I like doing people like this. My sculptures become so real to me as I work on them. They speak tome in ways no other thing can. I guess in this way they are so very good for me. I spent many hours on my knees, at mass, in the catholic schools I attended, staring at the sculptures of the saints and the holy family. It was my favorite thing to do in chruch. I called this girl "Goddess in Embyro". I made her from styrafoam, wood, wire, paper mache and paper clay. I even used paper towels, which I braided and taped. I started her then put her down and worked on other things and kept coming back to her like an old friend. It hurt but I sent her to Kimball Sterlings folk art auction. I think I knew what I was doing without knowing it. I changed her name to Janis Joplin because I felt this girl I had had found her peace and Janis had not. Janis's songs had touched when I was younger but I felt that she had not fully blossomed they way she could have. I guess I was thinking about how she had been taken so young and I had lived to find my bliss. Well it turned out the buyers didn't know the whole story and I was fortunate they didn't buy her. I was also blessed because Kimball would not sell it way below the estimated value he gave it, so he protected me in a way and I was able to get her back. Was I happy, it was like getting your cat back after she has strayed for several days only he had her for over a year. I really love this little girl and it's ok with my wife Debbie, she is like the daughter we wanted but did not have. We have had so man lovely students like this over the years, they come and they go, I will post some of thier pictures soon.
Mike
