Bye Bye DCon!

Took a small break after this years Dragon Con. It was my 10th year of being in the DCon Art show and it was awesome as usual.
Here's some shots from my Gallery and Auction table. :)

Blew the Gryphon posing for a photo before the show. 

Aero was ready for the auction to start. 

My 2018 DCon Gallery Auction Table

My 2018 DCon Gallery

Had a blast meeting new people and seeing my con buds. And seeing all the creative costumes and colorful fans is always a blast.
A bunch of my little guys found new homes and I won an award for my charity piece. :)

3rd Place Charity Auction

A Huge Thank you to the Dragon Con Art show directors and volunteers, they work so had every year to make this show amazing. And a Big Welcome to all the new Mystic Reflections' Followers.
Also a shout out to my crew, without you guys I would not be able to do this show each year.

I will be getting back to work this week. I have reopened my Etsy store and am slowly listing the remaining sculptures, should have them all up by the end of this week. :)
See you next year Dragon Con, Thanks for Ten awesome years!

Thanks for reading!
~Caralyn

CONNOOGA 2018

Heading to Tennessee this weekend for ConNooga. A fun multi-fandom convention that I have been attending for 3 years now. I have a booth in the vendor hall where I will have my little creations available.We will also have lots of books, my husband's Winston and Baum books, 1-4, my coloring book and children's book will there for you. Also my husband will be speaking at several panels this year so make sure you don't miss that. :)

Hope to see you all there in Chattanooga TN.

Thanks for reading,
~Caralyn
 

Giving a Tiger His Stripes

There are two ways I know of to add color to your sculpture. You either paint your sculpture or you use colored clay. I like to use colored clay on my pieces, I just like the look of it better than when paint is used. So I try to paint as little as possible on my pieces. It sometimes adds more time to finishing a sculpture but it also adds quality in my opinion.
So now I am going to walk you through one of my sculptures, using colored polymer clay to add stripes to a White Tiger.
I start by sculpting the body using white clay. I add colored glass beads for eyes and pink and black clay for a tiny nose. Then I mix black, white and a small amount of blue clay together to make a soft gray. I roll the gray clay out into long snakes/rods, trying to get the clay as thin as possible.

The next step is to lay the lengths of clay rods on the Tiger's body. Once you get the pattern the way you want, start flattening out and pressing the clay until it is smooth. 

This part is very time consuming but worth the end result. :)

Keep lining up the rods in the pattern, pressing and smoothing each line out. Make sure to be mindful of the flow of the back so you don't end up with wonky stripes...Yes, wonky is bad. :)

All his stripes are added, he is looking like a fine white tiger and he isn't even baked yet.

 After the sculpture is baked I then add small painted details to give depth and highlights to my sculpture.

The end result is a unique polymer clay piece. By using less paint, the color on this sculpture can not be scratched off or fade.

This little guy has sold but visit my Etsy store for my available pieces.

Check out my Step-by-Step blogs to see other times I used this technique. 

How to make your Forest Dragon

Pheonix always rises from the Ashes

Pretty as a Peacock

Thanks for reading!

~Caralyn 

Atlanta Steampunk Exposition...it's fancier when you spell it out.

My hubby and I will be at Atlanta Steampunk Exposition this weekend. I will have my available sculptures with me, my inventory is a bit small because I have been working on several custom sculptures this month, but I have a few little guys for you. I will also have my Art prints, coloring/children's books and new Christmas cards available at our booth. My husband will have all his books there and will be signing them so make sure you stop by to see us. :)



Hope to see everyone at the convention.
Thanks for reading!
~Caralyn

Then and Now Mystic Reflections style

Practice truly makes perfect, and when you are an artist you never really stop practicing. With each piece you make, you get a little better; your technique is refined and you learn a little more. That is why each year my style changes slightly and my pieces get more detailed.
I was recently going through my photos of past sculptures and found a few of the pieces that I recreated this year. So I thought it would be fun to post some "then and now" collages for you all. :)

Crazy what a few years can do, right?
So for those artists out there that aren't quite satisfied with their skill level, Don't give up, just keep Arting. :)
Thanks for reading!
~Caralyn

That's a Whole Lotta Cuteness

Salutations Everyone!
Just wanted to pop in and tell you all a little about what I have been up to; I know it has been a while since I have blogged but I assure you it was due to being quite busy and not that I forgot about you lovely people...How could I? :)
I usually like to start the year off with a bit of smaller sculptures such as my little Myxie pals. I have been diligently working on a few of my Steampunk Animal pals for the past month and have created quite a few little friends. I am hoping to have a small army by the big Dragon Con Art Show convention in September. Here a few of them.

I post each of my creations as I finish them to my FaceBook page.

Before I go, just want to let you all know that my little creations and I will be in Chattanooga TN for ConNooga Sifi/Fantasy Convention. February 27th - March 1st. Stop by and see us :)

Thanks for reading!
~Caralyn

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MYSTIC REFLECTIONS!!!!

This month marks Mystic Reflection’s 10 year anniversary! Back then I was just getting started. I had only done a few shows; with handmade cardboard sings and mats on my black and white prints. My Myxies and Pal Sculptures were still 2-3 years away from being imagined and using social media to share my work was several years in the future. :)

I posted a few then and now photos for you.

I have come so far this decade, and It has been an amazing journey. One that I could not have been on without the encouragement of my friends and family. And without the constant support and help of my dear husband, my sister and brother-in-law. These three held my hand for so many years and pushed me to take every step. Without their guidance, Mystic Reflections wouldn’t be what it is today.

And last but not least, ALL OF YOU!!! Without the Love my fans have shown my work, I wouldn’t be able to keep creating and feeding my passion for Art. The Myxies and Pals want to give you all a Huge Thank you! :D 

Thanks for reading and Have a Great day!

~Caralyn