Saturday, August 25th Progress on "American Beauty"

I'm at the point in sculpting that I need to do the rest of the work myself. Christie Owen is here working on her 12x12 artwork and I'm working on the shoulders of "American Beauty" Patty's coming by with food soon. I might break later this afternoon for a swim, unless it's raining. The foundry's sending their mold making crew up Monday or Tuesday to start the mold. So.......that's when I'll be done sculpting.

David Phelps

different color clay makes refinement easier

Demonstrating Plasma cutting for Christie Owen

Mig-Welding & Grinding

I demonstrated mig-welding for Christie Owen who is working on her OVAC 12 x 12 artwork.

David L Phelps

Final sculpting on American Beauty

I'm at the stage in sculpting "American Beauty" that I pretty much have to do all the work myself.  Jose Rodriguez has gone back to Austin after six weeks or so up here in the studio.  The last couple of days I've spent refining the hair and should be done tomorrow. Next up, arms & shoulders. I've thrown in a few shots of other sculptures hanging around the studio.

A double life sized Pastoral Dreamer was delivered to the Tom Ross Gallery in Santa Fe last Saturday by Deep in the Heart Foundry and was set in place by crane man extraordinaire Roger Lamoreux.

Today I'm teaching Christie Owen to mig-weld and I'm finding that she's a natural born welder.

David L Phelps

American Beauty

Christie Owen arrives

practice welds

Big skull

1.5 X life size Pastoral Dreamer
Christie Hackler for scale reference

Life size American Beauty

Watership Down on a 5000 lb steel pedistal

Party

David Tamez of Public TV Station OETA brought his crew in last night for  final shooting for the Gallery program he's producing about my work. He shot at night so he could have total control over the lighting without any daylight coming through the skylights.

Yesterday morning I got a message from Cynthia Rodriguez saying "you stole my husband and I'm driving up tomorrow and taking him back home." Cynthia & Jose had come up from Austin to go to a niece's wedding in Norman two months ago; Jose decided he'd help me in the studio for a few days and he's still here. But no more, I'm losing him today. Cynthia and their kids Isabella & Gabriel should arrive this afternoon to see why Jose disappeared for two months. Then they'll kidnap Jose and take him back to Austin. It's been a great, productive two months of work on American Beauty and she's almost ready for the foundry.

David L Phelps

Boots filming

David Tamez, Myself, Boots

Ryan setting up lighting

Dave Tamez setting up camera

Camera dolly

Mice in the foreground

Skull in the foreground

part of the filming

The End is Near

Tuesday  August 7th 2012

We're getting close to completion with "American Beauty."

It feels so good to be so close. Four of us cleaned and organized the studio today, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Tomorrow we unify the color in anticipation of the final push to being ready for mold making. Time for a celebration. I foresee a big letdown when "American Beauty" heads off to the foundry. It will be a time of catching up on all the tasks that have been put off in order to get this piece finished. Tomorrow's my parents anniversary; they're off on a much needed adventure at Pismo Beach. I'm ready for an adventure myself. Will probably have to wait until Thanksgiving when Patty, Me,  Sarah and Mike go to Sedona  to Garlands' Lodge for giving thanks for family and happiness.


David L Phelps