
Black Hen with Siamese "Chicks"
This hen and “chicks” is the first project I’ve completed using my paper clay recipe. The base is paper clay over particle board, and the hen and kittens are made from paper clay over a crumpled paper and masking tape form. The feathers are paper clay over plastic mesh drywall tape (you find it right next to the joint compound at the hardware store).
I really wanted a matte finish on the hen, and I applied an acrylic matte varnish, but you can see in the photo that it’s shiny. If you happen to know about a water-based finish that really is matte, and that brushes on (no spray cans), please let me know. It would make me very happy.
I’m building cats this month because I’m getting ready for that pop-up gallery show in Bellingham next month. The house is filling up with cats, mostly the wild kind. After working on a full-sized snow leopard for several weeks (he’s still not done), I needed some little cats to play with – hence, these newborn Siamese kitties.

Hen with Siamese "Chicks" (Detail)
My father has been busy this week, too. You may remember how I bragged about the custom-made concrete bench he brought me last month. I’ve never seen him actually build his benches, but now I get a chance to see exactly how it’s done because he’s taken hundreds of photos of the process. And better yet, he’s posting them on his new blog.
My dad is now officially a blogger.
He just posted photos that show him carving a dog into a concrete bench mold that he used to make a custom bench for my Uncle Jack. If you have a chance, go check out his new blog. You’ll find it at GrampaPetes.com There are a lot of photos, so the page may take a few seconds to load. Be sure to say “hi” while you’re there.