Who doesn’t like Chameleons?!  My new garden art piece is a high relief, cast concrete wall hanging, created from my own original clay sculpture. I developed the surface color using a variety of concrete stains to create a rich, and uniquely one of a kind patina.

“Mr Chameleon” seems to be experiencing a moment of…Anticipation. The leaf bug (upper right) he is watching probably has other thoughts. Leaf bugs probably taste a lot like chicken!

Indoor or outdoor appropriate He measures 11 x14 inches,and has a hanger on the back.

Anticipation is available for purchase on my Shop page.

Well, it took me a bit of time to finally get this guy finished, but I’m happy with the results! Acid staining concrete can be a tricky process. It doesn’t doesn’t always cooperate the way I expect it to, but when it does, its a wonderful thing.

The color is rich brings out the intricate detail beautifully. Hard to believe this is the same gray concrete piece I started with, but it is one and the same.

Last weekend, there were some serious monster-animals gone wild movies on the Syfy channel. I, of course, didn’t watch any of them…(well, maybe just a wee bit of Piranha, (the remake where Jerry O’connell gets a seriously over the top pedicure and leg wax), but I digress. I did manage to work on a project that just might qualify a Mega Syfy movie weekend as a research driven tax right off! Let me just say right up front, if anyone yells out, CrocNado!!!!, I will not be amused. I may chuckle quietly, and show my best Mona Lisa smile, but there will be no amusement! Garden Art is serious business, and I aim to remain focused.

My purpose here is to show a piece of sculpture that is in progress. This Croc(k) sculpture is a fresh concrete casting of my original sculpture. It is meant to sit upright, and will be perfect as an indoor object d’art, (yes, sometimes I describe my artwork using the beautiful French language), or as a lovely garden accent (American / English). I do realize Crocodile art won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, but I happen to think the beasts are très beau!

My next step is to apply layers of acid stains to the surface, which will react chemically with the minerals in the concrete to produce a one-of-a-kind color finish. Acid staining is an art in itself. The results become more predictable with experience. Once you apply the stain, it does not come off! As I always say…or at least once in while I say it, or whenever I say it ~ a card laid is a card played! (I’ll say it from now on). I have lost more than one piece due to bad staining results, and this is a perfect casting that I don’t want to lose.

I will post more photos as I go. (unless I screw it up, then I’ll never mention it again!)
What a Croc(k)!

An update on the Pacific Ocean Park Commemorative Tiles I’ve been working on with artist, Dave Doherty. I have several finished and available in my Studio Store. They are cast in Tuf-Stone, Gypsum Cement, and have a lustrous wax finish. (Tuf-Stone is made to be very durable and chip resistant) At this point, I have two color styles, one is a Natural Sand color, and the other is a darker Medium Oak color. Tuf-Stone is more of an indoor material, meaning it doesn’t like constant exposure to water. The tiles have been treated with a penetrating sealer with a protective wax finish, so they do have some protection. If there is an interest, I will make them  in concrete, which will hold up great outdoors.

I am currently updating my site to a WordPress powered site! I will also have a new Studio store opening this month with sculpture and garden art for sale. There is a navigation link above, but the store is in development. Should be open and going by mid month (July, 2014)

Ken