Brian’s Strumpets
The idea for the strumpets started after seeing some ‘Goddesses’ at an art show in Portland, Oregon. I liked the idea, but wanted to create something more sculptural, and not really a Goddess, but something more fun and less spiritual.
When I started working in clay, there was no stopping. I use low temperature clay that can be baked in the oven rather than fired. First the body is shaped and then the head. I drill them and use tamarisk (salt cedar) or chopsticks to create the final form. I then paint them with acrylic paints. Depending on what they ‘say’ to me, they receive various treatments in jewelry, pearls, coral, shells, what have you. Finally, they ‘tell’ me what their name is. I usually don’t have a specific idea in mind when starting. But there is always some subtle (or not so subtle) characteristic that offers up a name.
Frequently, they have a ‘full’ figure, often in the hips. Just an artistic preference I guess. Every strumpet is unique, as it starts and ends being made by my hands only. While I can try to make a copy, I cannot duplicate them, they’re more like sisters. The jewelry is from various places, often also unique. Most of the jewelry has been given to me from my family and from friends..
Brian Bondy