WITCH CRAFTS

WITCH CRAFTS

Friday, May 25, 2012

DOLL CLASS IN TEXAS

I'M TEACHING A NEW DOLL CLASS IN AUSTIN, TX THIS SUMMER. IT'S AT THE "ALL DOLLS ARE ART" (ADAA) CONFERENCE IN JULY.

I'LL BE TEACHING A "GYPSY FORTUNE TELLER" DOLL AND BOOTH. THE DOLL IS A SIMPLE STUMP DOLL WE MAKE IN CLASS. THE BOOTH IS MADE OUT OF FOAM CORE. (I GIVE YOU ALL THE PRE-CUT PIECES, AND YOU PUT IT TOGETHER AT HOME.)

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CONFERENCE, GO TO:
http://www.alldollart.com/



APOTHECARY CLASS


AFTER TEACHING MY "APOTHECARY" CLASS, ONE OF THE STUDENTS SENT ME HER FINISHED SHADOW BOX. THIS IS BY SUE ROSENBERG (ISN'T IT WONDERFUL!!--- I'M LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH TALENTED PEOPLE IN MY CLASSES!)

Friday, May 11, 2012

RENAISSANSE DIVA

MY "RENAISSANCE DIVA" IS FINISHED:

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

DIVA IN PROGRESS

I STARTED WORKING ON A NEW "CANDLESTICK DIVA" DOLL TO TAKE TO THE "GALA" DOLL CONFERENCE IN OHIO (I'M TEACHING THERE IN 2 WEEKS).

I DON'T START WITH ANY SPECIFIC IDEAS WHEN DESIGNING THE "DIVA" DOLLS. MOSTLY, IT EVOLVES FROM THE CANDLESTICK, FABRIC & TRIM I HAVE AVAILABLE. THIS ONE STARTED WITH A BASIC COLOR SCHEME (RED EMBOSSED VELVET W/ GOLD ACCENTS) AND A PERIOD SILHOUETTE (FITTED BODICE WITH 2-PART SLEEVES AND CENTER ACCENT).

HERE SHE IS AFTER I'VE ATTACHED THE ARMS. (I TRY TO FINISH AS MUCH OF THE SLEEVES & HANDS BEFORE STITCHING THE ARMS TO THE TORSO):

I CUT THE UPPER SLEEVES EXTRA LARGE, AND WHEN I PINNED THEM ON, I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. THE LARGE PUFFY SLEEVE AND THE RICH RED VELVET-- IT REMINDED ME OF A RENAISSANCE SILHOUETTE. SO, THAT INSPIRED THE GOLD LACE COLLAR AND THE FOCUS ON THE CENTER TRIANGLE:

MORE SPECIFICITY, THIS LOOK REMINDED ME OF A FAMOUS RENAISSANCE PORTRAIT I RESEARCHED BACK IN COLLEGE WHILE DESIGNING A SHAKESPEARE PLAY-- "PORTRAIT OF A LADY..." BY LORENZO LOTTO:

WHICH ALSO REMINDED ME HOW THIS PAINTING INSPIRED ONE OF THE COSTUMES (the fabulous & striking) ELIZABETH TAYLOR WORE IN FRANCO ZEFFIRELLI'S "TAMING OF THE SHREW" (A FAVORITE FILM OF MINE):

FUNNY HOW THE MIND WORKS -- HOW YOU CONNECT AND ASSOCIATE ONE THING TO ANOTHER?

SO, NOW I HAVE A DEFINITE CONCEPT AND VISION FOR THE NEW DOLL -- AND HER NAME: "RENAISSANCE DIVA".

I'LL POST MORE WHEN SHE'S FINISHED.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

GOBLINS!

I STARTED SCULPTING SOME NEW WITCH HEADS. BUT, AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND IF I ADD POINTED EARS, ......THEY BECOME GOBLINS! --WHO DOESN'T LIKE GOBLINS???
(ANY MENTION OF GOBLINS HAS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MASTER OF GOBLIN ART -- BRIAN FROUND   http://www.worldoffroud.com/)

HERE'S HOW THEY START -- A 3" STYROFOAM EGG, MOUNTED ON A WOOD BASE, COVERED IN A LAYER OF PAPER CLAY WITH FLAT-BACKED DOLL EYES (THEY'RE ALWAYS SO CREEPY WITHOUT THEIR EYELIDS!)

HERE ARE THE TWO WITH MOST OF THE SCULPTING FINISHED:

AND, THE FINISHED GOBLINS -- AFTER PAINTING, I ADDED SOME FELT HATS (HAND-STITCHED) AND SOME BEAD DANGLES TO THE EAR FLAPS. ONE COLLAR IS A STRIP OF FAKE-FUR, THE OTHER IS RAVELED GAUZE:

ENJOY!