Hello, nice to see you again.
With the colder months fast approaching now, and Halloween getting closer, it's easier to get in the mood for something spooky.
Not too spooky however.
This miniature cake may have a skull as the main feature, but it's also partly romantic - strawberries, checkerboard cookies, a "poisoned" apple and red roses grow sweetly around it.
The theme for this cake - before I even started sculpting and lived merely as a sketch on my book - started as a poisoned apple cake. But it felt a little empty, so I decided to give the poisoned apple a back seat and introduce the skull as the main focus.
Then as I was sculpting the skull I had the idea of taking it one step further and turn him into a groom by adding the top hat. I guess it's the opposite of the corpse bride.
Here's a list of the tools and materials I used:
- Polymer clay in: white, black, olive green, translucent, red, brown and scrap clay.
- Translucent Liquid Sculpey (FIMO Liquid or other liquid polymer clay)
- Ceramic coaster/small tile
- Small hand drill
- Blades
- Craft knife
- Wire
- Pliers
- Acrylic paint in black, yellow, blue and brown
- Mica powders in a rust or red colour
- Embossing tools in different sizes
- Needle tool
- Paint brushes
- Matte and gloss water-based varnish
- Toothbrush
- Round cutter
- Silicone sculpting tools in different shapes
- Metal sculpting/carving tools
- Small scissors
Usually, I would use brown paint to shade the skull, but in this case, I wanted to keep the look more monochromatic (when it comes to the grey scale) and have more contrast.
The play between black and white - yin and yang - light and dark - not as colours, but as concepts. The beginning and the end. Coexisting polar opposites.
Life and death.
Because what is art if not an exploration of both?
There is a bittersweet taste in death.
Without death, life would be purposeless. Death is what makes life tick. And though I don't believe there is the death of the soul, there is an end to the physical life we experience, and to die means - to me - to "have lived" which is in itself the most incredible, miraculous experience, privilege and gift we could have ever received.
If you'd like to give this cake a try, the tutorial is in the October issue of "Dolls House & Miniature Scene" magazine, and it's available in both digital and print formats.
What else is in this issue?
If you’re a fan of the eerie, make sure you take a peek at the ghostly characters created by Maya Schippl, plus Maive Ferrando’s skull and roses cake – it’s a slice of pint-sized perfection! For those who aren’t the biggest lovers of Halloween, fear not – there are plenty of mini makes for you to try! From peanut brittle to a Marie Antionette inspired table, we have the mini make for you. New contributor Kim Finch continues the tour around her spectacular dolls house, with this issue showing how she has created and filled a pantry – such a fun piece of the kitchen to put together and adds lots of personality!
We continue to bring you the best advice from industry experts Bea Broadwood from Petite Properties and Ruth Flewelling Lesbirel’s ‘mini tips’, Moi Ali’s Instagram Identities which puts an artist in the spotlight, and we showcase projects from our wonderful readers too!
In case you missed it...
A little while back, for the June issue, I worked on a miniature doughnut board tutorial - includes the wooden easel.
Get your copy here
And the month before that, I made a very intricate crown cake.
Get your copy here.
Also available to purchase through my website:
If you'd like to have a peek at my favourite tools and materials, you can find them here.
I hope you'll enjoy recreating the "Skull n' Roses" cake; I love when you give it your own spin! I have much more to share with you soon...stay tuned.
Thank you so much for reading and I'll catch you next time,
Love,
Mai