CLAY TO BRONZE BY ARTIST DAVID LEMON

A Fresh Start for 2009

2009-01-01T17:42:00.004-07:00

I've decided to start a fresh new blog for 2009.

CLICK HERE FOR MY NEW BLOG LOCATION

I'll still keep this blog up, just so you can come back and read past entries. See you at the new blog site.

David Lemon
http://www.bronzesbylemon.com/

End of 2008 - Short Video Review

2008-12-26T14:27:00.009-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - In Gallery

2008-12-18T17:41:00.002-07:00

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.

A Video Update on Iron Horn

2008-12-17T16:56:00.002-07:00

Iron Horn - Monumental - Standing Again

2008-12-16T09:10:00.002-07:00

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.

Delivering Iron Horn - Disaster

2008-12-13T11:08:00.005-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - A Lot of Grunting and Wheezing

2008-12-11T18:17:00.003-07:00

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

Iron Horn - Monumental - Finaly Ready for Delivery

2008-12-10T19:20:00.013-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Almost Done

2008-12-09T18:53:00.005-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Hair and Roach

2008-12-08T16:29:00.007-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Finished the Beads

2008-12-06T17:18:00.002-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - The 5 Day of December

2008-12-05T17:47:00.002-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - 4 more plates

2008-12-04T10:41:00.004-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Finaly starting to take shape

2008-12-03T17:46:00.002-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Shield Feathers Today

2008-12-02T18:30:00.003-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Worked at home today

2008-12-01T11:57:00.003-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Rifle Sagging

2008-11-29T14:14:00.004-07:00

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.

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

2008-11-28T17:29:00.004-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Fringe and more Fringe

2008-11-26T19:35:00.003-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Hand That Holds the Gun

2008-11-25T17:29:00.003-07:00

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

Iron Horn - Monumental - Left Hand

2008-11-24T19:42:00.004-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Shaft, Point, and Edge

2008-11-22T17:33:00.003-07:00

Iron Horn - Monumental - Body Fully Covered

2008-11-21T17:37:00.003-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Two days

2008-11-20T17:45:00.006-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Cardboard, Foam, and Towel

2008-11-18T18:37:00.005-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - No Time

2008-11-17T16:44:00.006-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Headdress Feathers

2008-11-15T18:19:00.004-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Feathers

2008-11-14T18:58:00.004-07:00

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...

Iron Horn - Monumental - A Face Appears

2008-11-13T19:47:00.005-07:00

A Face Appears today.

Here are final photos of the clay.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Final day on the Rifle

2008-11-12T17:25:00.002-07:00

Trip to the Foundry in Bozeman Today

2008-11-10T16:42:00.006-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - The Flint of the Flintlock

2008-11-08T13:05:00.009-07:00

Check back Tuesday.

Iron Horn - Monumental - 3rd Day on the Rifle

2008-11-07T16:55:00.004-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - A Wax Rifle

2008-11-06T18:15:00.007-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Starting the Rifle

2008-11-05T17:54:00.005-07:00

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.

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

2008-11-04T15:20:00.002-07:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Finally Done With The Lower Half

2008-11-03T17:16:00.004-07:00

Well that's it for today. Go Vote Tomorrow. I will.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Joe Stops By

2008-11-01T18:25:00.005-06:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - A Scary Day

2008-10-31T22:42:00.002-06:00

Iron Horn - Monumental - Adding More Clay

2008-10-30T17:19:00.004-06:00

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.

Reference Material Can Be Found Anywhere

2008-10-26T19:45:00.003-06:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Dragnet.. And Foam

2008-10-25T16:14:00.006-06:00

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.

Hunter's Feed today

2008-10-24T13:38:00.003-06:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Shirt Fringe

2008-10-23T16:40:00.007-06:00

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

2008-10-23T11:15:00.001-06:00

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

Iron Horn - Monumental - Foam and Wax

2008-10-21T19:34:00.004-06:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Filling In - Old Wax

2008-10-20T18:16:00.005-06:00

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.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Last of of the lower Fringe

2008-10-18T18:06:00.003-06:00

Final bit of fringe on the lower half goes onto the left leg.

First part of next week i finish up the lower half and then comes the upper half.

Iron Horn - Monumental - I had Visitors

2008-10-17T21:32:00.004-06:00

Today, I had two young missionaries from the LDS (Mormons, or Church of Latter day Saints) stopped by to visit.
My brother, Kevin, served a mission years ago in England. I met these two gentlemen a couple of weeks back at the Otterbanks Gallery and Gift Shop, while I was there working on "Ain't No Cowboy". Well they stopped by today and I made a video, so that their families and friends could see them.

I worked on the right moccasin and the bead work on the left leg today.

Here are the final photographs of the beadwork on the left leg. Tomorrow I add the fringe to the legging. Can't wait.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Still on the Fringe

2008-10-16T19:47:00.003-06:00

A Old Trapper Once Said Lewis & Clark Camped Here?

2008-10-15T19:10:00.013-06:00

The words in the title were taken from a very old weathered sign in Cardwell Montana. (Remember you can click on photos to make them larger)

The last two days, I've traveled to Bozeman to the foundry there, and to Butte Montana today on buisness. On these two trips I passed right by two areas where Lewis and Clark camped in the early 1800s.
Here are Photographs of those camp sites.

This is a photo of that scenery.

Next to the above wood sign is a bronze sign as well. It's pictured in the photo above.

Here is an area north of my home, near Cardwell Montana, is another campsite that saw a few members of the Lewis and Clark expidition camped in 1806. The campsite according to the sign shown below, is on the far bank of the river, somewhere between the two buildings.

This sign is right next to the above sign. The story covers the same area shown above.

The following photos are just scenes on the way home from Cardwell Montana today. The first is of the Jefferson River. The rest are of old cabins and buildings dating back to the late 1800's and early 1900's.

A pile sand and gravel that the road department loves to spread on our icy roads. The kind that break windshields. I thought the wind shaped pile was fasinating.

The picture below is what's left of a homestead that was built by a family with the last name Lemon. Wonder if they were related. We did settle the west in the 1840's. So it could very well be.

Tomorrow I'm back on the clay. Check back tomorrow night...

Winter's First Snow

2008-10-14T17:52:00.004-06:00

Rocky, and Kathy Hawkins, sent me these photo's of their place 30 miles north of where I live. in Harrison. They were taken this last weekend.
Ennis didn't get hit with as much snow. We just lost a tree across the street to the wind.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Paint and Fill

2008-10-13T17:47:00.006-06:00

I took a sample of the clay to the paint store and got paint mixed to match the color of the clay.

A photo at the endo of the day.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Fringe

2008-10-10T19:19:00.006-06:00

I'm trying something for the first time. Making fringe out of string. Here is a photo I took of the model, showing the moccasins and the leggings as well as the fringe.

I try one method. I tie a string onto two screws and then I measure and cut lengths of string and tie them to the string between the screws. I figure if I make a section of fringe, and then when I dip it in wax and place it on the leg it just might work.

Then I add glue to the knots.

Now here is a video, showing the method I finally came up with for making this fringe.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Lazy Stich

2008-10-09T19:03:00.007-06:00

Just as I was getting ready to do this days entry, I saw that this is my 105th entry since I started in March 2008 doing this.
Lazy Stich is the style of beading. It used to be called the lazy squaw stitch. Although "squaw" is a Algonkian word (not an English word) for woman, and is a perfectly good word, it's now considered by many to be a derogatory word. So I don't use it.
You can read more about this word here http://www.nativeweb.org/pages/legal/squaw.html
So today I started the bead work on the right legging of my life size warrior. Lazy stitch is illustrated in a crude drawing I've made below.

To make my wax beads look like rows of lazy stitch, I roll a piece of clay to place down the center of an area of beads to give it a raised base. I do that on both areas that the beads will be placed.

Now I start to form the beads (refer to the last entry for method).

After I've finished arrainging beads, I use a scraper to pick up a group of them, by just putting the edge against the edge of the wax. Then I position it and then place them. Pressing them down on both sides.

After several hours, I have the two rows of beads on the leg.

Tomorrow, and I can't wait, I start putting the fringe on this leg.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Still on Wrinkles

2008-10-07T18:55:00.006-06:00

It must seem to you, that it's taking forever to get done with something as simple as the legs... It ain't simple. The folds and wrinkles in the leather leggings have to make sense and since the leg is 360 degrees around, they have to work with the back of the leg as well as the front of the leg. Unlike drawing and painting, this is a 3 dimensional work.
Photographs below show the progression of forming these wrinkles.

Below is a photo of wax and a comb. You'll see a short video explaining both below the photo.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Lower half in Clay

2008-10-06T16:26:00.005-06:00

This morning I started on the left leg and foot.

Adding clay to the underside of the loin cloth and upper leg.

These are the final pictures of the day.

Iron Horn - Monumental - More on the right leg

2008-10-04T22:33:00.003-06:00

Spent the whole day working on the right leg. First photo show how it looked as I started the morning.
I then started a small detail. The fringe on the bottom of the legging cuff. They, by design are long and overlap the moccasins and then trail long leather strips to the outside (right) of foot. Mike, the model, had flipped up the bottom of the legging and used the long leather strip to tie it up. This freed up the bottom of the legging, making it easier to walk and ride. So I'm incorporating that feature in this clay. You can see the photo's of the model (Micheal Terry) on the base.

I spent the rest of the day shaping the right leg, and started to add clay to the loin cloths.

That's it for the weekend.. see you next week.

Iron Horn - Monumental - 1st Clay

2008-10-03T19:16:00.005-06:00

Started putting clay on the foam today. I start with the piece on my elevated turn table. I built this table years ago. I've used it for both this type of work and for models to pose on. It has a 12 inch lazy Susan between the box and the platform. It's very useful.
I start on the feet and work up.

Once I have the right foot finished, I start on the legging. I roll pieces of clay to form the wrinkles in the leather.

This is where the leg was at the end of the day.

Tomorrow I continue on the right foot and leg and start the left foot and leg. This is starting to get fun. Anyone want to help...? haha

Iron Horn - Monumental - More Foaming

2008-09-25T16:51:00.004-06:00

I added the rear Loin cloth. The I prepared the shirt to have foam poured in behind it to fill the empty cavity between the shirt and to foam Indian.
I spent the afternoon taping and plugging anywhere liquid foam might force it's way through. I still had a lot of leakage. Eventually the cavity was filled with foam.

The shirt bulged in the middle of the back so I had to remove the waxed dipped cloth from the new foam. I then carved off the bulge, and started shaping the back. I will probably remove the rest of the shirt tomorrow. Since the foam now is the base. I will still leave the long sections of leg skin hanging though.

That's it for today. The process of prep is very slow and deliberate. No rushing a life size piece. Every thing I do, has to be well thought out, when you do a piece this size. Mistakes can be magnified.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Reattaching and Foaming

2008-09-24T19:39:00.007-06:00

First off. This will make my sixth Life-size piece. Each one is new and has a set of obstacles that I have to solve. I've never had anyone show me how to do monumental pieces. I'm learning as I work on it. Each problem, has to be overcome. It's what makes it all so fun and interesting to do.
First thing I do today is reattach IH's left arm. I create a space between the main body and the arm then tape around the opening to create a space to pour foam into.

How do you create a space. I took scrap pieces of wood and pounded them into the foam body where the arm and shoulder were cut, leaving about a 1/2 inch of it above the surface.
I then put the arm/shoulder in position and put fondue sticks through the foam to keep it in place while I tape the opening closed. I then pour foam into the space. It works... lol

Now I start on his back and upper shoulders. I need to increase the depth of his upper body. I start by creating a tape reservoir to pour foam in. I take pieces of scrap foam into the space between the back and the tape. This pushes it out a bit. I finish the reservoir and then pour foam into it.

Here it is with the tape removed. I have to cut and shape the upper shoulders. I don't bother with the lower back because it will be covered with the clothing.

I then melt wax, and make a pattern for the back of the shirt. I cut it in the shape of a doe skin with the skin of the legs hanging down. I carefully dip the cloth into the melted wax and place it on the upper shoulders. I then shape the folds and put screws into it to hold it in place.

Tomorrow I'll back fill the space between the lower back and the inside of the shirt. I just have to figure out how I'll do that tomorrow..

Iron Horn - Monumental - Cleaning Up

2008-09-23T19:31:00.003-06:00

Just a photo I took in Yellowstone Park last Spring.

Nothing to show today. Just spent the day cleaning and trying to create more space to work in. Will be back on it in the morning though..

Iron Horn - Monumental - Adding and Taking Away

2008-09-22T16:30:00.005-06:00

I cut away the shot pouch, fringe on the shot pouch, and the right arm and shoulder. The reason for this major elimination is, when I created the small version in clay, I had to fill in crevasses to make it easier to make the mold. Because of this, it didn't transfer well into the blow up version. So I've cut away all that so that I can re-create the arm and shoulder as well as the pouch. Photos show the aftermath of this cut away.

Now I build a reservoir for foam on his backside. I needed to increase the size of his bottom. This is so, when I put the loin cloth over his butt, it will hang properly. I also had to build up the back side of his upper right leg.

I removed the paper and started carving and shaping. Then I had to make major changes to the Indians bottom. I had to cut away foam between the legs, because in a life size, you'll be able to see up between his legs under the loin cloth. So I had to give form to the upper part of the legs and make an area for the part between his legs.

At the end of the day, I had the basic shape formed in the areas that I added to today. Tomorrow I'll work on his shoulders and his back. I hope to add the back of his shirt in the afternoon.
I'm holding off adding the rear loin cloth till I get the legs sculpted.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Adding to the leg

2008-09-20T23:12:00.003-06:00

Spent the day today correcting a flaw in the life sized foam. The left leg, at the knee, was sunken, so I had to add foam to fill out the leg, so that it would look more natural. The following is a video of that. I also started to work on the front loin clot, and the left bottom part of the war shirt.

Well that's it for the weekend. Check back in next week, probably around Wednesday. Don't hold me to that though.

Iron Horn - Monumental - Feet and Lighting

2008-09-18T19:26:00.003-06:00

Today I built light stands to elevate my swing arm lamps so that I can control the lighting on the monumental piece I'll be working on.
What does a sculptor do, after all? We shape shadows till they make familiar forms. To create personality and mood, I constantly reposition the lighting. So I needed to make movable stands for this.
First I removed the tape from the feet where I injected foam the night before.

Now the feet can be reshaped. Next week, probably towards the end of the week, I'll be able to finally start to add clay to the foam.
That's it for today. Hope your enjoying these entries.

Iron Horn - Monumental - 1st day

2008-09-17T17:10:00.008-06:00

Today I got around to mounting the life size foam of "Iron Horn". I placed the platform on my home made, elevated, turn table.

Now once the foam is mounted with it's galvanized pipe support, I find the front of the feet have about a 1 inch space at it's toes.

I duct tape the sides of the feet, to confine the expansion of the foam, that I will inject under the feet.

Final pictures showing the full figure. I've added a photo of the original bronze just so you can compare.

Well that's it till next week, when I get the clay, then I'll be back with the application of the first clay.

Ain't No Cowboy - Small Details

2008-09-13T23:03:00.006-06:00

Today was spent just working on the face of the cowgirl. Just little details. Laboriously taking away small areas of clay, and adding micro areas of clay to other parts of the face. I added detail to the hair, and ears. Here is a photo of Lea Ann sitting for me, between customers, in her store.

Here is the piece as of 4 pm this afternoon.

I brought the head of the monumental foam of Iron Horn and compared it to the original bronze. Here is a photo of that. I am amazed at the technology that it took to create this replica. Just a few years ago, I'd of had to have the foundry point up the original. It would have taken weeks and cost 3 times as much as creating this foam to size.

Check back Next week. I'll be mounting the foam on it's platform. You'll want to see this. I still have a ton of detail work to do on the monumental piece. I'm really excited to share the creation of this piece with you. Hope you'll let me know what you think at mtlemon@gmail.com

Ain't No Cowboy - Minor Anatomical Adjustments

2008-09-12T16:54:00.006-06:00

Today was spent in the Otterbanks Gallery and Gifts. I made adjustments to the curve of the posterior and the cleavage of the cowgirl. Both were in bad need of refinement.
First I defined the curve of the buttock.

Next I had to improve her cleavage. Cutting away the shirt allows me to work on her chest without any hindrance. I use a brush soaked in lighter fluid to smooth the skin. Then I put the parts of the shirt back on that I cut away.

During the afternoon, we had a Homecoming Parade in down Main Street for Ennis High School. All the school grades took part. Thought I'd share some photo's of a small town parade.

Tomorrow I work on the pants and the face. Primarily the mouth and cheeks.

Picking up Iron Horn - Monumental Sized

2008-09-11T19:27:00.004-06:00

Today, with the help of my apprentice, Julie Burt, I traveled to the foundry to pick up the computer scaled up foam version of the bronze, Iron Horn http://www.bronzesbylemon.com/indians_Iron-Horn.html .
A wax was made of the small version of Iron Horn and sent to a place where they scan the figure into a computer and then, depending on the size, they scaled it up to a six foot figure and then cut it out of foam using lasers. The bigger the less detail comes out. I was amazed at how much detail actually did come out in the foam. The following are photo's taken at Northwest Art castings today as we picked up the finished foam figure.
Julie holds the gun in the first photo. Scott, the owner of Northwest Art Castings in the checkered shirt and I go over the mounting of the foam to the wood platform, with the support needed to hold up the weight of the clay, once it's put onto the foam.

As you can see in the second to the last photo, the foam was loaded into the back of my truck for the trip back to the studio. The full figure probably weighed less than 6 pounds. It's totally amazing to see in person. Julie and I will start putting clay on this piece as soon as we receive the 150 pounds of clay it will take to finish it up. The detail is less, like I said, in this size, so I will have to redo the face a bit and will correct things that don't translate well when you increase the size of a small piece.
What really surprised me was the fact that it was perfectly proportioned. I work very hard to get these measurements right and it really paid off in the final point up.
Well I'll be back in the Otter Banks for Friday and Saturday working on Ain't No Cowboy.

This Week

2008-09-08T06:45:00.004-06:00

Just a small update. I'm cleaning my studio and getting it ready to do a life-size of Iron Horn. A bronze that can be found on my website http://www.bronzesbylemon.com/

I'll also be doing some personal business. Please keep coming back though. I'll also be trying to put the finishing touches on a few of my clays, preparing them for the foundry. I took a few days off from everything just to recharge my batteries... they're charged now.

At Home - Trouble at the Dam

2008-09-03T18:22:00.004-06:00

Arrived Home from my August Tour. No accidents or break downs. At home we had a major break down.
For my friends who live in the Madison Valley and who read my blog, I've pasted information on the problems with Hebgen Dam, 50 miles from Ennis Montana, where I live. I added pictures I took of the area today at the end of the brief article.

Engineers continue to work to correct a mechanical failure at PPL Montana’s Hebgen Dam near Ennis that increased water flow in the Madison River on Sunday (8/31).
“PPL Montana’s top priority is keeping the public and our employees safe, and our engineers are working to correct the issue,” said David Hoffman, director of External Affairs for PPL Montana. “We see no risk to the stability of the dam.
“We realize the closure of the Madison River is an inconvenience for boaters and river guides, but it’s the right precaution to take to ensure public safety,” he said. “We’re using the best engineering practices to solve the problem and return Hebgen to normal operations as quickly as possible.”
The normal water flow level for this time of year is about 850 cubic feet per second. At 3,400 cubic feet per second, the current water flow is more typical of the levels in May and June.
“Although the river channel is able to accommodate this level of water, we are taking steps to ensure the safety of the public and downstream properties,” Hoffman said.
An engineering team is looking for a solution to lower the flow of water, including installing a temporary bulkhead near the lower gates.
Hebgen Lake is just north of the Idaho border near Yellowstone Park. Hebgen is used to store water from a 905-square-mile drainage area at the headwaters of the Madison-Missouri river system, home to eight PPL Montana hydroelectric plants.
The company will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the incident.

http://www.pplmontana.com/front+articles/090208+Hebgen+Dam.htm

The next two photo's are of Quake Lake and the outflow from it. Quake Lake is just a few miles from the dam.

These are pictures take of the dam today by me. The second photo shows the engineers working on the metal cage that they are going to drop in front of the intake so they can lower the heavy door that they still have to deliver to the dam in a day or two. In Three days the heavy water flow will be stopped.

August 2008 Tour - On the Way Home - Part 1

2008-09-02T23:21:00.002-06:00

Just a few photo's I took on the way home. I drove from Tahoe to Twinn Falls Idaho. These pictures were taken north of Wells Nevada up to Twinn.

August 2008 Tour - Last Day of the Tour

2008-09-02T00:21:00.003-06:00

Well I'm heading home in the morning. Today I spent cleaning up "Ain't No Cowboy" and adjusting the right eye of the "War Medicine" piece.
As you can see in the photo's below I adjusted the right eye. It was deeper into the socket than the left eye was. So I cut out the eye and just added clay behind it till it was at the same position as the left eye. I also decided that since the left eye had a sword cut across his eye, he would have lost his sight in that eye, so I blinded the left eye by filling in the hole that indicated the pupal. His left eye would have been clouded. I also lazied his left eye lid a bit. Due, again to the wound.

Now I need to smooth the clay and reduce the rough areas on the clay. So using lighter fluid and a oil painters brush, I smooth the clay.

Well that's basically it for the summer shows. I head home to a possible disaster in the making. The Hebgin Dam which is 50 miles up river from Ennis has a stuck open valve that is releasing 4 times the usual water flow. They have the states and government engineers working on it. I'm sure there will be no problem, but Ennis was expected to get up to 6 feet of flooding if they didn't get it under control. I called the Madison Co. Sheriff's office this morning and they said everything seemed to be ok. So hopefully my home won't be three miles up the valley when I get home.. I should be home Wednesday night. The summer was a great success. I'm tired beyond words. It'll be nice to crawl into my own bed.. finally.

August 2008 Tour - Head and Train work

2008-08-30T22:25:00.008-06:00

Yesterday I start off the day with "War Medicine" Looking like this. You can barely see one of the three scars that I added to the arms of the warrior on the bicep of his left arm and on the forearm of the left arm. These would have been scars caused by a glancing bullet wound on the bicep, and a cutting wound on the forearm. There's also scars on the right forearm and on the left eye of the warrior. I'll take better photo's for tomorrows entry.

I had to rework the face of the warrior a bit so I removed the front head piece of the headdress so I could work on eyes and eyelids as well as the forehead.

Then I started to work on the trade cloth train that hangs from the back of the headdress. I added a White Ermin Skin, then brass crosses and finally ribbons. These would have been things he'd seen in a vision and thus would be magical. The reason would be known only to him.

Then today I added two knives to his belt. The large knife in the front would have been his fighting knife. I made it a bowie. the knife on the back of the belt would have been for scalping. This is were I left the piece this afternoon.

I then started working on "Ain't No Cowboy's" head by removing the hat. I needed to work on her eye's and forehead as well as her lips and mouth area. I will sit with my model, Lea Ann, next week to fine tune the face even more. That was it for today.

August 2008 Tour - Old Friends and Wax Feathers

2008-08-28T23:22:00.007-06:00

Dr. Harvey and Joyce Goldberge stopped into the gallery to see me today. Here Harvey attempts to adjust my clay.... Harvey and Joyce(not shown) are old friends of mine. They own several of my pieces.

Well after visiting with the Goldberges I took all the feathers on "War Medicine's" headdress off. I wanted to clean them up. Over the last 12 months, they've gotten pretty banged up. I decided to redo the 7 feathers in wax. Below I show the process.

Here you can see at the end of today the feathers are starting to multiply.

Drove to Carson Nevada this evening after my appearance and took this as the sun was getting low over Sand Harbor on Lake Tahoe. Later everyone....

August 2008 Tour - 2 Clays over 3 Days

2008-08-27T23:16:00.006-06:00

I started my appearance at the James Harold Gallery Monday of this week. Here is the progress I've made over those 3 days.
I started the week working on "Ain't No Cowboy". Working on the boots. Getting the height of the two boots to match. Then I went back to work on the spurs. Adding buckles that you can't see in the photo's below, then fine tuning the rowels of the spurs, from the quick sketch one to the more realistic ones.
Didn't work on much else on her. Finished working on her yesterday afternoon at the end of my appearance.

Here are photo's of the clay as I finished yesterday. You may notice the coil of rope is now of wax covered twine.

This morning I got back to "War Medicine". His left hand was falling off at the wrist, taking with it the shield and sword sheath. So I had to do some major repairs. I started by cutting down to the armature in the left arm and removing half of the arm. Then I wrapped bailing wire around the armature and forming a loop where the hand would eventually be. I then tied wire around the loop for the hand to attach the Sheath to the hand. Then I formed a horseshoe shaped wire and nailed the sheath itself to the body of the Indian. Then I reattach the shield to the hand by tying wire through the hand armature and through two holes in the cardboard of the shield. Then screwing the bottom right part of the shield to the leg.

Here are final photo's of "War Medicine" at the end of this day.

Well I'm back in the gallery at 1 pm tomorrow. I'll add if I have anything tomorrow night. I'm so ready to get home.

August 2008 Tour - Been Off For A Week

2008-08-24T10:44:00.003-06:00

Took over a week off. It's been just swell.I thought I'd add a video that I shot as I passed the Great Salt Lake, as I was leaving Utah. In it I crossed the Bonniville Salt Flats where the Land Speed Records are set.

Thought I'd share a photo I took of Emerald Bay on the west shore of Tahoe.

Monday I start my appearances at the James Harold Gallery, here in, Tahoe City California. 1 p.m to 5 p.m..

August 2008 Tour - Leaving Colorado to the tunes of Amy

2008-08-17T18:21:00.004-06:00

On my way to Tahoe City California. Here is a video of the beauty of the Rocky Mountains of Western Colorado. I'm playing an album by Amy Mathesius, called, "Colorado Blue". She performed at the Breckenridge Fine Art Gallery last night during my appearance there. Her photo appears below.

Here is the youtube link for the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQSUV4nKD18

Well that's it for today.

August 2008 Tour - Last Day at Breckenridge - Saddle takes shape

2008-08-16T22:20:00.003-06:00

A short video of me leaving the Hotel Frisco, in Frisco Co. and driving to Breckenridge. At the end of the video I promised to do a tour of the Gallery. To tell you the truth, I forgot to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkSTy4t_r8o

Pictures of me working on my clay. In the first photo, Heather and Jane (Breckenridge Fine Art Gallery) watch me with some humor... not sure why. The second photo shows me explaining what I do to a few gallery patrons.

Spent the whole day fine tuning the face of Ain't No Cowboy, and working on the saddle. Here are the final photo's today of that piece.

Tomorrow morning I start my last leg of my August tour. I'm heading to the James Harold Gallery in Tahoe City California. It'll take a couple of days to get there. So not sure I'll be adding for a few days. Check back in Wednesday of next week.

August 2008 Tour - Long two days - Thunder and Lightning

2008-08-15T20:37:00.007-06:00

I am so whipped tonight. I went for 14 hours straight yesterday, packing my stuff, and leaving Gallup New Mexico in the early morning, and arriving in in Breckenridge Colorado in the late afternoon. Unpacking all that I loaded that morning, then checking into the Hotel Frisco in Frisco Colorado and carrying all my cloths and stuff across a very muddy uneven road to the hotel. Going to bed very early and up very early to get to Silverthorn this morning for a TV interview. Picture below shows Paul, director of the Breckenridge Fine Art Gallery, the TV Shows host, and me, just before the interview.

Well here are a set of photos of the cowgirl piece. I worked all day on the face of the girl, the spurs, and the fenders of the saddle. The wax was not working well today. It was really grainy. I was using a 60 watt bulb instead of a 100 watt bulb to soften the wax. Not sure if that's the reason the wax was acting up.

Tomorrow is my last day at this gallery and then I'm off to Tahoe for the final leg of this trip. I apologize for not being more detailed in what I'm doing. Just to hard to talk to people, and to take continuous photo's of what I'm doing.

August 2008 Tour - Ain't no Cowboy - Boots

2008-08-12T21:13:00.002-06:00

Today I spent the afternoon working on the right boot. I had been putting it off because it's so hard to make the second boot you do, like the first boot you did.
That's about all I did today. Just researched the spurs and with wax started them as well. Picture of clay at 5 pm tonight. Oh I had a lady, Amy, who was mopping the floors in the show room, made a comment on her waist and how I can adjust it. I did what she said, because I could see what she was talking about. The adjustment worked. Improved it.

You take any good comments and employ them. Sometimes you get to close to a piece and you know something is not quit right, but you can't see it, till someone with fresh eyes looks at it.
As you can see the face still has a lot of tightening to get it to a finished state.

August 2008 Tour - Last Day of Gathering of the Masters

2008-08-09T22:09:00.007-06:00

Irving Toddy's grand daughter, Aidah, was so cute today, dressed in a Navajo outfit, Irving's mother once wore. I took this video of her playing with her brother.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CjTSftORqQ

here Irving Toddy and Baje Whitethrone go over my "Ain't no Cowboy" clay.

Again Irving's Granddaughter, Aidah, applying to be my apprentice.

Here are photo's of the cowgirl piece. I did both arms today.

Today at 6 pm, Orland Joe, Kenneth Whirl, and John Boomer, all artists in the Gathering of the Masters, entertained at a reception held for the artists. I recorded several of the songs, but the sound in all but one was very bad. John Boomer was just running a test song on his guitar and harmonica. Here is that short video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-W52A8Hb7E

Sunday the 10th will be a day off, because the Southwest Indian Cultural Center will be closed. I'll be staying in Gallup till sometime this next week, and working on my clays, in the Center. Then I travel to Breckenridge Colorado, for my next to the last appearance I'll be making this summer. I'll add to the blog sometime next week. So keep checking in. Love you all.

August 2008 Tour - What Clan Are You?

2008-08-08T21:30:00.001-06:00

First day at the Gathering of the Masters at the Southwest Indian Cultural Center, in Gallup New Mexico. Here are a few photo's from today.

Here is a video tour of the show. Again, easier to upload to Youtube than here. Motel connection just isn't reliable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFrirpnUepc

Now an explenation of the heading of this days entry. The Navajo have had as many as 80 different family clans (http://www.members.tripod.com/~wulfspirit/navclans.html). I was jelous of the fact that I had no clan to claim. So Baji, Irving and I sat around talking about what clan would I be a member of. Last name Lemon... Had to be the Bitter Fruit Clan... So I'm from the Bitter Fruit Clan now. I now belong. :)

August 2008 Tour - A day off

2008-08-06T21:42:00.005-06:00

Just did laundry and wrestle with my cell phone company. I sat in the park next to the Basilica of Saint Frances in Santa Fe New Mexico. The bells began to ring and I was on the phone with a friend. first part of this video was at noon today. The second part was as I was walking back to my van at 5:10 pm. It was just starting to rain. I tried to upload the video here on my blog, but it just wouldn't upload, so here is my YouTube copy of the same a video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjXvXLWybjY

I also video taped a tour of the Frank Howell Gallery in Santa Fe. Here is the video, again the one I downloaded onto YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcc15_9XTIA

These are a few photo's I took near the Basilica. Oh I now know where Santa resides in the summer... lol.

It took me till today, the 7th of August to finish this entry, because I couldn't upload the two videos. So here are a couple of photo's of my drive from Santa Fe, to Gallup New Mexico. The sunset was in Gallup.

August 2008 Tour - Ain't no Cowboy - Starts to take shape

2008-08-05T20:07:00.005-06:00

Yesterday I started to add the shirt to the girl. Rolling the clay and laying it strategically on the girls torso to form the bases for the shirts wrinkles. Then I fill in around the rolls. Taking a wire tool I texture the shirt. Her shirt will be partly open.

I work on the face some more and then start adding the braids. I decided to go with braids because the loose hair wouldn't work in a working condition. Then I add the hat, and start to shape the brim.

Got back to my room yesterday just before it totally started to downpour. Cooling off everything Finlay. It was great. Love wind and rain.

August 2008 Tour - Two days at the Frank Howell Gallery

2008-08-03T18:30:00.008-06:00

Saturday and today, I worked on the figure of "Ain't No Cowboy".

I found that the lower legs were to long so I decided to build a base up to bring the level of the ground up to where the bottom of the boots need to be.

I started to work on the face as well. Here is a speeded up video of that.

Here are few pictures I took tonight as I left the gallery for my van. I have one correction on the last post on my blog. Turns out the Basilica was actually built in the 1860's. Here is a brief history of this beautiful building.
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, commonly known as Saint Francis Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
The cathedral was built by Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy between 1869 and 1886 on the site of an older adobe church, La Parroquia (built in 1714-1717). An even earlier church on the same site, built in 1626, had been destroyed in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. The new cathedral was built around La Parroquia, which was dismantled once construction was complete. A small chapel on the north side of the cathedral is all that remains of the old church.

I saw something in the Bell tower opening from the side of the Basilica. I telephoto'd in on it and it turns out to be a ceramic Owl.

The last two photo's are of a monument to a Conquistador with the longest name I've ever seen. The plaque first and then the bronze.

August 2008 Tour - Day 3 400 Year Old Basilica

2008-08-01T22:34:00.005-06:00

On the way from the parking lot where I'm parking my van while I'm in the Gallery, in Santa Fe New Mexico, I pass the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. It's getting ready for it's 400th birthday.

Here is a tour of the Frank Howell Gallery.

Ok, here is a fast forward view of me working on Ain't No Cowboy today

August 2008 Tour - Day 2 Arches National Park

2008-07-31T23:10:00.005-06:00

Arrived in Santa Fe at 5:30 p.m. today. Drove 390 miles from Moab Utah. Almost 1,100 miles from Ennis Montana. I got up early and took a short trip through Arches National Park before my last leg of my trip to Santa Fe. Here's an abbreviated video of that little tour. Words can't explain what one sees there. It's so hard to grasp. Here are a few photo's

I took in the park as well

Well I'm set up in the Frank Howell Gallery and tomorrow I start my appearance. Check back in for updates.

August 2008 Tour - Day 1 Moab Utah

2008-07-30T20:52:00.005-06:00

I left Ennis Montana about 8:30 AM and arrived in Moab at about 7pm. Long drive. Here is a video of me driving through the Salt Lake Valley from just north of Salt Lake to the south end of the valley or near the draper exit. It's about 20 miles. I video taped the drive, and doubled the speed, then doubled that speed, so if you assume I was doing 75 mph, that would mean what your seeing in the 3.4 minutes is a drive at about 300 miles per hour.... lol Oh the chipmuck talk every so often is my GPS telling me, "Continue on in 2 miles" and so forth.

Got to Moab Utah tonight and I'm so blown away by the amazing scenery. Huge, massive, Sand Stone cliffs, the Colorado River, and the entrance to Aches National Park. Man I wish I had a week here. Here are a few of the photo's I took tonight.

Have another 400 miles of travel tomorrow to Santa Fe. Check back in tomorrow.

Ain't No Cowboy - Starting the Cowgirl

2008-07-29T16:54:00.004-06:00

Ok, I've got a new video program. I tried to do something different for you today. I video taped me starting the figure so that you get an impression of how I start a piece. I attempted to fast forward parts, and slow it down for explanation at a couple of areas. Only trouble with fast forwarding the second fast forward was that somehow the sound stayed in it and so it sounds terrible.. Old Time Radio with commercials is funny fast forward for about a second then it gets annoying. So you might want to turn off your sound till you see me slow down near the end, then turn it back up.

I'll figure it out eventually... lol Well travel the next couple of days to Santa Fe and my appearance at the Frank Howell Gallery there. (Check right column for gallery info)

Ain't No Cowboy - Scaling things up

2008-07-28T16:15:00.004-06:00

Found I actually leave on Wednesday and not Tuesday, so it gave me a couple of days to play with my clay.
Today I took measurements of Lea Annes head and face and then photo's of her front and from the side. These will help when I start to work in clay. I then started working on the saddle again. Using my printing program I scaled Lea's face and the saddle to match the scale of the piece I'm creating. After printing out photo's I started to re-work the saddle a bit. I added copper for the horn of the saddle, so that it won't be falling off all the time.

Here's a video explaining what I did today.

Ain't No Cowboy - Foam and Saddle

2008-07-26T15:54:00.008-06:00

The following takes place over two days. (Remember you can click on the photo's to get full size versions of them)
Once the foam has set up from Thursday evening, I get ready to carve away excess foam from the armature on Friday. Pictures below show the progress of this process. Foam takes space that lots of heavy clay would take up.

I decide I need to create the saddle first. Here is the saddle I'm creating for this piece. You can see a ruler with black tape on it. The black tape indicates the head measurement. Doing that in the photo helps me to scale the saddle. This saddle dates from 1934.

I plan to create the saddle in wax. It's more durable than clay. I have to do the saddle seperate from the figure so I come up with an idea for a saddle tree made from a soft drink bottle, wood dowels, and cocking foam.

Now I let it sit overnight to set up. Saturday I photograph the saddle, and print out photo's to work from then I put duct tape over the bottle just so the wax won't stick to the plastic. I start building the saddle in a abbreviated form of building the saddle tree.

Now I add the leather (wax of course) to the tree. I then check to see if the saddle is going to work out.

Well this is the last entry till I get set up in the Frank Howell Gallery in Santa Fe New Mexico next week. Going to be busy getting ready for a month on the road.

Ain't No Cowboy - Another Model

2008-07-24T18:33:00.005-06:00

I added a brace to the armature of the cowgirl. I had to, because if I didn't, It would be very unstable.

Now I lay the armature onto it's back and put a none stick sheet under it. I lift the armature up by making a clay support. Then using canned cocking foam, I spray under and over the upper part of the body of the cow girl. I now let it sit overnight to set up.

I then had another friend of mine (Lea Anne)pose for the cowgirl piece. She had a different look. So I had her pose in a couple of different poses. Now It's up to me to pick from the two models and create the best "Ain't No Cowboy" I can.

Ain't No Cowboy - Starting with air

2008-07-23T18:49:00.005-06:00

As with all works of art, you start with a blank canvas or an empty space above a base board for a sculpture.

Once the subject is decided on (refer to yesterdays entry) I start making the armature to hold the clay. Instead of using wire cutters I use a pipe cutter. This keeps the ends of the copper tubing round and clean.

Once the main frame is created I then match foot positions with those in the photo's I took the day before. then I add the armatures for the arms and head.

Tomorrow I start adding clay to it. I'll have to brace it better first.

Ain't No Cowboy - A new cowgirl piece

2008-07-22T21:27:00.005-06:00

I've decided to start a Cowgirl piece tomorrow. Today I lined up a modeling session with a real cowgirl, Terry Freeman. Here is the pose I've picked to work from.

Soon after Ennis was hit with a very powerfull thunder storm. 60 mile an hours winds hit us. Here is the video of that fun thingy.

Well that's it for tonight. I'm going to bed before the lights go out again.

At the Painted Pony Gallery

2008-07-20T06:20:00.008-06:00

Here are photos of Bronc Stomper as it was at the beginning of this day, showing the main and the starting of the tail. I also had the halter on the horses head. You can see the beginning of the sage brush near the back leg.

I heated the wax up to where it was starting to melt and using a metal tool, I scooped the wax out and added it to the stem of the sage that I created before, surrounding the leg of the horse. I do this so that the leg will be strengthened in the bronze stage.

I didn't work on the wax much today because I spent most of the time talking to people who came in during the day. Here are shots of the wax at the end of today.

Sunday will be the final day of my appearance at the Painted Pony at Big Sky Montana.

Foundry Tour - Northwest Artcastings Bozeman Montana

2008-07-14T16:32:00.003-06:00

I made run to Northwest Artcastings in Bozeman today to drop off a bronze for repair. I figured as long as I'm there, why not take you along on a short and very brief tour of this Bronze Casting facility. They Handle thousands of bronzes and quite a few different artists. I've worked with Northwest for over 20 years. Well here's the tour.

Hope you enjoyed this tour. Check back in this week and see what new and almost wondrous things I am doing.

Coeur d' Alene to Ennis

2008-07-14T05:34:00.003-06:00

The final leg of my trip. Well for a couple of weeks anyway. I packed up my clays and a bronze into my van on the morning of the 13th of July, and left Coeur d' Alene for my home in Ennis Montana. Here is a video of that trip home. About 360 miles.

Devin Gallery, Coeur d' Alene Idaho - first day in gallery

2008-07-11T21:52:00.006-06:00

Pictures of Kelin wearing my hat. She works in the gallery and we became good friends. Kinda looks like a cowgirl to. Me giving her a sculpting lesson in the last photo.

Not going to be in the gallery on Saturday. Will be heading back home Sunday afternoon. I just want to thank Skip and Debbie, the owners of the Devin Gallery and Joe as well as Kelin for their overwhelming kindness to me while I was at their gallery.

On the way to Coeur d' Alene Idaho

2008-07-11T07:18:00.005-06:00

Finally back. Sorry, it's just been to hard to keep up with the Blog and getting my live feed setup in the gallery is a no go. It occurred to me, that Galleries, as well as private people, may find it an infringement on their privacy if I set up a big brother type cam in Gallery. So, on my own, I've decided to not set up the cam in any galleries. I will continue to photograph and add when I'm able from the shows this summer. It's just very hard to take photo's, sculpt and answer questions in the Gallery. The drive from Tahoe to Ontario Oregon was mind bendingly boring. There were moments of interesting land features but mostly it was just a very long drive through the most desolate area of Nevada and Oregon. At one moment in by drive through Oregon, I did pass a sign that pointed down a dirt road, indicating that the grave site of Charbanneou was down this road. I just didn't have the time to go see it. Not sure which Charbanneou, Toussaint or Pomp (Jean Baptiste) where buried there. The following is a first part video of my trip to Ontario Oregon from Tahoe City California.

Here's the final leg of the trip. Ontario Oregon to Coeur d' Alene.

I'm at the Devin Gallery in Coeur d' Alene Idaho through the weekend. Then I head home on Monday.