I recently received an email inquiry asking, "Where did you come up with the idea for them, especially the design for the maiden"? I though I would post my response here to give you all a little bit of insight to my delerious, creative thought process.

Here is my response:

Thank you for the compliments! My Mushrooms are blushing! Where do my ideas come from??? Lots of opiates! No, just kidding!

I really don’t pull ideas from anywhere in particular. They come from everywhere and every thing In fact I can't make them come if they don't feel like it and I can't make them stop when I am either not in the mood or not able to act on them (journal it out or work them out in some other way).

I just condition the clay and start sculpting. The characters come together eventually and as they are coming along they tell me their story. Handle, the Mushroom Troll, was very forceful with his story. He had it all out before his head was completed. He told me all about the mushroom maiden too.

So, that is how their stories come about. The design work is a little different. I basically get a feel for the mood and emotions behind each character and just go at it. I have no plan. I usually don’t sketch anything out or have any preconceived notions of what or who they will be. I think that it stifles creativity and sets you up for failure if you try to force the clay into being what you want it to be rather than just letting it evolve into what it is.

As I complete one step I am thinking of where I will go next. Because I don’t plan anything out I often end up stumped with technical difficulties. Propping the Mushroom Maiden up to heat cure was extremely challenging (and I had to do it for multiple cures). She suffered a few minor injuries (mushroom parts broke off and cracked in the cure). These injuries required lots of spackle (polymer paste), paint, glue and objects and polyester batting support to indure several extra rounds of heat curing. I had my moments of doubtbut, chose to work through them despite my negative, anxious vibes. In the middle f the night, while the world sleeps, I am able to let go of "real world" inhibitions and just go with the flow. When things go wrong I just keep on working through it.

If you are asking for my sources of inspiration in general, there are many; Brian Froud art, my woodland garden, my true love of mushrooms and fantasies. I hope this makes sense and is helpful in some way.
Peace out!
LaLa