Silk Mermaid » Background

Inspiration

Coral Mermaid (2006) - photo by Mike Edenfield

"If you are going to take your precious free time for months and build something, there is no excuse for second-rate work. You cannot claim client deadlines or lousy budget, since you have control over both of them.

"The opportunities to do the great defining pieces of your career come around once every couple of years. Are you going to waste those rare chances on a less-than-grand endeavor?"

Read "How it happened."

About Kim Graham

Kim has sculpted since the mid-1980s in a wide variety of media and sizes, ranging from fired clay figuratives to architectural ceramic pieces to 22-foot fiberglass dragons. The online Kim Graham Studios gallery shows some of her work. Her current interest is large-scale architectural pieces. Kim lives in a suburb of Seattle, Washington. She is accepting new commissions at kimsculptor (at) gmail (dot) com. (More about Kim Graham.)

Kim’s recommendations

Sculpting supplies

I use "Le Beau Touche" modeling clay from Chavant. This plasticine goes for approximately $4/pound. It is mid-level hardness, formulated for northern climates.

I make molds using these materials from Smooth-On corporation:

Mold Max 30 high-tear-strength silicone rubber
Plasti-Paste Trowelable Plastic
Thi-Vex II Silicone Thickener (thixotropic agent)

My supplier here in Washington state is Far West Materials.

(By the way, Smooth-On's site offers amazing must-see moldmaking video instructions. I wish I'd had these when I was starting out!)

I strengthen the mold rubber by adding small amounts of Fibermesh 150 e3 polypropylene multifilament fiber (often called "stealth fiber"), sold by concrete suppliers . Here in Seattle I use Glacier Northwest.

Glue gun

My hot glue gun, the 3M Scotch-Weld Hot Melt Applicator TC, 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.

Silk Mermaid > Category:Background

Dancing on quicksand

Posted by Allen | Background | Thursday 18 June 2009 2:58 pm

Alas, the Silk Mermaid mold is now buttoned up and hoisted into the ceiling for long-term storage. At some point I’ll return to this wonderful project, but it will not be for some time.

The surprising news is, I’m also putting the concrete Troll away for an equally long time. The Digileg extensions have become enormously popular and required all my attention. There are now several hundred people who would like sets, and this requires a large production run. I will not be documenting that process, but will be posting some of the creative costumes fans will be building when the Digilegs go on sale.

Part of the life of an artist/entrepreneur is to be open to the unusual opportunities on your path. First I began on the Silk Mermaid, then the leg extensions, then the concrete Troll. Now the extensions are back on the front burner and heating up. Once the leg extensions are in production, I intend to resume blogging about my personal projects. It will be several months before I can begin anything new, but rest assured, whatever it is, it will challenging and fun!

Surviving as an artist is often the elastic ability to adapt from one project to another and to really enjoy that shifting challenge. I call it “dancing on quicksand.”

The new Tree Troll maquette - now on hold

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A new Tree Troll

Posted by Allen | Background,Inspiration | Saturday 11 April 2009 5:05 pm

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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