Made by Rex Winn
The project is only half here. My friend from the Isle of Man sends me and my sister a calendar every year from England that benefits children. The photographs are spectacular. This month’s photograph was a mouse sitting inside an apple, happily chewing away. I was taken with it, and when I went grocery shopping, out front was a stand with large apples to dip in Carmel (I never understood that). I bought one, took it home, wrapped it in Saran Wrap, and covered it with apoxie sculpt. I worked on it a bit at a time. About three weeks later I got a text from my sister saying her mouse needed a home and she wanted to order an apple (not knowing I had made one). I laughed and sent her a photo of the yet unpainted apple. She had the mouse; I had the apple. It is her birthday Monday, so guess what she is going to get?
I made a little turf for it to sit on, slightly tilted to show the hole more easily, mainly for the mouse to stand up in it.
?? makes me want to take a bite!
Love this apple. It looks fresh, a bit sweet and sour, my kinda apple.
Thanks for sharing.
Love the playful mouse too
The colors are absolutely awesome Rex! Wish I had your touch with painting colors. The apple literally looks 3D! Love it!
Thanks, Connie. The ironic part of this is I have a friend who wanted to learn watercolor. I taught him what I know about color theory. We began talking art about a year ago. Very recently, I realized that I was stuck in the mode of painting warm colors together (warm red, warm yellow, etc.), but he asked me why I didn’t put warm and cool colors together. When I began painting this apple (and a pumpkin), I used warm and cool yellow and reds. It made all the difference in the world. I could see it come to life.
I truly love the apple, turf and little sweet mouse, great job Rex, can’t wait to see whats new on that clean table 🙂
I love your apple! It looks good enough to eat only the mouse got there first! I really love this kind of mixed media composition. Your sister must have been thrilled with her birthday gift.
Rex, the little mouse that your sister made is the perfect compliment to your apple! How sweet is that mouse? So adorable…..and nicer looking than the ones we get in our basement! We catch them in a humane trap and set them free in the woods. You have a talented family! Let her know how appreciated it was!
Rex,
I would like to be a mouse to live in that apple.
The vibrant colors would be the envy of the neighborhood.
I would be the King!
Thanks, Orlando. It was really fun to make. A bit ironic that the friend I was teaching color theory to got me using warm and cool colors next to each other. (I do tend to get stuck in my box.) The combination of warm and cool colors made a big difference.
That is a perfect apple, painted brilliantly! You neglected to tell us how big it was, how big the mouse is, etc. Has your sister now started doing paper mache or sculpture as well? I am assuming it isn’t a real mouse but what do I know? I was wondering what the apple was sitting on…a moldy piece of bread? A slice of toast with avocado spread on it? When you explained, it made sense and totally works! Leave it to Rex to think outside the box! Nice project.
Eileen, good to hear from you. The apple is 4-5″ tall. I wish I had left a bigger hole in the apple, but the mouse fits in it perfectly. (She has not done paper mache or sculpture. She sews!) It’s a little stuffed white mouse with a black nose. She has had it in her drawer for years and now it has a home.
While walking Teca, I came across a piece of Styrofoam out in the sagebrush. I bought it home and covered it with Apoxie Sculpt, then did my best to make turf. The apple was finished when I made the top of the base, so I put down a layer of clay and (covering the apple with Saran Wrap) smashed the apple into the ground. I wanted the apple to sit at a slight angle so the mouse could stand up in it. The apple is separate from the base, and I told my sister if she puts the apple into its mold, it will be sturdy and steady!
Thanks much, Eileen. (I’m spending today cleaning off my work table!)
There is no such thing as coincidence 🙂 What a nice apple too. The colors are great too – especially the yellow-ish color of the inside looks like the real thing! That mouse is gonna love his new home, I’m sure!
My sister’s birthday is today. I took it to her yesterday, and her little white mouse (stuffed) is having a ball in it. She has him standing up, sideways, and crawling around. We had a good time. Thanks, Isis. (I hope you are adding your color blue to the horse decoration somewhere!)
I just started painting him. 🙂 I hope I can finish it by the end of the week! I saw you have updated the apple pictures – love how the mouse is finding his way in his new home. It’s adorable.