Progress Thus Far

I've taken photos of my progress thus far.
This was a starting point for my caterpillars. The hole at the ends of these objects was meant for hanging. This starting point reminded me of a solid, fat sausage! But after some time, it began to take shape. Once I liked how it basically looked, I took my fettling knife and did a little dissection by slicing the backs open, then using a wire tool to scoop out all of the 'innards'. Lastly, sealing it up smoothly for a nice, hollow piece that wasn't too heavy. Holes were punctured for air release.
I really like how smooth they are. They are in position to begin making their cocoons, which I also made. I love how infantile and fragile they feel in my hands, even though they are multiple times their original size.
These are the ones I've made so far. Some of them are leather hard, some are still very wet. Some of the cocoons are sealed (like the form on the inside hasn't matured yet) and some have begun to open and reveal the mature form inside.

This is a close up of one of the cocoons. I plan to have them all glazed in opaque pale color (off white or grayish, I'm not sure yet). I just want them to be plain to start. Coming out of the opened cocoons I want to have unexpected things coming out of them. That I want to be a surprise, so I wont tell you what yet. :)

This is a tree I was thinking of using for the site. Hanging from various heights, I wanted it to be something you might happen upon and be surprised to see. I was thinking about the expected and unexpected in evolution and transformation. We always expect the same thing to come out of a cocoon, just like some parents expect their child to grow up to be a picture they have in their mind of someone they would want to associate with or wished they could be. Often, as we know, we do not grow up as our parents thought. I want my piece to voice that unexpected surprise, where you think you are going to see something and then see something completely different, whether it be a good or bad surprise. Expect the unexpected. I love those kind of surprises.


In other news, here are some test tiles! (Mine and Karen's are on the same board.) Jen, Karen and I all made slip this morning (after some drill bit difficulties) and feel that it came out great! The slip felt WONDERFUL on your fingers. So silky! :)

And that's about it for now in the 'progress' category.