R.I.P. MJ

I dug up a couple of pieces I've been commissioned to make of Michael Jackson over the years. The first piece was for BET and was one of my very first jobs ever (I was still working with regular sculpey back then and painting with acrylic paints). The other two pieces focus on some of the strange stories that always surrounded MJ... one for MAD Magazine about America's best prisons (also featuring Martha Stewart, Kobe Bryant, Rush Limbaugh, and a few other celebs that got themselves into trouble) around the time of Michael's child sex abuse trial. The last was commissioned for a book shortly after the baby dangling incident. I think it's time for a new Jackson sculpture focusing on the good.
Rest in peace Michael. Thank you for the music! You will be missed.

making Cowbella, day 31

Day 31 was all about building up layers of paste and filler to seal the gaps between the edge of the cow and the wings. Whilst those layers were drying I added glitter to the eyeshadow, the nostrils, added more lashes, and am trying to figure out what to do on the forehead! I will keep you posted. Thank you to everyone for all of your support through this wonderful project. I will be so sad to see it come to an end in about 4 days time!

making Cowbella, day 30

On day 30 a lovely couple, Karen and Pohl, came by to see the progress on Cowbella and give me a little cow broach they had bought for me. Can you guess which cow it was? That's right, cow fans... Angelicow! And they bought it without realizing that I had made it! That really blew me away. It was another day of hard work- sorting out the wings and making sure they fit properly. It was great to see Leslie again too.

making Cowbella, day 29

On the 29th day I carved bits of the wings off so they would sit flush on the cow, and I added more gems. I had another visit from Ginger! She was excited to see my Angelicow lamp... I was too actually. That was the first time I had ever seen one in person.
There was a "health care" seminar in the mall which gave away free Cotton Candy- yikes!!! Christina and Wendy were happy about that. You can see more photos here.

Open Studio- the final days...

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday (June 26, 27, 28) are the final days of the Open Studio in the Flushing Mall, where we've been working on our cows for the Flushing CowParade. Come see us! We're there all day from 11am - 7pm.
Huge thanks to all the wonderful visitors who've come to see us so far. I know it's what has kept me going since the first Open Studio day on May 9th! Thank you so much!!!
(if you need directions or have questions, just send me an email:)

making Cowbella, day 28

Day 28 was so exciting! It started with a visit from Jun Liu who posed for a photo with Cowbella...

more gems were added to the shapes on Cowbella...

I got to sneak a peak at an enormous painting that Wei Kang had done whilst he was in NY...


Peiliang Jin, the lovely and amazingly talented landscape artist working next to me, pulled off layers of tape from his cow (I snapped this as he pulled off the last 2") revealing perfect lines of colour...






and Chick Lam of "Flowers on Stage" fame (which has the most gorgeous flowers and plants and is like an oasis in the mall) was excited about his special delivery from Hawaii- Hawaiian Volcano Plants!

a flash back!

these gorgeous photos were taken at the press conference on May 22 by a lovely and talented photographer called Jun Liu. He's stopped by several times since to see the progress on the cows.

making Cowbella, day 27

today I added more rhinestones onto the cow and glitter to the wing I am working on.

On my subway ride home I saw this Pepsi ad. I always think it says "More Cowbella" and it keeps me going.

making Cowbella, day 26

Today brought a special surprise... two lovely people who came all the way from Florida to see the Flushing CowParade! Mary and Tony have been following CowParade since the beginning and have been to 17 different CowParades! It was such a pleasure to meet them and to share in their enthusiasm. I was happy to hear they had an Angelicow figurine. They were excited about Cowbella so perhaps she'll make her way into their collection some day.


After all that excitement I worked on painting the wings. I am getting there- slowly but surely (as my dad would say).

Cowbella's wings

I worked from home on the wings which are made from Owens Corning insulation foam- that is carved, sanded and covered in joint compound which is then sanded again when dry.

making Cowbella, day 25

Day 25: another great day, another VIP visitor... Miss Amy Grant! (not to be confused with the Christian singer, please) THIS Amy Grant is a talented designer, once my student at Parsons, then my assistant and now one of my dearest, most treasured friends! (Thanks for visiting me A.R.! love you!) Day 25 was also a day for eyelashes and hooves. Now I am working from home on the wings!

making Cowbella, day 24

Day 24 brought another VIP guest visitor... my amazing and fabulous friend MARGOT MILLER! So special, so crafty, so talented, so good to me always. Thank you Margot for coming to see me and Cowbella in Flushing! (how good were those dumplings?!)
WE LOVE YOU!

making Cowbella, days 22 & 23

day 22: more detail painting on side B. More fine tuning and color decisions, which Christina helped me through.

day 23: detail painting on the legs and finally, her tail!

making Cowbella, day 21

Day 21 was another great day with a very special guest... my dad! The legendary Stan Lomax, in town for my sister's birthday, came with me to the Flushing Mall and sat with me whilst I worked. He took some great footage accompanied by his famous narration.

working on Cowbella from Liz Lomax on Vimeo.