from these hands...: New Moon Rabbit Part 1

If you have been with me for some time, you know my natural gravitation towards Rabbits and Hares...it may of started with "Wind in My Hare"...perhaps earlier, with a Series I did for Kaiser Permanente with Rabbits from around the World in wool, cotton, and silk.

I am ME.

As life and art can inner mesh, I find that the place I am now in my life is one of joy and most importantly the feeling of being safe. I won't delve TOO much into that...but my foundation of the ability to know and be "me" has finally now being able to express this in my art.

Divine Connection.

My second thought that I feel important to share is a solid connection with the Divine. I truly believe that art in any form is already out there in the ether and it is that particular artist that is able to reach up and connect. Once you have your soul open to receive that is when the *magic* happens. And if you are able to relax...well...maybe the better word is to breath into the flow of the piece, it will just come out of you...it will always tell you what direction to go. You just have to let it create itself into our reality.

I find most times, at the end of creating a piece, I look at it and think how did that happen?? I know I was there but really don't remember it happening!

Art like life is always a journey...and if you are growing you are stepping out of your comfort zone on a regular basis! It is in these moments that our person can change (for the better) and hopefully from our soul, it "bleeds" into our art.

I have created many rabbits/hares and many dolls...but this time it is different. I find it is now my whole soul's voice that is creating...and with that comes my series for 2021- Of Heaven and Earth". It will be a combination of my Rabbits and my Women. Specifically, Moon Rabbits and Ito Women..

Ito meaning as connection with one another...taking on the characteristics of my beloved Asian Symbolism in a new way (from my Story Hat pieces).

Onto New Moon Rabbit...

She is the first one out in the Series...and with that she appeared as the New Moon. Over the next few postings, I will take you through her process... better yet...her manifestation into this present time.

She started, as all my pieces do, with her head sculpt. I use DAS air-dry clay...and three very simple tools.

A chenille needle for fine detailing, a blue handled traditional sculpting tool, and a soft tip manicure stick...oh yes, and my hands!

As I now know the size of the head, I can now draft the pattern of her body.

After the head is thoroughly dried, I do a light sanding. Since I cover my heads with fabric...I like the sanding to gently tease the surface so the fabric will adhere firmly.

For these piece, I chose a vintage linen that has a barely visible damask weave within it. This fabric is very sheer with no stretch to it. It is really lovely for this project as I want to project a feel of an old worldly being, balancing the rustic with the finished.