Pretty in pink?

Some very manly men look good in pink and I think the same is true of rhinos. I like to think that Ronnie is confident of his masculinity and can therefore carry it off. He is, after all, 7ft long and quite heavy.

Despite his size and colour he wouldn't make a very good scarecrow. I took him outside for a graze in the garden to dry off near the bird table and the birds took no notice at all, just carried on eating. 

The 'fabric mache' over the rotten leather has worked quite well. The colour is a bit solid as it is. I haven't ruled out sanding him back and distressing him or even covering him in polka dots. And I'm not sure if he doesn't need to be a bit darker. I'll have to live with him a for a bit and work out what needs to be done to him next. He's going to stand in front of some very large windows in the sitting room so he'll be able to gaze out in to the garden.

Meanwhile, the studio is gradually taking shape. We had some heavy rain and hail today, as well as sunshine, which highlighted the fact that the windows are not as weatherproof as we thought. Need to get the silicone gun out tomorrow.

Welcome....

.....to my blog which I hope to fill with news, views and work in progress from my hilltop studio. Said studio is currently still a chicken shed, but in the not too distant future it will be my own space to create and play. In the meantime...

We were going to start work on the studio today but it's had to be postponed till after Easter. C'est la vie!

To take my mind off this setback I am trying to rescue Ronnie Rhino and give him a new lease of life. This 7ft leather beastie has been in my family since I was very young but for the last 10 years or so neither my siblings nor I have had enough room to accomodate him. Consequently he has been in my sisters garage being nibbled by mice and generally rotting away.

His head has been strapped up to stop it falling off and I've started covering the disintegrating leather with cotton pieces. Then I will paint him all over.

Last year I wasn't feeling very creative what with one thing and another but I did make quite a few smaller stuffed cotton creations which I painted and sanded then painted and sanded again giving the fabric a hard wearing surface with a rich patina a bit like leather. I'm hoping the same technique will work on Ronnie.

These ladies are made that way, using the same painted and sanded cotton technique. They are only about 7ins tall but they are quite sturdy having been painted and sanded several times.
I am never sure what to call them. I've have a lot of suggestions from my family.....'menacing nun gang'.....'aubergines with attitude'.....However, I like to think of them as mysterious, wise beings and if you tell them your problems they'll discuss it amongst themselves then help you make a decision. But then I do have rather a vivid imagination. Anyway, this is the technique I hope will work to revitalise Ronnie Rhino.