, costs about $100-140 and is well worth it. I’ve burned up seven ordinary $25 glue guns in the past two years. This orange beast can effortlessly put out several pounds of glue a minute. It requires specific shaped glue sticks available in 11-pound boxes. You can find great deals on the web.A new Tree Troll
After a great deal of thought, I have decided to put the Red Silk Mermaid sculpture on hold for the time being.
The single biggest reason is the economy. If I were to finish her now, it is unlikely she would sell for some time. Instead, for the time being, I am going to make more accessible pieces. Silk Mermaid fans, be assured I am not abandoning the Mermaid, merely delaying her for a better time. My profound thanks to all the volunteers who have helped so far on the great lady. I will contact all of you personally as soon as the work resumes.
This site has become a way to connect with artists around the world and exchange ideas and techniques. This will continue as I document and construct another project very close to my heart, and also much less demanding to build. I have begun work on a new Tree Troll — a 12-foot-tall, two-ton concrete Troll for a children’s playground.
More about the new Troll, with many photos of the foil maquette, after the jump.
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Tree textures
I am determined to make the concrete Tree Troll almost indistinguishable from real wood. To do that, it is important to understand the complex language of surface texture. The whorls, knots, cracks, and crevices that trees gain as they grow are very characteristic.
Each day I mix up a pint batch of mortar and spend about an hour and practicing, using old weathered driftwood as reference. Pictured here are some samples of the real thing, along with some good tests — and some dreadful ones. Another photo after the jump.
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Digigrade leg extensions
At last I have finished designing my digigrade leg extensions and am now selling them to costumers, performers, and actors at Kim Graham Studios. Here is a good shot of the finished satyr version, with split hooves. These leg extensions make the wearer 14 inches taller, which makes me 6′ 7″ — and a real crowdstopper!
This one-minute Digilegs video demo on YouTube shows just how naturally they move. The hooves slide on springs; the movement constantly hides the foot mechanism and gives the wonderful impression of an additional ankle joint.
For Steamcon, a steampunk convention in Seattle (October 23-25, 2009), I’m already planning a “steam-powered” version with gears and moving parts. A Jules Verne mechanical satyr — it will be so cool!
If you have questions, please contact me at kimsculptor (at) gmail (dot) com.