The Making of the Vegetanimal from Outer Space by Kozmic Dreams

Below, I have outlined the process I used to create this sculpture. Click on each thumbnail for an enlarged view.

Step 1: The first step is to create a frame for the object that you want to protrude from the canvas. I used stucco mesh for this frame because it was more durable than window screening and easier to bend than chicken wire. I used embroidery floss to sew the frame to the canvas securely. The process of building the frame and attaching it to the canvas took about six hours. once it was attached, I secured wires around the top and bottom that will soon be the roots and shoots.

Step 2: The bumps that will have hair sticking out were pre-planned for ease of attachment and replacement of the hair bundles. Drinking straws were cut to size and folded through the holes in the mesh. A hair bundle will then be inserted into each straw.

Step 3: The first picture shows the first layer of papier maché. I used a flour and water paste to attach strips of paper towel to the surface of the frame. It took about three hours to do the first layer. The second picture shows the second layer of papier maché. This time, careful attention was paid to how the folds were laid out. It took about four hours to do the more detailed work in papier maché.

These photos show details of the wrinkles and the bump covering the straw.

Step 4: After drying for two days, a coat of gesso was applied (not pictured). Then the sculpture was painted with acrylic paints. The most difficult part was getting in all the crevasses formed by the wrinkles. Painting the sculpture took about 13 hours. The second picture shows the canvas design, which took about four hours to paint.

Step 5: Finally, "leaves" are added at the top, fake fur to the inside of the hole, and dog fur tufts to the yellow bumps. This took about three hours. The entire process was now complete after 33 hours of work.