Inspiration, Art & Felting Tips

There has been something that has been weighing heavy on my mind  for sometime.  For as long as I've been keeping my blog and have been listing on eBay, there have been occasional requests for information and tips regarding felting.  I'm more than happy to help where I can. But have been disappointed in the past to find that some of those who request the info only do so in order to make replicas of my work.  I know times are hard and money is tight.  It's tempting to copy what you see as successful. But in the end it demeans your work and devalues mine.  Since my work is more skilled due to the number of hours I work on each piece and the years I've devoted to this art form, your newly acquired skills don't shine as they should. Plus, the  duplicate piece of lesser quality and price makes my work seem ubiquitous. Neither of us wins in that situation.
I firmly believe that it is best to consider what it is about another artist's work that inspires you and to try to replicate those feelings and thoughts into your work. But not replicate the exact image. It neither helps you as an artist nor does it help the art.

Desert Blooms

Pictures from Last Night's Walk

I thought you might want to see what the area where I walk looks like at sundown.  The last pic is a bit blurry. But I took it to see if I got any round floaty things that a friend of mine says always shows up in pics taken above the graveyard. Lo and behold I did. I think it's light bouncing off of dust particles. He says ghosts.  What do you think?

Rupert, a Little Fox Kit

I just finished this little red fox kit this morning. He stands a little over 7 inches tall.  I've been trying to some different things with lighting my photos. I'm not too sure if it was any improvement.  He goes up for auction this Sunday evening.

Bisbee, a Cute Little Pygmy Owl

Here's a little owl that I just finished. He's going up for auction on eBay tonight.  This little guy is just a little under 4 1/2 inches tall.  His cactus home was needle felted. Then dyed. Finally, the spines were all hand sewn on with artificial sinew.  It was a bit more time consuming than I had anticipated. But I really like the effect.

Pictures from the Maturango Museum Wildflower Festival

Here are some of the pictures I took yesterday at the Wildflower festival. I really love these metal sculptures. They're from some pictographs in the Coso Range  in China Lake Naval base not far from where I live.  The museum arranges tours to the sites twice a year. I've yet to go. But I want to do it someday.   I was really fortunate to run across a very obliging desert iguana.  They're pretty neat lizards. We don't have many in Johannesburg. We're too high up I think. These lizards love to munch on the creosote bush flowers. If you want to see more pics. Please use this link :-)

https://picasaweb.google.com/RobinAndreae/20130413

Playing with My Camera, A New Profile Pic and Pee Wee

Hi everyone! It's been a long time since my last post.  I finally got around to updating my profile picture.  So now you'll all know what I look like. I really hate having my picture taken and avoid it at all costs!  I also finally took my camera out of the factory presets and played around with it in manual. I've had the camera for three years and have been meaning to do that sometime. Lol. It was fun playing with the camera. the last picture is of the view I see when I go for my walks.   I finished a little sleepy mouse and retook pictures of the Mother mouse and her baby.  They're both on eBay now.  I find it kind of ironic that there seems to be quite a few mice on eBay now that are quite similar to mine.  Is imitation the sincerest form of flattery or is it just plain old greed?

Pekoe, a Teacup Piglet and a Spring Easter Bunny

I'm a bit late with my Easter wishes.  But I hope you all had a wonderful Easter! The bunny pictured above has sold.  Her spring flower bouquet was made from felt sheets. I hope to do a tutorial soon on how to make them. They're a lot of fun to do as were the hollow wet felted Easter eggs. I think Easter is my favorite season to create. It is so full of life and promise :-).

Also above, is little Pekoe. I hope you like her. She doesn't have my usual polymer clay fet and nose.  I was a bit concerned about how they would be rubbing against the thin pocelain cup. She's on eBay, now.