This is a model of a cross representing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The cross is real wood and the crown of thorns are real, made from a thorn tree that is in the woods that border my yard. What I did make are the nails and the "blood" that looks like it is dripping from the nails and the thorns. It is approximately 42 inches high.

The "blood" drips are made of hot glue and then painted red. I formed the drips by squeezing out hot glue onto a piece of glass in such a way that it looks like drips and then let it cool. To make the "blood" on the purple fabric, I put some acrylic paint into a plastic bag and mixed in some water to get the consistency right. Then I snipped a hole in the corner of the bag and squeezed, let the "blood" drip down where I wanted it.

This is the "nail". It is made by crunching up aluminum foil around a length of hanger wire and then putting Sculpey clay over that and then forming it to look like a nail. I painted it with brown and gold acrylic paint. To secure it into the wood, I left about an inch and a half of hanger wire sticking out and put it into a hole I had drilled into the wood.

I didn't create the Army action figures, uniforms, guns or anything on their waist belts. I did however create the "patches" on their uniforms, such as the flags, rank insignias and name. I made their A.L.I.C.E. rucksacks and the straps and also the road they are walking on, along with the road signs. The grass and trees are real (my front yard). Below are more details and close-ups.

This road is made out of paper mache and cardboard mounted on a piece of wood. Most of the chunks of pavement and the rocks are made out of clay (baked hard in the oven and then painted), but most of the smaller bits are real stones or pavement bits. I also had to give these guys a shave and a haircut, because they both had goatee beards. The soldier on the left also had more hair, but I gave him a proper military haircut with my Exacto knife.

I didn't make the two little packs on his belt, but the rucksack I made from scratch (it was insanely tedious, but worth it). I made it look worn by dry brushing it with brownish gray acrylic paint. Notice also the Ranger patch on his shoulder. I made that in my graphics program, printed it, cut it out and then used hot-glue to attach it.

These are signs from the above model. I made them in my graphics program and then printed them on glossy paper. The post (above) is made from a wooden dowel and then I used acrylic paint to make it look rusty. The post for the sign below is printed from my graphics program and hot-glued around a strip of aluminum.

This is a fictional species of snake that I made out of colored clay. Below is the snake on my hand.

The only thing I didn't make on this model was the Army action figures, uniforms and rifles. I did make their hats, however, and also their name and rank patches. The fencing is made from 1/4 inch wire mesh and the poles are from wood dowels. I applied the rusted metal look with brown and gray paint.

This is a better look at the fencing. The "bricks" are just printed paper (created in my graphics program). I made them look like rust has accumulated on them with brown colored pencil.

The sign is also computer generated. Notice the "barbed wire" at the top of the fence. Cool, huh? (very tedious, but worth it).

The chain is made from a cheap gold bracelet which I painted to look rusty. The padlock is made of clay and then painted.

The "pavement" and "diamond plate steel" are computer generated-- it's just paper!

These barrels are made out of paper printed to look like barrels with images that are computer generated. I rolled the paper into tubes and taped their tops in. The hazard sign were made separately and then glued on.

This is a model of X-Men's Wolverine (my absolute favorite superhero). I made everything except the wooden base. This model is approximately 11 inches tall and is made of clay built on a "skeleton" of aluminum foil and wire. Acrylic paint gives him color. His belt is made of red ribbon and the "X" buckle is cut out from a flexible plastic cover from a three-ring binder and then hot glued on.

His claws are made from thin aluminum sheet metal. The dripping blood is hot glue painted red. Hot glue is liquid when it is hot, but cools to a rubbery consistency. I squirted some onto a piece of glass and then pulled the end so it would look like a drip and let it cool. It peels easily off of glass and another dab of hot glue attached it.

This stuff is simulating metal framing and "I" beams (painted clay) and stoney ground (colored clay). The "newspaper" was made in my graphics program. It is symbolic of the "wreckage of sin", like successfully overcoming the temptation to do evil and doing what is right instead. The wording on the base is just paper taped to it.

 Xalt Graphix 2010