The Resting Period

Whenever I’m working on a mannequin...

Or actually- anything that needs to be shaped through layers....

There are these-

Drying phases.

Resting times.

I have to figure out,

Which layers I can blend spray paint when wet-

To which layers are needing to be fully dry before adding the next layer.

Making mannequins come to life-

In the way I see them....

Takes layers and layers of work.

I have even done test-spots-

Just to see how the paint reacts to an application style-can I mix mediums when wet....?

How thick,

How thin-

How wet or how quickly dried.- does the paint or product need to be?

Multi-directional splatter, will squish together into ghastly blobs of brown—-

If you don’t allow the colours to be their own.

In some cases,

I want that blending.

The bleeding together of colours or types of paint.

I want those colours to work together in a certain way to make a certain pattern or interplay.

I want the splitting and gritting-

So I can dry brush them later for a really cool effect.

But knowing which is which....

Takes practise.

When is rest important?

When is it optional?

When is it desperately needed?

When will the crackling be too much-

Or the dry brush too soon?

The layers need resting periods.

They need to dry out and solidify.

In some cases-

I even lacquer a layer -as is. 

Glue it- cover it- seal it.

To make sure it holds up to the addition of the next layer.

I’m guessing this is all art-speak.

As I write it-

I am seeing the process it takes to make a full and finished mannequin-

I hope you can picture it too-

The process of multi-medium splatter art- in 3D.

I have only fully completed a handful...

Mannequins- completed head to toe.

Jo-Bug has ‘Divinity.’

“Bang-Bang” is being sun-stroked in my front yard.

“Call Me James” is wrapped up in the garage.

“Baby-mama” is in the bird room- awaiting her next layer.

My friend Pet, hopefully still has the Leather Jacket one.

“Pride” belongs to Jo-Bug too.

“Alienation” has stood, untouched, for probably going on 4 years now.

Also- in the garage.

...going into my garage is sort of like going into a body-parts shop.

A limb here. 

A torso there—-

Though right now, my yard looks like a carnival of standing-room-only freak shows.

I went to buy 3 more torsos the other day.

Facebook market place is pretty cool, actually.

I never question the weird stuff people have-

You should see my garage.

So that awkward meet and greet-

Where the person is almost embarrassed to be selling “those mannequins”-

I’m

Like.....

K, but I’m the one buying them-

....sooooooooo.......

Ahem.

6. ...

There are currently 6 plastic bodies in my back yard.

...should I buy a shovel?

Nah-

I’ve got laundry to do.

Mum asked -

“What do you do with them?”

---I dunno.

Sell them?

I have this rather-

...thing....about doing that.

They mean something to me-

But it’s their creation that matters-to me.

The process of building them, layer by layer.

Getting to know them, tell their story-

Which is always actually “my” story.

Or a story that means something to me-

The layering of understanding.

A topic.

But to someone else-

They may mean something completely different.

So I would rather they find their homes.

Find their person-

The one who understands their language and story.

That’s a sensitives’ way of saying-

I don’t want to market them.

I’d rather they market themselves.

I just want to make them,

Tell their stories-

Or, tell my own.

Because the layering of life lessons also needs resting times.

It’s no bueno to rush the process.

I need time-

In between -

To settle, solidify and dry.

Some lessons need to be sealed in-

They need time to be their own.

Whether a day-

Overnight-

A week or more....

You can’t rush the process and get a satisfying outcome.

In moments of being too eager to wait-

I have fully ruined an art piece-

And had to start again.

True for life also...right?

...some...

Like “Bang bang”-

Serve their purpose and will be sanded down to begin again.

That’s life man-

That’s the way it goes.