The workshop proved to be so busy that I never got a chance to finish the sculpt while everyone was here. Today it took another hour to complete the tree and the roots. I pressed crumpled tin foil into the soft sculpting medium to create the bark texture and then a sharpened stick was used to draw in the cracks of the bark.

It will dry overnight before we begin the base coats of paint and then the glazing for final color. It will then be allowed to cure a few days before it goes outside in its final spot - ready for the paper boy at long last. The project proved to be fun and relaxing. I have no doubt Phoebe will think up a good name for the squirrel when she helps me install the mailbox. I’ll share the name when I post the final pictures in the last installment.

-grampa dan