Faux Raku Elephant by Lynda Dunham-Watkins

Gallery (14 pics): “I can tell you, I had more fun making this elephant than any sculpture that I’ve ever made.” ~Lynda Dunham-Watkins

I read a saying once that said, “It is only the mediocre student who does not surpass his (her) master.”

Now I am not suggesting that I’m a Polymer Clay Master by any stretch… or that any student that has not yet surpassed my skill level is in any way mediocre. But the saying does seem apropos in this case… where the student definitely has surpassed the teacher (which btw makes me feel very proud and excited).

Let me explain…

Lynda Dunham-Watkins is an accomplished mixed media artist who makes art dolls and animal sculptures. She became a member of the PcT Library to enhance her polymer clay skills.

In a recent email, Lynda shared some photos of an incredible Elephant Sculpt that she created using the Vol-014 Deep Crackle Faux Raku as a surface technique for the Elephant’s skin. As well, she sent photos of a Sculpted Cat and Rabbit which incorporates the Vol-028 Art Sheets along with a few other techniques as well.

Faux Raku Elephant Plus A Couple Of Other Creations

by Lynda Dunham-Watkins (14 pics):

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Here is what Lynda had to say about her work…

I should have sent you pictures before but just didn’t. I refer back to your tutorials more than any other reference materials that I use, well… maybe I use anatomy references more when I began a sculpt, but when I’m ready to finish, you are the site I go to and mull over the effect that I want. Most of my sculpts are figurative and I can’t use this with them, but I’m having so much fun doing these that I may focus on this type sculpt for awhile.I have visions of other animals and people, too. And, I want to make some drop dead beads also.

When I first thought about an elephant, the crackle paint thingy was in my mind for his skin, but then I remembered the Raku technique, and I couldn’t wait to get to the point of making his skin. I can tell you, I had more fun making this elephant than any sculpture that I’ve ever made. Some places I tore the clay, and others, I used most of an entire sheet. Early on, I had a problem with curing the clay to the proper point. I was using a heat gun. When it didn’t crackle, I rolled it thin again, backed it with the black clay and re-cured it… worked in places that I needed a subtle effect.

I had already made the cat and the rabbit. I used the art sheet for the cat’s underskin and then made a cane using an Amish quilt pattern for the final layer, adding copper Premo to frame the turquoise chips embedded along his back. The skin itself was so pretty… almost hated to cover it up. The rabbit was the first sculpt I made using this idea, and I love him! I’m including photos of the art sheet that I used to cover it with, and I’m not sure which colors I used, everything I had!! LOL! It doesn’t seem to matter which colors of ink you use, the result is awesome.

They are all sculpted of Darwi which is a stone air dry clay on a strong wire armature fleshed out with foil. I coated the dried sculpt with TLS before applying the ‘skin’ made with Premo and your technique and then baked it, embellished with more PearlX powders, sanded it when appropriate, polished it, and sprayed it with Donna and Doug’s fantastic PYMII spray that I use on all my sculpts. Whew! I had fun. Oh, the work in progress on the elephant, the cat, and the rabbit are all documented on my blog which I’ve provided the link below. Thanks so much.

~Lynda Dunham-Watkins

Web Site: www.lyndawatkinsartdolls.com
Blog: www.lyndadunham-watkins.blogspot.com

By the way, if you did not get a chance to see the last special Gallery feature, here is a direct link: Rose Garden Earrings

Open Mic: Please feel free to use the comment section below as a forum for discussing whatever is on your mind. Ask questions… post tutorial requests… share stories about your latest creations… or just say HI! This is your community! The more you put in, the more it gives back.