Gracie the Labradoodle - my latest 'Sculpt my Pet' commission

I do love to doodle... so I was lucky I got the opportunity to doodle a Labradoodle!

Recently I finished a commission for the gorgeous Gracie (pictured). Gracie is a 6 year old Labradoodle who has had health issues almost all her life. She has been very lucky to have found such a loving home as her 'pack' will stop at nothing to ensure she is happy and comfortable. Her mum even gave up her job so she could look after her - as a result the Natural Pet Store was born after Gracie's mum sought advice in natural therapies for Gracie's illness.

My CEO (and part time pet dog), Bart, has had the privellege of eating from the Natural Pet Store online store and he is very happy about it. Before finding the Natural Pet Store the postman was just fuel for a lot of barking and growling - now Bart sees that deliveries can sometimes be beneficial when food and treats arrive!

So back to the sculpture..... Gracie, due to her illness, spends a lot of time resting. So this is where the starting point had to be for me. I studied pictures of her sleeping and lazing about - this was hard as Gracie's mum also supplied some great pics of Gracie at the beach which HUGE smiles on her face! So the two came together - that gorgeous smile in a relaxed position. I hope this portrays all her beautiful characteristics.

The sculpture has ended up approximately 60cm in length and will be finding a place in Gracie's garden - the outdoor dog that Gracie's dad always wanted (as now Gracie is more than an indoor dog let me tell you!!!).


Gracie has a special place in my heart, as do all my 'Sculpt my Pet' commissions. I love to hear about their lives, albeit sometimes tough, what they like to do and how they spend play time. Its funny how many of these dogs I get to know have similar cute and funny habits as my boy Bart. Gracie and Bart both share a dislike for walking on wet grass... something that was also shared by a previous 'Sculpt my Pet' Gypsy! Aren't pets funny things? They certainly keep me amused!

I hope you like my version of the metal Gracie. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Teangi

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Guest Blogger - Robyn from Focus on Art

Today I am doing something a little different... sharing is caring afterall and us artists need to stick together!
The wonders of facebook have allowed me to find Robyn from Focus on Art. I love Robyn's creations and I think you will too. So enough from me... have a read about what Robyn does, what inspires her and just a little about who she is. This is just a snippet of what Robyn has to say - if you would like to read the full blog click here.

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Robyn, what is it that you do?
I make assemblage sculptures, combining household objects, with a particular interest in kitchen objects, to create owls. In recent times I’ve begun to break the owl monopoly (I’ve now made over 400 owls!) and have added a couple of elephants and a cat (clock) to my repertoire. You can expect to see more and more of these over time. Apart from the unique feel they lend to each piece, using the discarded and obsolete gives me the satisfaction of helping to extend the life of items no longer needed for their original purpose rather than creating something from newly made raw materials — our planet only has so much it can give up.

What inspires you?

I love all things round. I love repurposing items and, in most cases, try to use items I salvage ‘whole’ in my pieces. I somehow prefer that — possibly as it’s more of a challenge or perhaps because the options are then more limited (as a Libran too many choices can lead to non action.) And metal. Metal has great properties, particularly when exposed to the elements, but also in interior situations. Those outside continue to evolve and surprise: who knew that shiny tray would rust so irregularly, or that dull silver would hold it’s finish so well? The ability for a little water to do so much damage to something so solid over time is somehow magical. Water seems so gentle, harmless.

How is it that you make these designs?

For the most part I select the various body parts for my works from an array of features spread out around me. These have been collected from trash & treasure markets, garage sales, op shops, and even the side of the road.

I can often be seen in various places around our suburb (at kids’ swimming lessons, doctor’s surgery) assembling the pieces using wire and pliers. There’s nothing like the curiosity of people with nothing else to do but wait! I find it’s great exposure and I love talking little kids through what I’m doing. They are generally fascinated and like to ‘help’!

To read Robyn's full guest blog read on by clicking here.
You can also find Robyn and Focus on Art on Facebook or at her very own blog! Or.... email Robyn!
To purchase any of the sculptures in the ‘For SALE’ albums in Facebook just click on ‘Contact us’ under her profile picture.

It's a wrap - the ABC Gardening Australia Expo 2011

Between the 19th and 21st of August I was lucky enough to be involved in the ABC Gardening Australia Expo. What an experience!
I have done markets in the past but this was like walking into another realm.

It took me four and a half hours to set up my humble little space. It looked nothing like any of the other 'professional' stalls with their glossy photos, big displays, lighting and alike. My little stall oozed homemade-ness.
 
Set up was exhausting.... and that was followed by a night where I tossed and turned. I had never set up my stall and left it overnight before - I was worrying about all my little creatures out in the cold. Not helping was the huge winds and rain that pelted down at my place - I had visions of my tent flying through the expo in the middle of the night and destroying everyone else's displays!
I had no idea what was going to meet me on the first morning...

But Friday morning, the first day of the expo, came and all was ok!
Queues of green thumbs stood at the turnstiles waiting for the gates to open - and then the onslaught began! Bus loads of people arrived and my frown turned to a smile.
And so did everyone else's - I always love how when I take my critters out and about people walk past my stall and smile, some even laugh. Its nice to create such a reaction in people.

So the three days of the expo became one big blurr. 'Sculpt my Pet' was pretty much what everyone wanted to talk about; how they can get their pet 'im-metal-ised'. Gypsy, my model dog, was pulling in the crowds and doing a great job of just being cute. I have to say she did very well not to bite the many children that doinked her on the head!

The other talk of the stall was my croc (a big hit with the men when they saw the bottle tops!) and the kookaburra.
The croc was well behaved, not snapping at anyone as he was also the target of a lot of head doinking! One child even straddled him as if to ride him.... hmmmmm.

So Sunday afternoon came. Feet sore, lips cracked, head jumbled...
It was all over. Such a huge feat - not only the 4 days in setting up and being at the expo but the months of work that lead up to it. It was a huge experience - not something I would do every month, but well worth it all the same.

And to boot I got to meet a few of the ABC Gardening Australia presenters, had a laugh with them. Unfortunately they were out-starred by Shaun the Sheep and Bananas in Pyjamas.

 

A huge thank you to everyone who popped by to say hello... some I knew, some I had sculpted for in the past, some I will be sculpting for in the future. It's always nice to meet people in the flesh!
And an even bigger thank you to my fantastic helpers... you know who you are. Without you it wouldn't have been possible and no way as much fun!