Master Muse Challenges

I'm just working on my last master muse project at the moment.  Can't tell you anything about it yet as it is a surprise, but I like it!  The idea of it makes me smile so I hope it will do the same for you too!

I've really enjoyed being part of the master muse team. Every other month we have been given a challenge to use a new material or different technique and invariably it has been something I haven't tried before.  It takes time to learn the new technique first and I always tend to make a few different designs before I finally come up with the final project that I then write a step by step project for. 

Hugh the Chameleon - my resin master muse challenge.

You'll see the previous challenges in the side bar of my blogspot blog..and in a few weeks my new one will appear.

The step by step projects are or will be available for sale on Whole Lotta Whimsy and summaries of the new projects by different artists come up just about every week on Tonya's blog. In fact, Donna Pennoyer's latest project is up today using bottle caps and prismacolor pencils.

Donna's necklace. Photo by Drew Davidson

Next year there will be a whole new group of artists to keep the challenges going. I look forward to seeing what they all come up with and what their challenges will be.  I've loved the opportunity and the way it's pushed me in new directions. Thanks so much Tonya, for including me.

Show your true colors - Master Muse Challenge

My second Master Muse challenge is up on Tonya Davidson's blog for Whole Lotta Whimsy.   I hope you'll go to her blog and see a synopsis.  Thanks Tonya.

This time the challenge was using metal clay and inlaying Ice Resin.

My creation is Hugh the Chameleon.......

Photo by Drew Davidson

He's a pin/brooch. 

As soon as resin was mentioned in the challenge, I knew for me that that would mean a way I could add color to my silver clay. But most inlay of resin is in flat surfaces, so I wanted to come up with a technique to add resin to sculptural pieces where the resin wouldn't all run out and spill because of the three dimensional shapes and many curves and angles etc.....and it's a fun technique. I hope you'll give it a try.

The full tutorial will be available for purchase soon at Whole Lotta Whimsy and also via this blog.

I hadn't used Ice Resin before - but I really like it. There's lots of ways to use it, and it's non toxic.  I'll be using my bottles up pretty fast.

I hope your like Hugh. He serves as a reminder for us in that, while he - like all chameleons - adapts and changes to suit his environment, by doing this - he also warrants a closer look. So while we can adapt and blend to different environments that maybe sometimes aren't always easy  - remember also to "show your true colors" and warrant a closer look.

Have you got the Ruth-humor as to why he's called Hugh??? yes - obvious isn't it!!!????