Halloween Tombstone Sculpture Giveaway

This offbeat Halloween knick knack is sure to catch the eye! The giveaway is open to all US residents. Become a fan of my Facebook page to be kept up to date on future giveaways!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Skeleton Zombie Cowboy

I haven't had much opportunity to update my blog lately. In between sculpting some new walking dead cowboy pieces I've started cleaning out my studio.

Here is one of my latest walking dead cowboys. I named him Sinister Slim. There are a few other photos of him posted at my Etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/111396420/skeleton-zombie-cowboy-horror-art

Getting back to the studio cleanup. I'm sure I'm not alone among my artist friends when it comes to hanging onto "treasures"! You know what I mean. That special something that would be just perfect for some project that you have planned in the future. Well I bit the bullet and started giving stuff I haven't used the heave ho. My goal is to have one of my work tables set up for just photographing new artwork!

Zombie Cowboy Horror Sculpture

I've been working on some smaller zombie pieces lately. I thought it would be fun to design a walking dead cowboy.

Imagine a quick draw zombie with a deadeye? He could plug you and eat your brain at his leisure. No more rambling, clumsy zombie chases!

The first character I worked on I named Bad Cole Latimer. I listed him in my shop this morning: https://www.etsy.com/listing/111211532/zombie-cowboy-horror-sculpture-bad-cole

I'm putting the finishing touches on the skelly cowboy I've been working on. Hopefully if the weather clears I'll be able to take it outside today and finish painting and spraying him!

Visiting Obscura Antiques

My wife and I are fans of the Oddities TV show. So we decided to head in to NYC and visit the shop: http://www.obscuraantiques.com/ . The shop is crammed with every imaginable kind of cool collectible! If I only had more shelf space and deep pockets. Diane and I poised for a photo in front of a two headed calf. After Obscura Antiques we headed over to Katz's Deli for lunch. Their food is delicious! We pigged out on brisket sandwiches.

We've had some strong storms come through our area creating big waves and strong rip currents.

I visited the beach Tuesday morning as the winds began to intensify. The combination of the wind and high tide left a patch of water in the middle of the beach that the seagulls were using for their morning bath.

At the height of the storm Diane and I visited the beach. The winds were so strong it was an effort for us just to get up the boardwalk ramp! The sea was all roiled up and ugly looking. The wind was unrelenting! It whipped the sand so powerfully it stung our skin. In spots on the beach mini sand storms formed.

When I went beachcombing the next morning I found three surf lures. Once I add new hooks I'll put them to good use.

I also found this perfectly preserved little crab. It is remarkable it came through that violent storm without being broken to bits!

Shark Sculpture Sale on Etsy

There is still time to visit my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/BlacknickSculpture and use coupon code SHARKWEEK12 to receive 10% off anything in my shop. There is free shipping on orders over $100.

Speaking of Shark Week two of my sculptures were featured in Shark themed treasuries : http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTkzODcyNDN8MjcyMzE5MzMxMg/shark?index=0

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTYyNzQzMHwyNzIwNjI5MjU3/shark

I've been having a blast eyeballing all the sharky eye candy on Etsy this past week! One of my favorites was the Great White shark print seemingly peering  at you through a porthole picture frame.

I got some work done on the lower jaw of my current shark sculpture. While that was curing I marked off the eye locations and drilled out and (temporarily) installed the eyes.

If I don't play hooky and go to the beach tomorrow I may drill the locations for the pectoral/dorsal fins.

Shark Sculpture Work In Progress

I wanted to have this shark sculpture finished and listed in my Etsy shop to coincide with the kick off of Shark Week 2012 this Sunday. Unfortunately it's been slow going.

At this stage the work has been all about wet sanding and filling in the low spots. Speaking of Shark Week one of my shark pieces was featured in this shark week themed treasury:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/OTk2OTExNXwyNzIwNTkxMzA1/some-people-like-shark-week-more-than

You can use coupon code SHARKWEEK12 at my shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BlacknickSculpture
 to get 10% off my shark art at checkout.

This weekend I'm hoping to install the eyes - and jaws in this shark. The eyes will give the shark some  'tude'  and the jaws and teeth are always fun to design!

Celebrating Shark Week 2012 With A New Sculpture

It's been awhile since I've sculpted a shark. And since August 12th kicks off the start of Shark Week 2012 : Shark Week : Discovery Channel I thought it was the perfect time to return to one of my favorite subjects! It is always fun rummaging through my reference materials hunting up shark photos.

Finding a carving pattern for a Great White shark would help guide my work.

Making the armature for my sculpture out of styrofoam would save on clay and weight!

Mounting the styrofoam sections on aluminum wire which is bolted to a base.

Cutting the styrofoam to give the shark a gentle curve.

           Starting to add Apoxie clay.

Tracing the fin pattern onto my clay fin.

Fins ready for carving and refining.

Pectoral fins and dorsal fin primed before final sanding. I'll be posting more photos as work on my Great White shark sculpture progresses.