Wendy Froud Workshop

I attended a Wendy Froud Worshop in New York, at the Purple Petals Studio,  this past weekend...WOW!!!  It was a 3 day workshop on creating  a "creature"...I wanted to take a class with Wendy...but i was a little "afraid" of the "creature" thing!   I thought about just doing a pixie or fairy...and I was told Wendy would accomodate that...but then I thought about it.  Get into a new mindset,,,TRY  it!!OPEN a NEW DOOR....So I did and I was amazed at all of the fantastic techniques that I learned from Wendy and Toby!  They are both amazing and giving artists! 

I'm very excited to try again and be a little more "BRAVE"! haha   I worked off of a picture of my child, ugh!! I mean my "cat" moon..  I still have to dress him..The almost completed doll is just "DRAPED" with some fabrics..to try and get an idea for an outfit.

I met so many new friends that are very talented artists..Sherry put the class together and took care of everything, she was great...and I dont think everything would have flowed without her.  

Leapord Girls!

This was a hectic two weeks.  Every time I tried to work on something I had to get out of my shop for rediculous things, like make dinner...or pick up a kid...or SHOP Rite...UGH!

Anyway...I got through my two leapardy dolls.  "GOT THROUH"  means I forced myself.  I loved making their crowns and painting them leapord...they are my favorite crowns to date because I'm so excited about the new painting techniques that I am learning. (I also made Tiny square polymer buttons and painted the "tiniest" leapard print on them...then added a tiny diamond to each one.)  But i sculpted these two faces a couple of months ago...and I think I have changed since then...so I think it was hard to make these two dolls work....They are "nice"  thats about it  Just not WOWed!!! ...haha!  (feeling critical!)

Check out the dolls...Actually, the  little boots i did one step crackle on...I do love how "Vintage Old" they look...I will definately use this technique more.  I guess each new doll...you learn something different!

Now that I completed them...I am excited for the next new faces..that I already have in my head.!  They will be my "SWEETS" dolls...... 

Painting Leopard...being Inspired

Today I had a get together with my friend Lillian Alberti...alias...LILLIANO!  She is a wonderful teacher...now traveling to different places to "do her "LIL BIT of Whimsy"!  So I cherish the time I get to spend with her!  ....I thought I was going to her...but I believe she had "cabin fever" and came by me!!    Then a phone call came in...long story short, my friend Heathie came over too.  We just all worked on our own things.

My "thing" was inspired by Lilliano...who created the most beautiful leapord slippers for her "Princess and the Pea" doll.....I couldnt believe she painted them.  I really wanted to learn that ...because painting is a bit of a struggle for me...and I'm a "Leapord Freak"...I hoard anything Leapord...and now she opened my world up...OK...JUST PAINT IT!!! then , I have FULL CONTROL..I can make anything leapord!  Oh my gosh...THAT IS INSPIRATION!   So I worked hard (taking as many tips from Lilliano as I could)...while we all worked and talked "ART"!! haha   I am very happy with what I accomplished today (i'll keep at it until i get my "perfect" leapord print)...  I have an Idea for a Leapord crown to go with this tiny dolls little leapord pants i made from my painted fabric....so i'll see what happens for this doll!

It was Fantastic to have this "Creative" get together With Lillian...she teaches me that you can " create" anything in your head with what is "on hand"...and I teach her to open the box and find "more stuff" to use!!! haha    

And Heathie is also a BIG inspiration to me...she excells in anything that she tries...she is great with Fabric and needlesculpting...and also with clay..   

Tweener work for the next doll!~

So...I was feeling like I was in the need of trying some already learned and some New techniques. I Want my next doll to incorporate a technique that I have to learn ...and Then I'll apply that technique to the doll.

I Finally got to watch a bunch of DVDs that I ordered!  I really picked up a lot of cool things.  The Four that I really loved were by Beryl Taylor, Ruth Rae,  Tim Holtz, and Angie Scarr.

 

I am only in the beginning stages, right now...I started by creating a bunch of Fabric papers, with muslin, tissue papers, colorful napkins, and some Vintage ephemera that I had.  I coated some old book pages and a part of my handmade papers with 2 part resin...to make this very cool..glass like paper, the book pages actually came out translucent shiny...I want to cut that into  shapes with my sizzix, then add stitches and findings. 

I tried the very cool technique of heating thin pices of polymer with my heat gun...and then using a paper punch to cut designs. I took this a couple steps further...by rolling thin sheets of clay, dusting with perfect pearls,  then texturizing with stamps, some inked ....then baking so that its hard and flexible.  I punched my desings...then used more perfect pearls, rub on colors, paint pens..then glossed them with triple thick...I love the embellishments you can create with this simple cool technique!

I found the best paper punches that also have matching stamps (3 designs)  that snap right onto the punch, so you dont lose them...the stamps really add depth to the clay design...These were Martha Stewart paper punches..WOW!

Tiny Fairy complete....

This tiny fairy is now costumed and complete!  She has organza that was melted into layered flowers on her skirt and pants.  The top part of her skirt was an old shirt of mine that i tea dyed, and her shirt was gold and ivory ..also tea dyed...after I put the outfit together...It  didnt work for me..., so I used a tiny brush and acrylic paint to add the pink to the shirt..., then I made some tiny clay flowers, dusted with perfect pearls...they were glossed and I added pink crystals.  

Her boots were painted that same mauvy pink as the shirt ... adding  ivory polka dots..glossed them and added crystals.   Her tall crown is made of polymer, stamped for design and texture , dusted with perfect pearls ...metal findings and wires for holding gems were added before baking. 

A Tiny Sad Fairy!!

This new fairy is very small...she is a little smaller than the tiny dolls...She turned out kind of sad and she seems to be "longing" for something (hmm ..the accessories may express that)  ...so I'm going with it!!!  I was able to really smooth her parts out nicely sanding with a medium sponge, then sand/smooth with my micro sanding cloths at 400, 600 and 1200 grit (i am now selling them on ebay )!

 Her Hair is natural lama hair ..not Dyed, its very soft and wispy..   

I have put together some vintage Fabrics. and i found this weirdo fur scarf at a flea market last summer...maybe it will be the collar of her dress..... I will costume her over the weekend. 

 I want to paint pink/mauvey boots with tiny polka dots...i'll see what happens!!  I'm thinking the Amber wings are going to go better with this  idea now....
The wings i have with her...are too sparkly for this  sullen fairy

News Board : February, 2010 - Art Is...You - The East Coast Art Retreat

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News Board : February, 2010 - Art Is...You - The East Coast Art Retreat

Wings ...Day 2!

So I "Worked" on wings again today.  I went in many different directions...and failed a couple of times...but now I feel like I'm getting  "Some where else"!!!!

The rust thing worked so cool...In the morning...there were small rust spots on the wire that I treated last night...but I remembered reading ..Apply in thin coats...to get a heavier effect.  So I did one more coat...and I LOVE  what it looks like.  I now have a "Rusty old pair of wings" from a fairy that has been lost out in the elements for years and years!  I found this crinkled mat shimmer  type paper that was for making bows...cheap stuff... I glued it to the rusty frames and hit it with the heat gun...maybe because it was cheap...It  tightened smoothed in an instant..leaving those tiny crinkles all around the edges next to the wing frame, but remaining So Crystal Clear everywhere else! 

 I dont know if I really captured it in the pictures, but the wings look like rusty old window frames...with  that old looking glass that has "Frost" on the edges because its so "fridgid" out!  These are my favorite wings...because I keep seeing these old windows to some old forgotten place! 

Then I did a "shimmer" pair that I am pretty happy with...The frames were wired around a wing design that i took from a wing art cd printed on a clear plastic sheet (its 4 seperate wings wired together.... I then used Ranger Gold alcohol ink mixative to color the wire...It gives it a more Matte metallic look.  I used the sheets of angelina glued to the frame and "zapped" with heat!  Then metal findings were also colored with the gold after being attached.  I coated the wing with Triple thick closs coating.  After drying...I added gems...Actually its still not dry...I just had to finish them! hahah! 

Workin' on Wings!!!

OK...so I have a ton of information on wings...But when i started to work on them...well...NOTHING was working!  I began this wing thing frustrated...BUT then I started to flow!!   I  saw a picture of these wings done in a cool book called Enchanted Adornments by Cynthia Thornton. The Wings were shaped with wire...then  tissue paper was glued on the back..and then they were dipped in resin.  So I startted working on them...I didnt like the tissue paper idea...so i used angelina in a sheet...i cut around the edges after gluing...then hit it with the heat gun...it tightend the sheet around the wire, putting a few "pretty " holes in the wing and , pearlized it!  I took my wings a little farther and added some ornamental metal findings...I used two part resin , and then finished it off with vintage diamonds.  These wings are for a tiny doll..now I will base her clothing around the wings.

I did the second pair...wiring them also...but instead of the resin, i used triple thick glaze....

and for the third pair...I did not wire veins...I dipped the wing with findings glued in place,  in  melted Utee ...then after hardening, I added one more set of findings and diamonds .

The last pair is in progress...and this is the one i'm most excited about!  I read in the Jan/feb issue of somerset studio, an artist that uses a metal paint...and then a solution to rust it, and she uses it on most all surfaces...i'm thinking of vintage worn wings and crowns...ugh!!! the possibilities!!!    I was on a mission, where do i find this stuff...i go back to the magazine...she DOESNT TELL!!!  hmm...where...then ...i'm thinking...hey wait a minute...i think i have something like that...i search my shop...where is that stuff??!   FINALLY....I find it...I got it in the city last year...and never tried it...I got iron, bronze and copper metal paints...and green, blue, and aging dark patinas!!! hahahaha   so I tested it on a bad wing and a piece of clay!!!  OMGOSH...it works...I have rust!!!  so I wired a new shape wing and painted them...dried the paint...and then put the solution on and left it for tonight to "RUST"!!!   I think these are going to be Very Cool wings....

Lillian Alberti Paperclay Doll Armature Class

Wow!!!  This weekend I hosted an armature class by Lillian Alberti at my house !  It was a fantastic weekend,  we learned so many valuable techniques to creating a good strong armature. And we learned tips on celluclay and its ability to build up the armature, then finally covering it with a thin layer of paperclay.

Everyone stayed  for the weekend... we ate good food, inspired each other.....and worked late into friday and saturday night!

This is a picture of Lillians mouse dolls that she just completed!  I love these dolls, they really are perfection...she made the little cakes too!

Also, Lillian with my "Moon",  he is a "naked" sphynx...some day I will make a little doll with "moon's" head!

Lillian was a great teacher, she was patient and just so inspiring!  I really appreciate her art and her ability to share her knowledge........

Lullabye League Body Parts Completed Today!

Today I got some time in to sand and paint the arms and legs of these tiny dolls.  I painted them with Hannie Sarris paints...this gives such a beautiful finish....I do love the easy coverage this paint gives.  I then  sprayed the parts with Duncan super matte spray.  It goes on shiny...but dries to a beautiful soft matte finish.

  

 I sewed up two tiny bodies using  a very easy pattern I created to fit perfectly into the paperclay upper bodice that I sculpt for these dolls...I Hollow the center of the bodice out, leaving a short armature wire that goes into a small opening at the top of the fabric body. 

I Hot glue the two parts snugly together. 

Heads and bodices complete !

Today I worked on the other two "Lullabye League " dolls.....I sanded...painted and Wigged them. I gave them a soft shimmery look by dusting them with this pretty pink Channel face powder that I had...(Even after i sprayed them with super matte by Duncan) I think they will fit this group..They are gazing...which is "A Good Thing"...I needed them to be a little more "graceful"  than the last set of dolls....I feel like I accomplished that...and hopefully they will come "Alive " when I dress and Embellish them!

In This second picture I have competed their wigs...the first picture, I wet the mohair down and back...Training it a bit...then with some spraygel ...after it dried...I  brought it forward in nice waves!

Lullaby League dolls moving along!

Moving along smoothly...I think it's the full moon! I'm on my last 2 dolls of the "lullaby League" Fairys from the wizard of OZ! I'm working on these dolls for the ART-IS retreat 2010. I completed the first doll...but the other two dolls that I origally started for this threesome...did not look like "lullabye Leaguers"!! haha But I think these two will be perfect. Sometimes I cant tell untill after I paint and Wig them....sometimes they Just want to be something else....

I also have completed four other head/bodices of Munchkin Fairies that will be part of this "Series".

On the top Picture..I have sanded one of the faces..and the other one needs to be sanded. You can see the big difference, that sanding the paperclay makes.

Merry Christmas SCOTT!!!

WHEW! I did it! Finished my brother Scott's "Daddy Doll" on Christmas eve...by the skin of my teeth!! But I was very happy with the finished doll....When i picked it up...it was soft and cuddly and the picture I used of my dad from his childhood really came to Life!. This doll is a symbol of the Love my dad gave to all of his children. He worked so hard, and yet he "played" with us and all of the neighborhood kids loved...JOE! He was always funny...even in church...when the collection basket came around, and he had to give each of us four kids a quarter...he'd give us funny things to make us laugh in church...a nail clipper, a nickle that squirted water...One time he found a tiny inch worm dancing on this ladies perfectly coiffed Behive hairdo in the pew in front of us..They are some of my best memories!!! haha!

His clothes are made from Velvet fabric that came from Elizabeth Taylor's seamstress' "stash". (my dad loved that actress), given to my by my friend Tery. I had to cut around the Gold embroidered name...but the velvet is exquisite..feels so soft! and his boots are made from thin leather with tiny buckles and clay soles. His little scarf is made out of Fabric that says...When this you see, Remember Me!"

He has a beautiful vintage metal heart bead hanging from his shirt...because he was "ALL About Love and Compassion" ....Always!