My name is Jean Marie Smith. I'm a resource teacher, and sculpture artist-in-residence at Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve in Goshen, Ky.
Four years ago I started stenciling Halloween themed images on hay bales as decoration for our Haunted Hike event, which raises funds to support our nature and education programs for children and adults. The Halloween decorations have evolved from flat stenciled images to sculpted, shaded, and highlighted images. My first 3D image was Frankenstein.
My primary sculpture materials - hay bales are double-stacked and, depending on the size of the bale, can end up being 8-12 ft. tall. Base coats of paint are applied, and then the real fun begins...pulling, tugging, and spray painting the hay to create cool artworks.
Last year I did another version of Frankenstein, The Cat in the Hat, Lego Batman, and a Minion, in addition to our usual stenciled images. This year's Haunted Hike included the third version of Frankenstein (each bale is unique and dictates the finished product) and a Harry Potter and Hedwig arrangement.
Harry Potter is a double-stacked bale and Hedwig is a single with an inverted Papasan chair seat to dome his head. I like adding 3D elements to my unique art, so I shop at the hardware store for unusual things to make embellishments.
At a friend's suggestion, Harry Potter's glasses were made from foam pipe insulation. It worked perfectly. The children love the hay bales, and the pay-off for me is in smiles.
#1 Harry Potter And Hedwig
23points
#2 Murray The Mummy From Hotel Transylvania
23points
#3 Minion From Despicable Me With 3d Elements
22points
#4 The Cat In The Hat With A Table Runner Necktie
21points
#5 Hipster Frankenstein
21points
#6 Lego Batman
20points
#7 Owl- One Of The First Designs And Still A Favorite For The Kids
20points
#8 Finn From Adventure Time
17points
#9 Frankenstein With Industrial-Sized Food Cans For Neck Bolts
16points
#10 Jake From Adventure Time
15points
#11 Frankenstein- Third Version
14points
#12 Jack O'lantern With A Stump For The Stem
13points
As sculpting hay bale figures has become a beloved tradition at the Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve, the intricate techniques and creative ideas I use to bring characters to life can be explored further in my seasonal outdoor art projects, where each bale tells its own story.