Made by Lisa Anne
Orpheus kept me sane through summer and fall, when my worklife was often overwhelming. Just 30 minutes in the evening working on some of the 1200 suckers or placing colors (top colors were made entirely of cut and placed acrylic paint skins made separately), while listening to good music (hence his name “Orpheus”) was an important part of my day and helped rejuvenate body, mind, and soul.
The beginning steps shaping and stabilizing the legs was ridiculous to behold, for sure. Thank goodness there were no visitors to the studio right now with COVID! They’d have thought I was out of my mind. Sometimes I wondered the same thing….Lol
Your octopus is just wonderful! I especially love the paint finish – a real piece of art! Congrats!!!
This is lovely.?
Did you use wire and fabric to make the octopus armature?
Hi!
Foam pipe insulating tubing (cheap!) cut in half helped shape the arms (with heavy gauge wire to help shape them).
The head is newspaper and masking tape, primarily, with toilet paper tube for the shape of the siphons
The “webbing in between the arms I used some of that flexible metal mesh to provide the initial framework.
For the arms, though – shaping was really the tricky part! I propped them up with various things to get them basically how I wanted them, then applied a layer of plaster cloth strips to provide the base support (wire and foam are floppy!). Once the plaster dried then I could start spreading on paper mache clay (original recipe).
It was so ridiculous in the beginning you could hear me saying “whoever invented the octopus had a real sense of humor!”
LoL
I love the dinosaurs and their color, but this octopus takes the prize. Really a great and colorful work, and those suckers put me in another world. Thank you very much. He’ll be beautiful no matter where he goes!
The suckers were a good thing to do with my hands during last summer’s Zoom meetings! I didn’t know how many I’d need though, so I still have some left. Tucked away in my supplies/misc. treasures room, I’m sure I’ll use them for something sometime! 🙂
Amazing!
Thanks!
At the moment, he’s sitting on a large end table.
I had in mind to hang him on some of the VERY heavy tall beams in my studio, hanging him from his mouth, essentially.
That’ll take a few people to “engineer” safely however, and with COVID, I’m not having visitors right now.
So, meanwhile – his guiding eyes watch from ground level my progress on new projects!
I love your octopus Lisa, he is absolutely fabulous! The application of the acrylic skins was a great idea and gives him a great realistic look. I’m impressed that you took the time to do the underside as well. As you know I feel your pain regarding the suckers! Where are you going to put him?
Thanks!
At the moment, he’s sitting on a large end table.
I had in mind to hang him on some of the VERY heavy tall beams in my studio, hanging him from his mouth, essentially.
That’ll take a few people to “engineer” safely however, and with COVID, I’m not having visitors right now.
So, meanwhile – his guiding eyes watch from ground level my progress on new projects!