Sketch is on the cast, ready to be painted. I've found it a tad challenging (in a good way), to move from sketch on paper to a belly cast because of all the curves, so I'm doing more of the true sketch work on the actual cast, which is very different for me.
Here's what's in the studio this week - another beautiful belly sculpture (belly cast). Such a different form, and so beautiful, each one. I'm already starting to get booked to do casts, and to "upgrade" home-kits done locally. It's so exciting. Every day I can hardly wait to head down to the studio, which is so wonderful to experience again. Maybe I'll have to start thinking about redecorating the studio, now that it's not just me down here anymore. ;)
So far, I'm referring to this cast as the "Owl belly" because the mom was drawn to owls during her pregnancy. Next step will be to finalize the sketch on the sculpture/bellycast and then paint it.
Here it was in the "raw" - an untouched cast, not reinforced, no hanger, not trimmed, no flower.
For those of you who know me, you'll know that birth and pregnancy have quickly grown to become passions of mine that could easily rival my painting and sketching habit. There's something so fleeting and beautiful about a pregnancy, especially once you've come through the other side and there's this desire... or perhaps need to document it, to feel beautiful despite the changes that are happening to your body. To not forget what made it beautiful, that it seems impossible for a belly to grow that big and to fit a person inside of it... And so, here begins my journey. I've started belly casting in Edmonton, and for a little while, I'm having introductory pricing. Starting at $200 for a smoothed belly cast and individual quotes from there for painted designs (original designs only) for a limited time only. Here's the casting process:
I will drive to the comforts of your home (around 32-38 weeks of pregnancy, depending on if this is your first or subsequent pregnancy) and do the belly cast or come to my studio and have it done here (for now, it's just my little art studio in my basement). We will discuss style options, ideas for the finished cast, what type of hanger you would like, etc. The process will take approx 1.5 hrs (with clean-up, set-up and discussion of cast over tea), depending on how complex the cast is. It's completely safe for pregnant women, being of medical grade plaster and is not unpleasant. I then take the cast home and...
Make it very smooth...
Do a sketch (in my sketchbook, scan it and get you to approve the sketch you like based on our previously discussed ideas), put sketch on the cast...
Then paint it, varnish it to seal it and put a hanger on it (hanger not in photo)
To get a finished cast like this it will require 4-6 weeks until pick-up. 
With the hanger... next the the cast I'm working on currently.
