap for the shot pouch as well as the design on the shirt.

Yes, I was very tired at the end of today. Making that fur texture was very tiresome. My hand and fingers were smarting. Still it was a very stimulating day. Getting this far today was fun. Final photo's below.


Back at it tomorrow. Ok, my shoulder hurts, my back is definitely back there. I am feeling pain. Hot shower time.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Hair and Roach

Roach headdresses were usually worn by warriors and dancers. Like warbonnets, roaches are traditionally men's head wear, not worn even by female warriors. In some tribes, individual men chose to wear porcupine roaches while other men did not.
Today I start the Porcupine Roach for this warriors head. Here are some references that inspired the original hair style and also examples of Roaches.


Here are pictures showing the original Marquette of this life size. The small version of Iron Horn. just to give you some reference as to what I'm doing. As you can see, the roach in the original was shorter. I chose to make it longer for the affect to the viewer.

Here is a short video of the start of the hair and roach

Tomorrow, I may re-do the roach. Looking at the video I saw a way that I could make it better and more dramatic. At least that's what I'm thinking now. Tomorrow may bring no change... Some final shots today.


Saturday, December 6, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Finished the Beads

At the end of the day, I had the hair started, and the beading, done... Whoopy. Here are final photo's of the clay at the end this day.


Friday, December 5, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - The 5 Day of December

I start out making a quirt. A quirt or ridding crop, is used to whip the horse into action, but Indians made them to do double duty. They could be used as weapons. This crop will be hanging from the wrist of the hand holding the gun.

Well that's all I could do today. My shoulders, still hurting from yesterdays bead making, were just to painfull. Put in a full day and was going to put in some more time.. but just could take the pain any longer today. I'll be better tomorrow.
Here is a final photograph of the new fringe and beads on the right shoulder. Tomorrow the left shoulder.


Thursday, December 4, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - 4 more plates

Just home again making beads, beads, beads, and many more beads.


Back in studio tomorrow... to add these beads to the clay.

1:30 am... Just finished making 3 and 3/4 plates of beads for tomorrow. That's not a straight all day thing, just did it off and on all day. My shoulders and hands were getting tired and knotted up... so took a break every so often and worked the kinks out. It's now 3:30 am and finally getting to bed. Kinda get wound up doing beads. Took time to whined down.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Finaly starting to take shape

Making beads and a brief Lemonized history of the bead trade.


Once all was finished at home I headed to the studio and started adding what I just spent three days creating.

Just some pictures at the end of today.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Shield Feathers Today

Again I'm working at home. Still healing.



Here's nine 7 hours of labor. Ready to be installed on the lifesize.



I hope to be back in studio tomorrow.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Worked at home today

I received a cut to the calf of my right leg Thursday. Saturday evening I ended up going to the local doctor to have it looked at. It was infected. So I've been on antibiotics for the past three days. It's so much better today, but I just don't want to aggravate it with a pants leg and the environment of the studio for at least one more day.
I decided to make strings of beads today in my home office. Here is a photo of a string of clay beads. I cut at every 7th bead. The marks on the cutting board align with each bead. This Helps speed up the work.


The video shows the stings stacking up.

Well that plate and one other full plate was a full days work. I'm going to try to get two more plates filled. I will probably work at home again tomorrow. I'll make more beads and then create the seven feathers for the shield here as well.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Rifle Sagging

Started this morning by painting the wax fringe. Painting the wax shows me were I need to fill with clay to eliminate the crevasses. I spent all morning working on that and filling in behind the fringe, with clay, to make it easier for the foundry to cast this piece. Easy equals less cost.


I then started to add beads to the right sleeve.



I then noticed one of the fingers on the hand holding the gun was missing. Searching the floor and I found it under the base of the clay. Then I then investigate why that finger fell. Turns out the rifle was starting to sag. If this was going to stand in a gallery all winter in clay, I had to figure out a way of anchoring the rifle better. So it was then that I decided I need another week to finish this clay. So now I've delayed transporting this clay to Park City Utah an additional week. So a little relief there. Still a lot to do before packing up the clay though.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Will I Finish by Next Thursday?

Yep that's the question, as I started today. I'm shooting to have this piece 80 to 90 percent done by Thursday of next week. Then Friday I have to build the crate around it, so I can transport it to Mountain Trails Gallery next Saturday. I'm just not sure if I can. I have an awful lot of stuff to do yet. It's kind of keeping me up at nights. Must think positive..
Well today I worked on the beaded and quill worked square on the Indians chest. Then later in the day, I started to add the fringe onto the sleeves and the shirt using my twine in wax method.



Here are photos of the clay as of this evening. I added a photo from the 17th of September, when I started to work on this piece, just to give a perspective of how far I've come since then. (Remember you can click on the photo to make it larger)


Tomorrow, back to the beaded areas of the shirt. Once I finish that, I'll be able to start the hair. I'll hold off on filling the fringe negative areas till I get all the hair and the rest of the headpiece done. See you tomorrow evening.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Fringe and more Fringe



Spent the whole day cutting fringe for the war shirt. I'll spend all day tomorrow doing the same. So nothing of interest to show today.
Have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow. Hope you can spend it with family and friends. I'm so thankful for the people who come and view my blog. Thank you for your visits and the occasional comments. Love you all.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Hand That Holds the Gun

Today was spent on the right arm and hand.

Here are final photographs of the clay as of this evening. Note the scalp locks hanging from the rifle. They were made with willow and stretched leather where the scalp would have been stretched. I'll add wax to the skins and then sculpt the hair later



Monday, November 24, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Left Hand

I had just enough time to work on the left hand today. Had to go to the foundry in Bozeman.

My camera batteries died. So that's all the video today. See you tomorrow.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Body Fully Covered

Well finally, I covered the whole body of the Indian in clay, today. I started the day, cutting up the block of clay into manageable pieces.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Two days

This first video was from yesterday. I had to run to Bozeman late yesterday afternoon, so was unable to add to the blog last night.

Today, I started fine tuning the rifle, and then started to add clay to the arms and chest of the Indian. Towards the end of the video, I add the wide duct tape to the shoulders. This shows me how it will look with the beads on his shoulders.

This set of photos show how this clay is taking shape.


Ran out of clay, so had to stop and let a new block of clay soften for tomorrow. I went back in about 7 pm to cut down that block and then I put in another block to soften. I'll cut that one up tomorrow morning.
A photo I took on the way home tonight. Just love these mountains.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Cardboard, Foam, and Towel

Started out the day, drawing the outline for the shield, will be mounted on his back, on cardboard. I then cut out the shield and applied clay to the front and back of the cardboard. Tomorrow I'll put detail into it. Feathers will be hanging from the bottom of the shield.


Then I drilled two hole in the butt of the rifle. Then inserted two copper tubes in them and then anchored the tubes. I then drove the tubes into the foam at the waist of the Indian. This will hold the rifle in place. Then I added foam to the arm holding the rifle.


Now I add foam to the right shoulder.


Then to save clay, I dipped a towel into wax and then added it to the back of the Indians head. This will be the base for the hair.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - No Time



Here are final photos today of the clay. Remember to click on picture to increase the size.


Starting tomorrow, I'll be just videoing at the end of the day, and show the progress I've made that day. I have to stop doing the instructions. I have two weeks to finish this piece and it just takes to many minutes out of the day to make a photo or video biography of it's creation. I'll be putting in much more time, and hopefully you'll see a speedy progression. What takes the most time are the details. I have a lot of details to put into this piece before I set it up at the Mountain Trails Gallery, in Park City, Utah, the first week of December. The clay will reside there through the rest of the winter. So if your near Park City, stop in and take a look.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Headdress Feathers

Today I spent making the feathers for Iron Horns headdress. (Refer to videos on yesterdays entry on how I created these feathers)


Monday, I start on the upper part of the war shirt and once I finish that, I'll start on the hair and then the headdress of the warrior.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Feathers

Just want you to know, I get home with a couple of hours of video, and I spend about 3 to 4 hours editing it down to about 10 to 12 minutes. I'm sorry if sometimes the videos seem kinda boring. I just don't have the talent to add music and video tricks.
I started the day, with the objective to produce at least one of 8 feathers I'm going to have to produce for Iron Horn.


Have a great weekend everyone...

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - A Face Appears

A Face Appears today.



Here are final photos of the clay.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Trip to the Foundry in Bozeman Today

I traveled to Bozeman today to meet with a client at the foundry there. On the way back, on a cold rainy day, I took these two photographs from Norris Pass looking south. McAllister, which is a bar and an abandoned gas station, is the area to the far lower right in the trees. Ennis, where I live, is in the center of the photograph in those trees, 6 miles south of McAllister.
The Bozeman trail ran along the base of the western hills to the right.



This is a photo of the Valley Garden Ranch, north of Ennis. That's the Gravelies in the background. One of the last Wild Mustang Horse Herds runs in those hills further south.

Will not be in the studio tomorrow.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - 3rd Day on the Rifle

I will be putting brass tacks on the wax rifle. I know that Gloria 'D' up in Virginia City has them. Her husband, Joe Red Feather, came to my studio a few days ago. So I traveled the 14 miles over the Gravely range of mountains.


Once Back at the studio, I'm back at the rifle.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - A Wax Rifle


Just thought I'd share a view of the valley I live in again. The mountains on the east part of my valley, tonight. Again cold.


The very distant peaks are mountains just south of Henry's Lake, in Idaho. About 50 to 60 miles south


Just having dinner.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Starting the Rifle

I started the day cutting off parts of the foam on the left shoulder and arm. Then I got to creating the armature for the right arm, and then started to re-create the rifle.


Here are pictures of the model, Micheal Terry, with rifle in hand, with scalps hanging off of it, as well as pictures of the actual rifle, and now my reproduction of that rifle.


On the way home tonight in windy and 29 degree weather, I took this photo of the Madison Mountain Range, as the sun was getting low in the west.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Down From on High.. kinda

Well today is election day. Before I voted, today, I took Iron Horn to the next level in it's creation.

It is getting exciting now.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Joe Stops By

Today I worked on the Shot Pouch that hangs on the warriors right side.

Joe Red Feather (his Indian name), from over the hill, in Virginia City Montana Stopped by my studio late this afternoon. I put him to work.



Joe is a War Chief of the Ogallala Sioux. When Joe was named a War Chief, he was told that his battle, or war, would be against drugs and alcohal abuse and any form of physical abuse against others.
Red Cloud was a famous War Chief of the Ogallala Sioux. Here's a bit of the history of this tribe.
The Oglala Lakota or Oglala Sioux, (IPA: [ogəˈlala]), meaning "to scatter one's own" in Siouan, live in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota bordering Nebraska and 50 miles east of Wyoming, the second largest reservation in the United States. The reservation has broadly three parts, pine covered hills and ridges, grassy plains and a desert area. All three parts are noted for natural beauty. The Oglala Sioux see themselves primarily as part of the Lakota Sioux people. The Oglala Sioux, along with the six other groups of Lakota, had separated from each other by the early 19th century. By 1830, the Oglala had around 3,000 members. In the 1820s and 1830s the Oglala, along with the Brules (another division of Lakota) and three other Sioux sects, formed the Sioux Alliance. This Alliance caused much warfare between the Western Sioux and surrounding tribes for territorial and hunting reasons.
After being moved several times during the 1870s, the Red Cloud Agency was relocated one final time in 1878 and renamed the Pine Ridge Reservation. By 1890, the reservation included 5537 people, divided between at least 30 distinct bands.
Well I'm done till Monday. See you guys then.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Adding More Clay

Not much to see today. Just spent the day adding clay to the bottom of the shirt and the loin cloth. My camera batteries ran out. So not much to show.


I decided to come back in about 8pm and work on Iron Horn a bit more. Here I am adding clay while listening to a 1940 interview. Featuring H. G. Wells when he was in his 70's and Orson Wells. Talking about the famous War of the Worlds show that played on October the 30th 1939. Just thought it was interesting so I put the whole video here, with the interview in the background.


The begining of this video you'll hear Orson Wells with the final lines from the War of the Worlds radio show. I just love it.

Final video showing Iron Horn as of the night before Halloween 2008.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Reference Material Can Be Found Anywhere

Since I'm a Western Bronze Artist.. I'm always on the look out for reference material. You just never know when your going to come upon a bit of good reference.
Today, after getting back from Bozeman, I stopped at the local grocery store here in Ennis and saw a cowboy go into the store. What caught my eye was the great hat he was wearing.
As I walked to the store I saw his saddle in the back of his truck. I ran back to my van and grabbed my digital camera and shot these photo's.


That is a ranch jacket tied on the back of the saddle.. I may use this for a future piece. Always carry a camera.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Dragnet.. And Foam

Finished up cutting up the wax I started to soften on Thursday.



Guess I should explain the Dragnet in my title for todays entry. I was listening to that show on Old Time Radio, XM Channel 164. I love that channel. Well at one point in my video below, the show's, Dum da dum dum, played.. at an interesting point. You'll just have to watch to see what I'm talking about. Today I worked on creating a foam filler for the Indian's shot pouch, or shooting pouch. "POSSIBLES" were kept in the shot pouch. These were small, but highly important collection of valuables the trapper or Indian kept by his side in his shooting pouch, which could mean the difference between life and death when put afoot without a rifle. Of course the Indian did have hand made weapons to fall back on.

Well that's it folks for the weekend.. Till next week.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Hunter's Feed today

Well I won't be in my studio today. Every year we have what's called a Hunter's Feed. It's where the people of Ennis, and the Madison Valley cook up main courses, using nothing but game meat. They set up on the sidewalks of down town Ennis, and you walk up and down both sides of main street getting samples from each of the locals who cook. It's to welcome the hunters who come to this area for the Opening of Hunting Season on Saturday. Please enjoy this video I shot today during the feed.



Now I don't hunt. Never had the time to. At these hunters feeds, I've eaten everything from black bear, which is a lot like pork, to mountain lion stew. Didn't ask for seconds on that one. Alligator was not bad. Love snake meat.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Shirt Fringe

I spent the first few hours of today at the studio, filling in gaps in the fringe on the legs. Then I prepared the clay for the days work.
Here are photo's showing how I anchored the bottom of the spear to the base of the life-size. I used screws to surround the pipe. This holds it in place. I then tape the spear to the hand to hold in place. I'll get to the spear later.

I now prepare the clay that's been softening. I cut it into smaller, and more manageable pieces. I apologize for the sound. Had the heater on, and the air from it must have been hitting the mic on the camera, distorting the sound. Here are video's of how I create the shirts bottom edge fringe.



After doing the fringe out of clay, I realized, clay could easily be damaged because it's so soft. So I had to start again by using wax. If you have any questions about the type of wax or clay I use and where I purchase it, feel free to contact me at mtlemon@gmail.com



Final, detailed, photo's of the fringe painted at the end of the day.

Winterizing

Winterizing my home on Wednesday... So was unable to get to the studio.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Foam and Wax

Had a short day today at the studio. The following video explains what I did this afternoon.


Thought I'd show you a short video of my trip from my studio to my house. It was just starting to snow.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Iron Horn - Monumental - Filling In - Old Wax

Finished up filling in holes on the fringe of his left leg and then created the bead and quill work on the left moccasin.



I received, a wax that had been in storage for almost 20 years, at Valley Bronze in Oregon today. I completed the clay of this piece, Custer, on March the 15th 1987. Just thought you'd like to see the piece. Haven't had a photo of it in years.