mammalfeathers

The first of this years dolls...

2012-01-23T05:46:00.000-08:00

Doll Thoughts - Jan2012

2012-01-11T09:58:00.000-08:00

My bird! My misunderstood bird.

2011-12-22T07:44:00.000-08:00

Aaaand done!

Brian Froud's sketch:

Dark Crystal creature~

2011-12-17T09:55:00.000-08:00

Feathering the creature ~almost done... almost.

Today's project...

2011-12-08T12:07:00.001-08:00

From the endpaper of The World of the Dark Crystal... my favorite critter....

Pictures to follow~ Eeeeee

Caelie~

2011-12-07T09:19:00.000-08:00

Change of plan....

2011-12-04T05:17:00.001-08:00

After a few more commissions~ I'm gonna change up how I've been creating. Instead of trying to create 'works to sell' - I'm going to try to create 'works-for-me' as my little dolls~ love them though I do~ are created at an unsustainable loss. And so I shall take this time of unmitigated freedom and create fully for myself~

This little faun in my hand was my last attempt to create something simple - something that I could maybe - just maybe produce a few of in a day~ this~ it seems~ I am not capable of. I can not seem to speed myself up or lower the detail on my dolls - each one becomes more and more elaborate. I've conflicting goals~

1. To create works to sell on Etsy
2. To sell at prices that would allow people to buy
3. To add detail, emotion, story, individuality + quality to each subsequent work.

As I feel unwilling to change my tact on #2 and incapable of dumbing down myself on #3 ~ I must conclude that a change is in order.

New Year = a new focus!

Oh! And if you are one of the lovely lovely people that have taken one of my creations home~ thank you! Dear goodness~ thank you <3 I'm sure I'd have gone utterly mad creating for others and finding them non-exisitant! There were many many days that I sat back and looked at my work and wondered 'who in the world will want to take this little creature home?' and I was always answered with them sailing off to France or Poland or Italy or Ohio, California, Canada, or down the street... or to a friend back home.

I am so grateful and honored~ this has been a wonderful experiment and I'm always open for commissions from friends~ and anyone that took home one of my little creations~ is a friend in my book!

Wyck and Alban...

2011-11-21T05:23:00.000-08:00

Wyck is the smiling monster and Alban the white rabbit...

A new self-made project

2011-11-13T13:50:00.000-08:00

So I started this...err.. I'll go with the term: plan - But really it was more of an outline/goal that I'm calling: A Doll a Day. This, of course, rarely has happened and most certainly won't happen with the lack of light I have to work with~ BUT! I have managed about a doll every two days~ until I ran outta Sculpey... kinda a bump in the road~

But here are the two I've finished so far - a little colorful haired faun-ish boy and a red haired monster creature. I made them each little books that I sketched in and tied to their backs. Really rather pleased with them - and how well they stand!

I really should stick to monsters though - and try some new forms :D those are always the best ~

I'm thinking a fox-ish creature next and something with wings (after I finish one more commission).

Eips! I'd best plan for making Krampus before December hits - 'cause that is how I should decorate my Etsy site for the holidays - right? XD

see you guys soon with more dolls/sketches/rambles.

Adventures in FaerieCon...

2011-11-08T05:38:00.000-08:00

Holy heck on toast~ but I don't get out enough~!

Thank goodness for lively sisters - or I'd wander around my little room and little world quietly and never go on any adventures.

FaerieCon was less overwhelming this year ~ I even get the courage up to speak to Mr. Froud - even shook his hand - which was something I've wanted to do for a rather long time. His work shaped my life. Though I stood like a dullard in front of Wendy on more than one occasion. But my mind is normally full of images and shapes and colors - so having to put words together and hand them over to one my most beloved artists- most influential and amazing ladies was more than my spongy grey-matter could handle. At least I didn't get light-headed or stammer or inadvertently insult them~

I was far less the fool chatting with other awesome artists... but I fear I am to be doomed near the Frouds.

As for projects in this moment~ my mind is still buzzing with thoughts of wings and bits of bark... but I'd best refocus on Christmas stuff... I do adore the idea of people hanging my works on the tree - or giving my dolls to their sweet-hearts.

Maybe some dolls in the scale of this little moogle commission~ I am really loving this size - it means using a thiner wire - which I was hesitant to do up until just a bit ago - I like the robust armature wire - But~ people won't be animating movies with my dolls... sooooo... small dolls it is!

Going to....

2011-11-02T17:19:00.000-07:00

FaerieCon!

Did I mention that yet? I'm so excited!!!
I think it is just starting to set in. It is just for a day~ but I shall make the most of it!
I may even be putting on a pair of pointy ears ;)

Oh~! Reorganized my 'art room' - feeling much better about this set up~ I've the sun and I can see a little bit of the world outside.

I've just been working on a few commissions these last few weeks~ and those Halloween dolls, of course ;) a few more projects planned when my time is my own again~ pictures soon!

Final Fantasy XIV (takes up too much of my time)

2011-10-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

This this Halloween...

2011-10-27T15:27:00.000-07:00

I sat down with the intention of creating a set of Halloween dolls - I may have popped in The Nightmare Before Christmas and well... Tim Burton most definitely had a hand in inspiring this little creatures.

A little imp girl with wild hair and black gloves and a bat-winged boy with woolen pants~ and crazy crazy eyes.

They were fun to make - if a bit strange. I have been making newish dolls of late - a cartoony moogle - two humanesk tiny dolls for a client.

But I think these two turned out rather well.. creepy enough for Halloween and brightly colored enough for me to be happy~ though I'm not sure I'll ever make creatures like them again~ well..... maybe next year.

OH! And I'll be going to Faerie Con again this year - haven't been for the past few~ but I'll be there for a day - so excited to get to see Wendy Froud's work in person again.

Monsters and Moon Rabbits!

2011-09-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

I finished a monster doll last week - I think he's one of my favorite dolls to date ~ seriously adore him. He makes me think I really should stick with monsters ~ but I do love making my little human-esk creatures.

His horns are made of a lighter Sculpey that I think turned out really well ~ can't wait to use it again. Maybe for some cool masks and ~ of course, more horns!

His jacket is made of piece of cloth from my good friend Rowan Rose over at Hughes Pottery.

Oh! I used sugru for his rather awesome little faun like monster-ears (which I see you can't see in this photo)~ I'll go into that more in a later post.

For now I think I'll prattle on about the strange witch-bunny-moon rabbit creature I just finished:
-
I've called her: Merrick. She was meant to by my Halloween themed doll... skipping right over a orange and black theme - I went with a witch/bunny/moon rabbit girl.. kinda... you know ~ idea.

Her hat was fun to make and I love the shape of her ~ she is up on Etsy: here.

I think... I may just be getting better at these things ~ though they are just as strange as ever.

I'm excited about my next few projects! I shall be back with more infos!! mawahahha

Happy Obscurity!

2011-09-12T11:07:00.001-07:00

Autumn will soon arrive and I feel I should at least do ONE specifially Halloween themed doll... maybe I should set about doing a little be of research! of course - last time I did that.. I ended up with an Alice in Wonderland with brown hair and a yellow dress (as Mr.Carroll originally sketched and colored her) and a show that no one understood with a theme I'd best not have attempted...

Maybe I should just go with the popular vibe is of the day... 'cause I'm sure if I researched Christmas I'd come out making Krampus and no one wants that...

New Month...

2011-08-31T13:41:00.000-07:00

Well ~ it will be a new month in a few hours. Durning the power outage here in Eastern PA (due to the hurricane named Irene) I pulled out some paper and finally got back to sketching. Seeing the work of a lovely lady on Etsy: Nathalie Ortega and the lovely stories she tells with her pictures - made me ever more remise about my works. I love making dolls - and, truth be told, they are what sells on my Etsy - but I do get so quickly tired of working in the same media - I like telling different tales and trying different things... I'm not sure how some artists work in only one media and on one subject.

On the other hand - I bet they get reeeally good - I can not claim that. I can say I am skilled - but a master? Probably never. I don't think that is a goal. I want to get better - but the true enjoyment for me is in the making. Even now after almost 50 dolls made - I've only kept one - though I've loved everyone of them ~ I would much rather share.

I'm just grateful there are people out there that want to take some of my works home! What more can an artist such as my self ask for? I adore the idea of my dolls being all over the world! And they are!

But I think I need a new big project! It has been some time since I had a show - those really get me moving - I'm sure I've been more and more indulgent since college - I must admit - I miss homework and projects and dead-lines ~ self-motived? sure... but I'd be more so knowing someone or place is waiting.

Ah well~ back to work! Etsy is down to three items! *laughs* I shall focus on that 'assignment!' ... for now.

Belladonna would probably be a good name~

2011-08-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

2011-08-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

I've been watching Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock - one of my all time faaavorite shows ever. I can still remember the songs ~ and all sorts of strange little details. I've loved every episode... So much silly wonderful adventure in each wonderful little tale - I feel as if I couldn't get enough of Fraggle Rock! But five seasons is more than I expected to have the pleasure of watching... and I can always make up my own when it is all said and done, right? I'm just silly enough to do just that ^^"

Side note: I hate Fimo!! Why do I ever start working with it!? These two are a last two dolls I will make in Fimo... please don't let me try again! >< such a waste of my time!! But - ugg! it does look and feel so nice when you're done - even the weight of it is lovely.

I'm making a Dryad at the moment - and I WILL finish her - even if it takes another week of Fimo based battle!!

2011-08-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

Stopped in a store that sold items other than bread, milk and butter and discovered that Autumn shall be here soon (why else would the store be covered with faux fall leaves? I think I imagined an extra 2 summer months or something - as the end of Summer is so clearly fast approaching.

Still - there is a bit left... so I'd best make sure to enjoy it! Though it melts my Sculpey before I touch it and doesn't seem to be helping me out with the Fimo all that much.

I am excited for Autumn though! Should I start Halloween dolls already? At the rate I've been making things - I might just have one done in time for the holidays!

much love~

Back to work - jiggity jig~

2011-07-26T04:39:00.000-07:00

I now need to make an armies worth of these little creatures and characters and get them up on Etsy and take them out into the world - If I don't share these little guys with someone I think I shall fall into the category of: Mad Doll Maker - that.... is a title right? Lots of plans and random bits of hope floating about.

My awesome Dad picked me up some wool roving the other day of such lovely colors that I can not wait to use it... just have to finish up a doll today and then I can get to some little ladies who will have red and purple hair! Darn projects running in to one another. ;) I seem to always want to work on the NEXT project.

That said - I am very happy with how these two dolls turned out - I wanted more expression and color... I think I also wanted them to look 'wild - worn - and wonderful' but I always end up giving them hems and stain-free clothes! Maybe a few more dolls in and I'll be able to get to those three W's.

Have I mentioned my desire to add masks into the world of my doll making? But - I also intended to get wings in as well - and what of my doll pairs!? Goodness - so much to do... I need more deadlines!

Back I go to work on a fuzzy Muppet-ish goblin creature... 'till next time!

A Move - a Studio - and setting it all up!

2011-07-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

Greetings, friends!

Been a little extra sluggish due to a move and much of my art supplies being in another state - but I have my first studio space!! Okay - its a bed room in the new apartment - but the idea is still lovely. I'm setting it up and getting ready to get back to work!! New creations soon!

See you then ^^

Fauns - Fellowship + Forgotten Fridays

2011-04-19T17:02:00.000-07:00

My plan of updating every friday seems to be falling by the way-side.... as is my work schedule. I'm not getting as much done as I could hope/like/wish/dream/plan. Though there is little reason to whine about such things - the only thing there is to be done is to work harder!

Life continues here - each day filled with the endless sound of passing cars and the cold winds off the lake. I don't know why people say this is the best city to live in... I have found nothing here but dirt and sameness - I must have missed something... I shall go out and hunt for it soon.

'till then - I'll be here - sketching fauns.

See you again soon!

Sunshine and Spreading Chaos

2011-04-02T06:48:00.000-07:00

Gonna have to go with an 'image update' - happy with the creations - want to start those bright colorful characters I've been meaning to make - AND then I want to work on more 'Eden-like' creatures.. you know, masks and horns and semi-creepy-strange-cuteness.

Of Fimo and Sculpey...

2011-03-20T09:51:00.001-07:00

Been working with Fimo lately - though I'm not sure exactly why.. such a pain! I don't know where to begin! How does Wendy Froud do it?! I feel like I'm in a battle with the stuff... but when its all done and baked... its so awesome! Also - Wendy Froud works with it!! ... I'm a fan girl <<

Nora here was made with Sculpey... I don't think I could have done her face with Fimo... But that said - I suppose it will just depend on the project I'm working on, eh? Nice to have options - though I think I'm heading into Fimo on the tail end of one of their lines - such is the story of my life!

Ah well! Back to work I goooo...

much love ~

Fauns and Foxes...

2011-03-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

So I set about making a few smaller dolls the other day - my goal had been to make things with wings... but I completely failed >< and ending up making a faun and a fox girl.

As I worked on them I tried to think of stories - the places they came from - the worlds and paths they'd walked... which is always fun and a little bit more so when working with slightly more human creatures...

The faun I named Mina - who comes from a long family of fortune tellers and stargazers... I think all my fauns share the same story... maybe I just like to look of characters with horns gazing skyward... I think I wrote that she is 'often boisterous and impatient', which would set her apart...

The fox I haven't named - but I like the idea the she is a GateKeeper - you know... one of those characters that keeps the keys for the doorways to 'Other' places.... I like the idea that she was once human - but with time - this role/job is shaping her slowly into something different. I'll be making her a pair of shoes as soon as I'm done typing.

much love and a hug
-E

New Storykeepers - Scribes

2011-02-25T03:45:00.000-08:00

These are my favorite creations to date - I love their size, posable ears - proportions, weight when you pick them up, shape of their feet - their strange oval faces...

I think they'll be the scribes of The Storykeepers... I always figured their were clans - some specializing in one thing or another - some free agents - others one of a kinds... like Ing.

I can picture them climbing bookcases and pouring over the latest tale to be kept. Whimsy - you know it.

image update- One

2011-02-24T05:41:00.000-08:00

music.. printer paper... slow light

2011-02-21T13:28:00.000-08:00

Working on a new army of creatures for Etsy! >:D see you sooooon! Lots of monsters - working more on their clothes than previous creations...

A New Year

2011-02-08T05:50:00.000-08:00

So sorry for the lapse in posts, my dear readers. I haven't been as busy as I should have been of late - but what I have made I have been rather pleased with...

Life continues here for me - a move may be in my future - maybe in this next place I shall set down literal roots and my works in the world of plants can continue as can my own world of strangeness.

Hope you're keeping warm - if you're where its cold - or staying cool if you're where it is warm.

Back with more soon!

New Paper! New doodles! New Friends

2010-11-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

Okay - I broke down and bought new paper! I was home where all my paper is stored and forgot to grab a single sheet! Feels good to be sketching again - I love so many forms for makin' stuff that I do get a little overwhelmed.

This is just a bit of fan-art from Final Fantasy XIV - be prepared for more of it! I made tons of doodles from The Saga of Ryzom... just like to give something back to the community and to friends and total strangers <3 These two are my good friends Doki and Pia <-- wonderful new buddies who make me smile everyday... the least I can do is send them a sketch!

Back at'cha soon with more dolls and pencilings!

A New Bro

2010-10-29T05:53:00.000-07:00

Bosch - a little monster guy I made awhile ago - found a home with a wonderful woman with the name of Winnie - who has become so enamored with him - that she desired I create a few more of Bosch - trouble is - I can't. I've never been able to create the same exact thing twice - not even sketching... not even with a light box and the original next to me - I always see new ways to go - new lines to focus on - new ways to move the fabric...

So Bosch now has brothers - Bros who wear shoes:

Feathers, Fur and Glue, oh my

2010-10-25T07:20:00.000-07:00

Busy working on new stuff...
Someone told me my work reminded them of The Dark Crystal and Maurice Sendak's work. Could I be more flattered? I think not!

Art Dolls Only is having another doll making challenge - I think I might just have to take part!

Back to work I get!

Mini Muses!

2010-10-14T05:36:00.001-07:00

Okay - I haven't worked the little books out yet- most of paper in in another state... truth is - I ran out and am too cheap to buy more when I know I have it piled in portfolios.... so drawing has had to take a side seat.... but man oh man do I have faux fur!

And without anymore ramblings:

A sneak peek at some mini StoryKeepers:

Drat! Late again!

2010-10-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

I think this is the longest gap in my blog to date! I am so sorry, my adoring fans (mom, dad and grandma) - I've been distracted - but I'm back on course!

The dragon, sadly, is unfinished... I have him half done - but each time I look at him I think 'who the heck needs a two foot dragon sculpture in their house?' and i put it aside to work on something else.

What, you ask?

A collection of tiny tiny dolls - reactionary I suppose, but cute! And oh'so'much fun! These little guys are my latest incarnation of StoryKeepers - a group of little story muses who help inspire people to create such things as: travel guides, self help books and blogs.

I think at the tallest they're about 2.5 inches - I think the size will be much easier for people to live with and allows me more flexibly as well.

I'll take photos of them as soon as I've finished them up... I want each to have a little book.... and I'm still working out just how to do that right.

Promise you though - by next week - you'll be over run with updates and images!

Love to you all! See you soon!

Auria Windwaker

2010-09-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post and photo before I start work on my first dragon. Now that I type that word it makes some sense... the strange dragon dream I had last night... a long conversation with a HUGE ancient beast with really horrid hind claws. Hmm... maybe that is why Auria is an interpreter of dreams... maybe her obsession with strange varieties of rice points to my desire for lunch...

Food THEN dragon making - 'cause the house will be full of fur and feathers soon enough <-- and those aren't food!

Beatrix Doongara...

2010-09-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

This poor little adorable creature is my attempt to create a 'simple' doll. I just couldn't NOT give her arms... and she had to have feet - and ears and then a cute little shape. I don't think I can simplify my works without creating craft and not art. <-- do I flatter myself? Maybe a bit.

I do love her size - though it is so much easier to work larger ~12" ... Beatrix is a little over 8". She has a little functional backpack filled with little pages... I adore her little head of hair!

Must get back to work!

Decently Decent

2010-09-03T07:58:00.000-07:00

Greetings, friends!

It's muggy here once more - which makes sketching troublesome... but I would not be stopped and many decently decent images were produced. I must admit sometimes I imagine my work being in books... but I also love the idea of it being scattered about the world - not even myself recalling all that I've made. <3 I think I like that idea even more!

I now have dolls in four countries and art in a few more than that! Oh I love creating things!

though... not if that thing is a 'artist statement' I just feel the whole idea just doesn't apply to my works or to me... maybe if I sat down and really worked at it... but it seems so much easier just to sketch something out and say: 'see. This is what I do. Really... there isn't anything else to it.. to me. I just want to make simple. pretty. things.... that, I hope, make other people just as happy as they make me.'

Though... it would be nice if I were to understand exactly what to do with all that I create.

Best get me back to work!

New stuff up on the Etsy!

Back soon <3

One Fuzzy Moogle

2010-08-30T14:40:00.000-07:00

As previously mentioned: It's Moogle Time!

I've been meaning to make one of these guys for a long time now... Very pleased with how he turned out - always a fun process when you have a goal in mind... Most of my creatures and dolls just happen. Sure! I sketch up ideas, but I never know what I'm really going to end up with. It's part of the joy, no? Not... that I was exactly sure how he was going to turn out - I only just worked out his nose today.

So... what next? Oh-ho! I have ideas.... of course - lets see what comes of them... let us hope: Many things.

'till next time!

Mogs and Moogles, Oh My!

2010-08-27T12:03:00.000-07:00

Was going to set about making a Moggle today... thought I'd share a doodle of him before I began making a doll. They're a strange little creatures from the world(s) of Final Fantasy (a video game series) - sort of a teddy bear crossed with a bat and dosed with whimsy. I think I'm going to make an 'old fashioned' Moogle and go with a red poof atop his/her/its head.

New Monster(s)

2010-08-26T14:24:00.000-07:00

Using what I learned from making all those Hungry Monsters... I thought I'd try making me own troop of cute furry creatures... this is the first of (I hope) a few. I do have a rather extensive collection of faux furs and I can't wait to see what I make next... I wonder what it will be... I hope it's maroon... I have aLOT of maroon fur.

This little dude has the usual posable bits - legs, arms, neck, arms... but with the added ears and err... um... fuzzy horn antenna...

Hugs and hellos to all out there - back soon with more monsters!

Long overdue...

2010-08-24T12:28:00.001-07:00

Oh goodness - I'm sorry - I puttered off without so much as a word. But England was my distraction and it was awesome! Of course - I didn't see ALL of it... but I did ride a great number of miles on a good number of trains, so I saw just about all the rails that run from the East to the West.... and I was able to see the edge of Dartmoor <-- the landscape/area that inspired Brian Froud's Faeries... though I didn't see a copy of this book until I was in my 20's... and I'm not sure how or when a copy ended up in my collection - though I was happy to see it when I went home to visit my books...errrr.. I mean family. (love you, guys!) ... I think I learned more about this particular tome listening to the man himself at FaerieCon a few years back. And then I had to know more and then of course - I had to go there. I must have mentioned it one too many times because when the chance came up family and friends all but tossed me on a plane.

I now have pledged to become the TOTAL expert on Dartmoor. I only saw its sheep poo covered edge and I am so in love I fear I may have to move to England.

Well... I should probably get back to the monsters I'm making (photos to follow).

Be back sooooon! Promise.

A few new Etsy images...

2010-07-27T13:55:00.001-07:00

Doll Pair Ideas

2010-07-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

I'm sure I'm not the only one in a sea of heat... it makes sketching and sculpting almost impossible with the added humidity... but I managed one page of ideas before the paper began to melt...

I can't wait to start... I loved how Alice and the Gryphon worked out and such a blast with the whole project/event/etc that I just want to keep making these pairs. I'll probably not be able to work for a few days on them... but I have projects... paint related.

Back to work I goooo!

The Gryphon and Alice (of Wonderland)

2010-07-08T05:15:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much for allowing me to participate, ADO! I had a wonderful time creating them.
Oh! I also put together a slideshow of more photos of the pair. (and a few 'making of' images) Enjoy!

Ready for more adventures with Alice? <--- click me! (return to the ADO blog)

New Poster time!

2010-07-07T06:37:00.001-07:00

Gryphon done! On to Alice...

2010-07-01T14:10:00.000-07:00

So I've one Gryphon finished - though the mess was great - it was well worth it (feathers and fur - oh my!). And I think a small Alice to accompany him is totally in order.... and I'll get to use that lace that nice lady at the garage sale last month gave me just for saying 'why yes - I do know who could use this overflowing bag of art supplies - me!' I love free stuff. Thanks, nice lady!

I don't want to post the finished Gryphon until it's time (the 7th... I think) and then it'll be him and the wee little Alice. But here he is mid sculpt... well, he's almost done here... He looks a little like some baddies from a certain movie... But he only has two arms... maybe I'll make one of those later.... OOOooo new project!

Eip! I'm late for a very important date

2010-06-29T03:17:00.000-07:00

Just signed up for for a doll creating blog event (see sidebar)! I now I've only have a few days! (dolls must go up on the 8th) But how could I pass up this opportunity? I'd best get to work... but what character(s) to make!? So very many wonderful options.... I'm already thinking: Griffin... but I've always loved the Mock Turtle... I'll have to remind myself not to make one of the more obscure characters - like Cook "More Pepper!!!" I - of course- instantly thought of making the Fish-Footman... Oh! Or March Hare.... of course there's always.... but then there's... and let us not forget....

Fantastic Flier Friday

2010-06-25T13:50:00.000-07:00

Updated my site just a little yesterday and scanned up the sketchbook today... a little polish before Nineveh goes up.

I finished my last commission and am now once again at the 'what now' threshold...

I'm thinking advertising - oh! Nothing fancy... but maybe I might have more business if more people knew I existed... <__<' it's just a thought. I can make -just- about anything... or at least attempt it! <-- that's not totally true. I couldn't make a posable Avatar doll, for example. I just wouldn't be happy with it - wouldn't want to sell it.

So - I'm thinking about posting fliers - maybe see if there are any places downtown that might be interested in my work on their walls or in their shops. This is Burlington Vermont after all - I would hope it would be all about the handmade (stuff).

Well - I should get back to work. Hope all is well - see you next week!

work - thoughts - more work

2010-06-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

I'm about to sit myself down to that commission for a friend (another Hungry Monster), but I wanted to share this image of the fairy doll I've named Harp. I was uploading her to Etsy when my email got hit with two rejection notices from stores/groups that sell/promote OOAK dolls. I fear I really am missing some key part to the craft of doll making as well. Goodness... what ever am I to do with myself?!

Keep working I guess - or find something else to do with my life... But I fear I'll always want to be doing -this-! If I'm not creating something - art, stories, plants, dolls, food, websites... I go a bit mad (or would that be madder?)

See you lovelies later - I'm off to cover the house with orange faux fur!!

Fairies and Flowers and Fluff, oh my!

2010-06-18T13:24:00.000-07:00

Oh man - I've made a mess of the living room again. And the bedroom has been struck as well (though that usually suffers - as it's where all my art supplies/fabric is stored)... I can't even see my desk for all the project remnants.

But all of that seems like a good thing - it means.. or can mean... progress! Well... maybe just a mess in this case.

Despite my constant working this week - really... I don't even break to eat something (I've been trying to get better at that), I don't have much to show for it. Two and a half finished dolls. But I'm really rather pleased with them - not that I'm not completely enamored with Cedric and Bosch and Bridget... but these two ladies turned out rather well as well.

Oh! some video/slide shows I made that you might want to check out are here:

Process of creating Fragments of Nineveh / Fragments of Nineveh / and doll creation - Skeleton and Sculpey

Well I'd better go straighten up this house! Hope you've a great weekend/day/evening :)

Next week I'm focusing on a monster commission - editing the story and painting some more images for Etsy.... Oh! And sprucing up my website - People might be coming! Wheeee

Whee! Done - well, almost!

2010-06-09T18:58:00.001-07:00

I did it! I'm done! HAzzah and a yay! That was fun - what's next? Oh, right - editing the story - but that'll be fun too... maybe less fun, but so totally needed - I really should call on the power that is my mother - who has an awesome understanding of a the English language - something she did not pass on to this lady - no sir. The fact that even half my words are spelled correctly is a minor miracle and the word grammar isn't even in my vocabulary.

Oh! Do forgive my whine the other day (and thank you, Laura for the encouragement).

Back to work I go :)

Piles of paper!

2010-06-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

I think I'm done... well, one away from done - the show will be 33 images + title sheet. ;) Have to have one of those, yeah? I bet it's going to look great... I hope it will - I will it to be -etc etc and back to work!

Poster - Circles - Back to work!

2010-06-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

Whipped up a poster for the show - and now I have a date to go with it! Wheeee!

Can I just toss out an: Ug - ? I've been looking around at other doll makers and the ones that seem truly successful at it are making creep'tastic half rotted children (but no where as cool as Hela - but she was no kid- nor some exhumed circus performer) or mostly naked fairy chicks. <-- they're about as much 'faerie' as I am German - way back in the day - sure - some of my family was German - and maybe - long ago - the naked fairy dolls family might have been supernatural and awesome - but she's as good as a pinup girl with wings.

Of course - I could just be jaded. Wait, no I am jaded. And confused... I am certainly aware that what I create is probably for a very niche group of people - but I worry - does this group even exist? You, my 6 (maybe) 7 readers... you'll back me up here ;)

I do sell a few things and many many many thanks for those out there that make this silly little artist stop running in her circles of self doubt.

I'll just go back to making monsters and creatures and strange little friends... Oh! and those illustrations I should have been working on ;)

June... already?

2010-06-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if I'm one for words today... how about a image of one of my new dolls? I hope to get to make a few more by the end of the week - but I might finish up a few more images for the show - I've 29 finished images at the moment.

I wish I could recall how many I've had up in this space before... I had various sizes in the past - but not this time - I'd best make some more, eh? Well - back to work!

considering restructuring...

2010-05-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

So I've made a few changes to the form of the show - if not the theme. I had planned to create dolls - a book - and illustrations - all to be shown at the lovely Webster's Bookstore Café this July... but along the way the prospect of less than 30 illustrations all 8x10 - became, to my mind, insufficient. So now I've plans to make no less than 33 - maybe more. I'm not showing dolls - not the right location... and a strange item anyway.... and I don't think I'll have the little book/booklet either.

Firstly - between all the words sketches and illustrations - we're not looking at a little thing any longer. And sure - I could just edit it down... but I don't honestly have very good printing options... and I'm a brat. If I make 100 images - I want to at least have 60 in there - and we're looking more like 20 might fit with the words - which, again, I could cut down - but why - when the end result won't even look that good - at lot of work for something that people may have no interest in...

And with that thought - what if they do? They HAVE to buy my little silly book to find out whats going on in the illustrations? Not really my style. I hadn't really thought about it at the time. Granted I doubt more than half a dozen people - mostly friends - will have their interest even slightly piqued and they probably wouldn't begrudge me the 5 dollars I was thinking of asking - it will have taken me a good few months to have put together! And I was going to illustrate every cover - or make a really big stamp and print each cover...

I really am an economic dead end... but I digress...

So now my plan - and I think it's a good one - is to create either a webpage or a pdf... probably both - for people to download - if they want. The show is in a web friendly location after all! What better thing to do? Heck! Might get people to go to my site! Wheee! And then they can see the dolls - and other stuff I do - and maybe read my rambling blogs. I mean - I love to know what my favorite artists are doing. Oh! Look - see - there goes my head again. Well - allow me a little conceit (though I've only 23 penciled images done at the moment) the show is looking good!

Pencil work - Hazzah!

2010-05-11T04:28:00.000-07:00

I am finished with the initial round of pencil work for the book - this still leaves all the large finished illustrations to pencil out - but it's still a good feeling... I've a walls worth of thumbnails.

Maybe one of you is thinking - what is the plan, E? The plan was to write the words - sketch out images specifically for the book and then finish up a collection of fully colored images. The idea behind it: Two characters - Gwenin and Nineveh go on a journey to see their world... Gwenin writes and Nineveh sketches... so the book is the collection of the works of these two characters... translated respectfully by me.

The words and images are both needed to tell the whole story... more or less.

-the art on this post though... is more fan art for that video game... I promise - I'm only making such things with my free-time.

May? - where did I leave April?!

2010-05-05T11:59:00.000-07:00

I'm done with the story! I've now started the art part - and it just worked out that the art will have a much larger role in the story - wheee! Now lets see if I can back up/full fill my own 'vision'. I hope it all works out - it's all in my head- after all. o___@

Hope all is going well out there in the warming world!

(Oh! And the art is from the new obsession for my brain to ponder and pester me with - Final Fantasy 14 - I'm utterly in love. So... fan art will, once more, fill a few sheets of my languishing paper.)

fragment of the Fragments of Nineveh

2010-05-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

I think that this project is going to work out well - it'll take a good deal of sketching, painting and such - but I'm able - and then I'll have a book(ish thing)! Words that go with my pictures... It's kinda wonderful!

Will keep you updated!

Back soon!

An Eden Edict

2010-04-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

Okay - so I stick to this I am putting it in words and posting it to all seven of you lovely followers!

I hereby relinquish the solid black line... too long have I used it. Too long have I loved it. We must part ways - so: goodbye black outline - and hello new way of drawing.

egads.

back to work!

Two new ladies...

2010-04-25T09:02:00.000-07:00

I don't want to flatter myself too much - but allow me this: I am getting better at faces. And - may i add: I make strange things...
I can't wait to see what I make next week!

Oh - and I've been taking a little advice from the show: Project Runway and trying to work on a story of the character as I work... I'm - still working on it. I fear I'm much more of a visual person - things just 'feel' right... words rarely take part in what I do... I have to change that :)

I want stories with my characters... it's just - that I make so very many characters... and they can't exist in a void -where do they live? how do they live? who made their clothes? Is pink hair a normal hair color where they come from - where do they come from? Where are they going... I - errr- I'm working on it ;)

I'll be back with new creations - I'm thinking little monsters and I want to work on more 'doll pairs' - I imagine I can make stories between two characters and -that- interaction would be a little less to create than a whole world.. and I would still have a tale to tell...

rainy days...

2010-04-18T05:46:00.000-07:00

It was a weak art week, friends. I'll be back next week with a stronger showing - right now I'm putting together a story for a show in July. Building a world to explore makes many sketches - but few dolls. I'll get you some images of those in the coming week... as always.

Hope all is well out there and you're seeing a little more sun than I am.

A strange lot...

2010-04-13T08:38:00.001-07:00

And now off to the post office with me!

Cedric the monster doll-imp-sprite-creature

2010-04-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

I want to write something for you- I mean - give Cedric some context and make my blog more than just a photo collection... but I have to sprites waiting for meeeee... and I want to get to them while my little bit of sunlight is out.

Oh! I'll just steal what I wrote on my deviant art account: Cedric is my second attempt at a doll without a sculpted face - the first one was Marcus... Cedric though is clearly more related to my imps.

He is much lighter due to having almost no clay on his head (he has a little set of horns that are sort of lost in all the fuzz) and his big sprite-ish feet - he stands really well - I've also improved the neck/head connection... using two different wires.

I am, I think, over all happy... I want to start making some truly strange things soon... of course, I can't help myself - I am drawn ever to the cute and furry... but Cedric might be the last I make until I have some really odd creatures.

-back to work!

Sprites.

2010-04-02T07:24:00.001-07:00

So I set about on Monday to make the first sprites... I so totally failed. I worked and worked and worked and WORKED and when I was done I had two nice looking heads with far too much detail. As I have said in the past - I find I have to balance the level of detail with that of my desire for fantastical abstraction - and I just didn't feel I could have crazy colored wild things with pointy toes and four fingernail-less fingers with much more human looking faces.... so I started again.... and I think the end results are not too bad - far closer to what I had in mind. Simple - cute- odd (of course) but that's what I do - eh?

I'd say I'm happy... can't wait to make more... I think I'll do and do just that! Brighter colors this time! Yarrr!

See you next week! :)

Now and then

2010-04-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

...what must my poor teachers have thought of me in college... what would they think of me now!? Ahhhh to be back in the print making studio. What I wouldn't give to have access to litho stones. I'm sighing right now - can you tell?

Ah well - enough with THAT silliness- on to more!

I just wanted to share two images - one I did in college and the other, a recent commission... I fear though - that my client really wanted the first image. It was one I made of print of back in Potsdam... but I don't think many or any copies remain.

Sprites incoming...

2010-03-27T06:55:00.000-07:00

Created three imps and a doll... all and all a good few days. I am so pleased with how these imps have turned out - I know I've said it before - but they are little limbed creatures endowed with so many of the features that I find so ascetically wonderful and endearing.

I love creating things I am pleased with. To sit back and look into their simple little faces and get to say: Hello.

I think it is something I've always wanted to do - and now I'm doing it. Creating things with worlds and stories all their own - maybe I always have - but there is something so wonderful to creating something with hands and weight. To be able to touch and sit with. I hope that doesn't sound mad. I don't think them real - but that they have a physical presence you can't deny me. In fact, I'd love to make enough creatures to sit surrounded but little pointy eared creatures- as though I'd crawled into one of my own sketches... and to some degree isn't that what I'm doing? I think I would create my army just for that. I wonder what others would see... coming up to a table decorated with sticks and branches and an army of strange little things.... I suppose it would greatly depend on the crowd. I am well aware that what I create can be considered a little bit strange - but lords on toast - why would I want to create what everyone else has made before me? Teddy bears? Bambi! NO. I shall have to continue under the ire and dismissal of so many - but I find more and more people who like what I do - who love it, even. For you I shall keep the glue heated and the wire cut.

Back next week with Sprites and wee monsters. I love -love- love the imps - but I think I've made enough for now. They're wonderful and great fun - but I think I need new faces.

Imp Increase

2010-03-25T06:54:00.000-07:00

I fear these little guys are getting larger.... And they were already the size of a small cat! I have trouble with keeping things delicate - I really like making things TOUGH and tough means BIG in my head - today I shall attempt to make a delicate - petite little creature.

That said - check out the size of the horns on this guy! He's the biggest yet! I should take a picture of him beside the first one...

Ah! I hear the oven has preheated - another imp on the way! Take care out there :D

Spring Cometh!

2010-03-19T04:43:00.000-07:00

For the first time in well over... you know, I don't want to think how long it has been... I ran around outside with no shoes on my feet. Bliss! I'm sure I'm scaring the ladies who share this building with us... what with my spray painting the lawn three shades of not green... the literal cloud of faux fur that is now scattered across said lawn and now my wandering around outside with no shoes sculpting an imp. At least I'm harmless, right? Just wait until I start decoration the outside of this apartment! -At least I live in Vermont now... a place where no one seems to notice the slightly irregular or the outright odd.

And so life has gotten just a bit more sunny and pleasant. My imps are growing in number and I'm but a few chapters away from the last piece of my first finished story! I think - maybe a little - I'm starting to relax. I've been so worried for so long about how I could 'make this work' - but it's what I must do and so I will do it. I wouldn't be able attempt any of this without the help of my loving friends and family and will -not- fail you.

Granted - success is total whimsy and a world overrun with strangely cute things... but each to their own, eh?

love

-E

Of imps and sunshine and written things

2010-03-05T08:38:00.000-08:00

I had wanted to set up an elaborate set up for my Etsy photos... but I think I like the sunshine more than I could ever care for a stark fully lit corner... that - and we simply don't have the space for setting up something properly... but I think I did justice to my work with these little images.

My sense of time is a wee bit off as I've been busy finishing up the first draft of my story!!!!!!!! <--- really. I'm allowed.

I've been working on this one in my head for ages... I know people say that sort of stuff. And I know now how they feel... I've hundreds and hundreds of pages of failed attempts to take on the story... I feel like it's one of my first attempts to paint in colors with oils... true monsters of paint and over worked failures.... I just get carried away and fail to make something worth looking at or, in this case, reading. I guess what I'm saying is - I had to learn how to edit. And I AM GOING TO FINISH~ Oh. So happy! It's nothing amazing - I assure you... the story itself... but the finishing. The having all these ideas and characters and places and things fall in words onto the paper - start to finish.... I am giddy... and often find myself writing when I meant to be doing something else.... like, updating my blog. <___< or my Etsy... on to which I just added a few new things - including this imp: E'oh.

Back to work I go!

same site - new face.

2010-02-25T04:01:00.000-08:00

Hey and hi, lovely people. I thought it was a good time for a new site look...But, Eden - you say - it's so brown. To this I say: I know, a little more color is coming. I was just so pleased with what I'd done - I had to share! And so I am.

It's snowing here... is it there?
See you soon

new pages...

2010-02-19T08:25:00.000-08:00

Work continues. More imps - more sketches and new stories.

Here's a hint of what I'm working on right now:

See you soon!

Etsy!

2010-02-11T09:51:00.000-08:00

OOOooooooh yes! I'm back up - the ink was finally dry ;) Darn my love of my name chop.

Imp attack!

2010-02-05T13:46:00.000-08:00

I fear I've not much to say at the moment... I'm tired, covered in fur, glue and spray paint... but oh so happy.

I've plans for another monster/creature - sort of eastern dragon like... of course, in my slightly cute/creepy style... 'cause I can't help myself.

Oh! And another plan/goal to add to my already (often unfinished) list of 'things to do in the day' I am adding a weekly plan to finish one truly finished/large portfolio image. 'cause... well, artists need those - right?

Right.

See you soon!

Oh! and I have a good sized lot of button/magnets finished as well... I'll get you some images of those next time.

work-work-work- lint roll! + Heros

2010-01-28T07:37:00.001-08:00

Oh the fur! I am covered with it... the room is covered with it... Do they make room sized lint rollers? No matter, I have ye'ol broom and dust pan.
I'm happy with how they are turning out... each one is new, and I'm learning little things about the materials. Though I find myself, sadly, still trying to shake the world of the 'fine artist' that I was hardly ever really in... I've made only four of these little guys and a conversation with my favorite college teacher keeps tugging at the corners of my mind - he was worried that I would fall into the trap of only creating the flower pictures that I have, probably, only ever made half a dozen of... and at the time of the conversation - had only made two and just for my senior show. A show that, I hoped, would express my confusion about what made the shapes I found so pleasing 'corny' if they had eyes or 'art' if I turned them to the side and covered their faces...

I never have found answers... only the ones I've dug out of the muck of my own mind - And that is... these things are easy to like. Flowers, imps, trees, etc etc... they are easy to understand and to except. And so - they are not fine art.. heck, they are often hardly considered art.

But - and I have come to find this the most reassuring of things- all the artists whose works I've long loved - did not create works that fall into those fields of acceptance. I love Clive Barker's art work with a passion. He is shameless and he is ever ever EVER full of life and imagination and corny though it is - love. Love for creation and expression... and that comes in the form of strange and wonderful things that he -wants- people to want. He isn't holding you at bay with a stick demanding you pay him homage.

Brian Froud creates for a deity.. a force he believes calls to him - I don't have any such supernatural force to blame for my active choice to create things with pointy ears - I really really just like how they look. I do think I can blame him for it though. I blame him for a lot of my innate esthetics. Well.. I blame him and Jim Henson... and don't get me started on Jim Henson... I think his name... his work.. and his life speaks for itself. I was beyond lucky to have had a childhood so surrounded by his creative presence.

I'm proud to not fall into a world of creators that make solely for themselves.... I would be honored to, maybe, be placed in that category where all my heros meander: Imaginative fantasy (to use the Netflix genre name). Even if that means I inevitably find myself working at a bank... I'd rather have walked this path for a little while than to have lived the in the world of gallery shows and pretension. I once said - I'd rather be sweeping floors at The Creature Shop than working anywhere else... I still feel that way - geh.

Back to work! Where is that 'ol broom. ;)

New monsters/imps...

2010-01-23T07:22:00.000-08:00

I wanted to try making some smaller monsters... so I thought I'd take the imps I sketch (which I had made into two plushies for x-mas gifts this last year... and had been rather pleased with) and make them into dolls... I think they've turned out rather well... Again - trying to balance the fantasy... But I fear - some of the sketches - when I take them closer to what could exist in this world... and we move from cute to scary rather quickly... So I stood firm and tried to keep these guys close to my sketches.

Like in this sketch... though he's slightly different... more like the Duster character... (geh! I'd better watch out... I might start putting a story together...)

It's... kinda overwhelming to sit down to something and have very little idea how it will turn out... so often though... the media itself dictates what you'll have as an end result... I suppose not knowing just what you're making can help a great deal when working with a fickle media.

Granted, dear reader - I often have no idea what I'm going to do until it's done and I've scanned it and I sit here typing about it.

It's - kind fun. But, again, rather strange and, often, overwhelming...

Good thing I work so small... what would I do with something MORE than 20 inches... no no.. I must always work small... something big would take me over.... and then where would I be?

I recall a large drawing of leaves I worked on in college (my father has it now)... I worked on it until I passed out. Woke up and sketched until I passed out again... I think this went on for two or three days. It was fun, but I can't live like that - the dishes would pile up and the food would burn...

So: Small scanner sized things... those - I will be back with soon!

A few new images...

2010-01-20T10:47:00.001-08:00

They haven't been cleaned up.. I still need to work a bit more on a few of them before I'd call some of them done - but I wanted to share what I have so far :)

2010-01-18T16:06:00.000-08:00

Things are coming along well... if a bit slowly (as I mentioned in my last post). I've finished this guy - I've been calling him Harbor - and I think I can surely say he's the best I've made to date. It's hard to tell from the shot, but he has hooves (which are weighted), as well as posable ears (one is pierced) and a full set of curly ram(ish) horns. I'll be taking better photos of him for Etsy later on... but the light here is so very dim and we've yet to get light bulbs (next trip out I'll try and remember).

My plan still stands to make a small army of monsters at least double that in sketches and buttons and such... So. I'll be back with ever more new things.

Hope all is well out there!

Early update...

2010-01-15T11:10:00.000-08:00

Okay, I just can't help myself... I'm so happy to be working again! Even though... for some reason... it seems to be taking me far longer to get things done than before... maybe it's those impromptu minutes of dancing that are holding me up... but I'm just so happy.

And things are turning out well. I think I'm getting the hang, sort of, of the balance between real and fancy... what good is one without the other? It's rather difficult for me to make something that doesn't have some tiiiny chance of looking at home in the real world... outside of my sketches. Really, much of what I do draw can't really be made into 3-D figures and not turn out like some toy... and I don't want to make toys.

I hope, as I have said before, that some of this understanding transfers over to my drawing... and I think it has... but I think I could do with more. I suppose that is the fun and challenge of being a isolated artist... you have to figure out everything for yourself. For good and bad... or more often than not, in my case: furry.

See you soon!

Another Monday...

2010-01-11T15:17:00.000-08:00

I seem to get the urge to update these on Mondays - well this and the last post, at least! So let's make that a thing, shall we? I'll regale you with the previous weeks works and perhaps muse on the potential creations of the week ahead - I think that sounds plannish.

I may have to break my promise you to last week for images of 'new' stuff... as, though my scanner is unpacked, I have no image processing software on this computer. *cringe* So, how about an image from the Alice show that you wouldn't have seen, unless you happened by some of the more awesome corners of State College, PA ;)

I'll get you at least three new Eden images next week... or mid-week, if I can manage to find anyone software to help with this tragic issue.

I have to say I am really pleased with how my work is progressing. Sometimes breaks are good for me... that or I'd forgotten I could sketch, so its like rediscovering that you can still ride a bicycle

I have a half finished monster waiting for the rest of himself.. his hooves are drying (spray paint.. can't beat it... but it does mean you have to wait... ug. waiting). The plan, as it stands, is to make a small army of monsters, a books worth of illustrations (random Eden stuff) and buttons and magnets and get them up the Etsy post-haste. Then, as the weather gets better, I shall drag my pale self out into the light of day and find out what town I've moved into - with a portfolio of new works and, I hope, find people and places as lovely as the ones I left in the last town.

*crosses fingers*

2010-01-04T17:29:00.000-08:00

I must say... after all this time, I'm happy to find that I can still sketch... somehow I thought all these weeks of not working would have softened me a bit... but no. Still the same pointy eared, stripped socked creatures showing up on the paper... (The picture in the post is old... but the next post will have an all new one. Truly.)

This week will find me working on another commission and starting back up on my story(ies) as well as my poor neglected Etsy account. I have so much I want to do - I don't know where to start.

See you soon!

...back to work! -really!

2009-12-09T06:46:00.000-08:00

Phew. Moving is really not great for my creative output... obviously.

And though most of my art supplies are still in another state, I've managed to scrap enough together to start a commission piece and my christmas cards.

...give me a week and I'll be back with many more new things. I am -so- ready to work.

I can smell the paint already!

Hunger Monster

2009-10-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

I love hot glue. LOVE it. They had us use it at the -Muppet Making Workshop- at Faerie Con last year, but I think I was distracted by the Barge glue (can't readily get that here... I wonder how they came by some...). So a week of stitching on fur and minutes of glueing in eyes and on feather eyebrows and I am done with the Hunger Monster! Wheeee! He's modeled off the Weight Watchers 'Hunger' Monster... (I think I said all this in my last post, eh?)

I could not be more pleased. He stands so well (weighted feet) and oh! the hands. I had such fun 'sculpting' them out of the fur... and how happy am I to use ping pong balls for eyeballs?! ^_____^ I am just so slow on the uptake... my dream was to work for the Jim Henson company... but I never thought to use ping pong balls for eyes!? *shakes head*

But.. now with the power of hot glue (and a few spare white orbs) I am soooo ready! Aaaaafter I make my Autumn themed doll set.. and some holiday ornaments... and the last commission I have to do. :D

This big fuzz ball will be winging his way across the country soon, so if you want a hug (he is extremely huggable) send me word! I make no promises about the doughnut cravings that may follow ;)

in the deep dark...

2009-10-23T04:55:00.000-07:00

...basement, is where I am. Away from the sun and heat and my art supplies... which is making it hard to create.

I have my personal computer set up, but not hooked up to za nets, so I haven't been able to bring you the photos I promised. Sorry 'bout that.

I am though, despite the above, working on a project or three... and shall get you images post-haste. I am currently working on the Hunger Monster from the Weight Watchers commercials. I found the fabric on Fabric.com... though they messed up part of my order, I can't complain about the quality of the orange fur I went to them for. It's nice stuff! And- Oh! What a mess I'm making! Orange fur all over the house... I have the vacuum ready at all times.

He'll be done by the end of the day... if I can get my hands on some ping pong orbs.... well, just one really.

Hope all is well on your side of the screen!

Drat! Missed the weekend...

2009-09-14T08:37:00.000-07:00

Okay... so I know I promised pictures... but at the moment I'm sitting in the middle of bits of my computer on a laptop that does not have the means (as far as I know) of resizing the photos I have to share... this limits me greatly.

That said... I've a new set of dolls I shall be beginning work on within the day... inspired by a walk along the Helderberg escarpment with friends and family this last weekend. Moss and lichen and rocks, oh my! So... rather earthy.

I also plan on starting a series of 'monster buttons' (I'd make more necklaces, but my source for the wood ovals seems to have drifted away! Darn internet businesses'!) that will be, as one might suspect... little monsters you can pin on jackets and such. Wearable art and what.

Life continues in my new space rather well... if a little timeless... I haven't seen a calendar in weeks! At least... I think its been weeks...

...back to work!

2009-09-05T04:49:00.000-07:00

Okay... so most of my art supplies are still in small boxes in larger boxes miles and miles away from here... but I shall not allow that to stop me from working on new stuff! Oh no! I've set up a little makeshift art corner (here in the basement where I currently reside) and with a lamp and working light bulb I shall begin - once more - to create stuff!!!!

I shall return with images and other visuals... no more of just this text stuff! Oh no!

Where is my mind...

2009-08-22T04:51:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay, not only of photos of the show... but with updates in general. I am in the middle of one of those dratted things called 'moves'. I'll be back as soon as I can with info and images. (Though maybe not of the show itself... I forgot my camera.) -______-'

A Saturday night update

2009-08-01T17:42:00.001-07:00

Sorry I've been quiet here for longer than usual. I've been busy with not a whole heck of a ton and more than some must deal with. The show goes up in the morning and I'm ready for the upcoming move... I'll be back with pictures of the show on the marrow... oooor later on that day.

I hope all is well with you all out here... happy thoughts and good wishes...

Friday evening - 17th of July

2009-07-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

What an amazing weekend I had, friends! I went to, and participated in (Matron of Honor!), my first wedding! I'm still smiling :) Love you, L + R!

When I got back I went straight to work finishing up Alice... I am so very pleased with how the images are turning out! I'd hoped to have the last three images finished today, but was distracted with a walk in the rain and some business card designs for my most deserving little sister's business. A hazzah for the massage therapists out there!

I am eager to return to my work at hand... so I'll leave you here, but will see you next week (or earlier) with good shots of the finished show!

2009-07-06T06:12:00.001-07:00

Just a mid Monday update!
First we have a sketch I did for my good friend Meg Karper, who is a constant source of inspiration and friendship. Our paths keep missing each other. One day, Meg! I will hug you, lady!
This image is a computer colored hand-sketch like the last one I updated this blog with. They always look better on the computer screens. ;) I wanted to make it look like an old scroll, but I didn't have the heart to age it as much as it should have been... and the colors really would need to be brighter to make it look more 'authentic'. :)

The next picture is of the newest doll commission: Rose Red. She's Snow White's sister from the comic: Fable. I painted her pants with roses and styled her hair... I suppose I could have cut it shorter, but I rather liked it this way. I really like her smirk and her tennis shoes. I do believe I am getting better at these little creations. I am certainly more pleased with the hands and feet.. and faces... and bodies... and clothes. So, yeah. Wheee!

The next (and last image for this post) is one of the new buttons I'm working on. This one is indended as part of the Rose Red commission. It's surprising the difference between working on the pendants and these buttons. I can't imagine it's more than half an inch in difference, but it is certainly a little less challenging to work even this little bit larger. I'll keep you abreast of the button + pendant progress. :)

I'd best get me back to Alice! I'll post some images of the show in the next few days... I'll be out of town for the later part of the week, so I'll probably have to miss my next Friday update. Take care and enjoy the day!

It's a cold - cold summer...

2009-07-03T04:07:00.000-07:00

There is something to be said for cool summer days, but this getting a little ridiculous! I really don't want to have to wear a jacket in July! That said it would be perfect weather for sculpting, if I hadn't just packed up the majority of my art supplies. I finished the last commissioned doll I had real specks on. I'm not sure when I'll be able to work on sculptures again...

The necklaces are -still- drying. I should never have used that blasted stamp to sign them... but I do so love how it looks. <3 I'm sure within the week they shall be done and I shall post them along with some of the art I've been storing up for Etsy. Did I mention my plan to make buttons? I figure not everyone wears necklaces. We'll see how that goes, eh?

Take care out there!

Summer, oh sweet summer

2009-06-26T05:42:00.001-07:00

The Alice show is coming along nicely. I'm waiting for the ink to dry on the pendants and today it is cool enough to sculpt. I also finished up the remaining wooden ovals with some of the unused thumbnails I'd sketched out for the Alice show. Including the, though I say it, rather cute image of the Mad Hatter with the many hats and the tea cup atop the pile.

The last few days I've spent sitting and looking at reference pictures... *flexes*

I'd say more, but I must get me back to work. See you next week!

Weekend? Where'd you go?

2009-06-22T05:36:00.000-07:00

This last week I spent mostly in the Creative Oasis writing and working out what I wanted to do for this next show. I am much pleased with the idea of painting classic scenes from Alice in Wonderland. I have 9 frames left (unless something sells at the CO between now and then) so it will be a 9 piece show.

I've re-read Alice and picked out some scenes, all of them the favorites... though there are some good between scenes that can get a little forgotten... it seems to me to defeat the purpose if I plan drawing from a beloved classic source to do the least remembered scenes.

I plan on having a dark haired and eyed Alice, modeled after the original Alice - Alice Liddell. Really, in the book he gives very little physical description of Alice, other than her constantly changing height - of course... At the end of the book he mentions that her hair is ever falling in her face, but really it is her character not her form that is important. Still, I thought it might be nice to try and work a little history into the illustrations as a whole. And... who wants to go up against both Tenniel AND Disney? Pfft.

See you next week!

Pendant progress

2009-06-17T18:59:00.000-07:00

Saturday before the next Sunday

2009-06-13T06:09:00.000-07:00

So my next media/design/plan, have I mentioned this... necklaces? I'm gathering up the bits right now to make one of a kind hand painted pendants. I have (what I hope will be) lovely wooden ovals heading this way right now. Yay for Etsy/Artfire! This morning I found the perfect ribbon/necklaces for them. I could not be more pleased.... 20 color options and the come complete with lobster claw clasps! Wheeee! These are going to look sharp.

I'm also really pleased with where my pencil work has been going. I think making these dolls has been really good at working my real+fantasy cannons into one with a little more ease and detail.

Hope all is well with you lovelies!

early morning update

2009-06-11T05:03:00.000-07:00

I have always (mostly) loved doing what I do because I rarely have any idea of what I'll have when I'm done. No plan works out as I planned it and often by the time I'm done I'm not sure what that original idea instructed I do as it's grown into whatever it's become. I don't know what fun it would be if everything worked out just as visualized... wouldn't it just be like printing? Or maybe just an exercise in skill? I like what comes of my initial foggy concept.. my brain kinda works in clouds of color and perceived weight and space... I can't actually visualize faces, I know them more by movement and dimension... if that makes any sense...? It means I can't draw from memory with any accuracy, but I can get the 'feel' of something down on paper.

But enough on my faulty brain... back to work!

mid-day update

2009-06-09T14:25:00.001-07:00

New commission time, yay!

A new month and it is soooo green!

2009-06-06T12:08:00.000-07:00

The weather outside is so lovely... I miss gardening. I've missed gardening for years, an ever present ache... but now, with the budding mornings, it's almost intolerable.

The word a day thing worked poorly for me. My words were rather weak... I need better ones. Not to blame the words... but the first word I pulled was windy... air flow is an almost constant in my work.. I have a few pages of ideas though, so it was hardly a waste of time. I think I'm going to try and focus more on the August show. I'll keep up the word thing, but I really need a solid goal to work towards, I'm already so vacuous that having too large an area to work in... and well, I get befuddled.

Working on, what I hope, is the last draft of the first story in my collection of short stories. I hope I can keep it under 100 pages >_<' I'm trying to be frugal, but I guess I really like words or something.

I plan on making some jewelry in the near future featuring some original tiny images. Shall keep you posted in that regard. More stuff shall be posted to Etsy in the near future.

Hello Friday the 29th!

2009-05-29T06:47:00.000-07:00

Another week slipped past again and I have little show for it (in the way of art things... I had a really good time with friends this last week) But I did manage to finish two dolls and a new plan <--- building off earlier plans.

In order to get ready for this show in August... get things up on Etsy and generally - keep myself on track (it's not that I do anything else, but I fall into spots of floundering): I have collected a bunch of words - cut them into strips - put them in a piece (okay, it's a crock... but 'ideas from the Crock' just doesn't have the ring I'm looking for... that said.. it's probably closer to the truth!) from the amazing Charlie Hughes and shall draw a word everyday and make it a goal to finish that word in paint, Sculpey, story form... whatever, by the end of the day.

Wish me luck! And if you have any words... send them my way!

See you next week... hopefully with five - seven new pieces. Hazzah!

Busy week +

2009-05-22T04:53:00.000-07:00

This week, I think, will have to count as the first week I didn't make anything at all. I just didn't have the time... which I hear people say often, but for the first time in a long time I simply did not have the space nor the means to work on anything that wasn't just ephemeral concepts and story ideas.... so I have nothing to say! I'll try and update this week mid-week with the finished pieces from LAST week.

I ordered some lovely looking locks off of Etsy while I was taking a moment to waste before cleaning the fridge....

I'm excited to see what I create with them! I don't have the space or, really, the right to fill up the apartment with my work.... but one day I'd love to fill a room with my world(s). It will take me awhile... but oh what fun!

For now... I'd better get back to cleaning...

And I start again...

2009-05-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

So the next 'plan' I have is a series of short illustrated stories. These I plan on self publishing on lulu or whatever company seems like a good bet. (I've seen a few other artists that have gone through them... which is kinda how I found them... so I have no worries.)

This is will give me both a goal and fulfill the age old desire I've had to had my own book. It will also give me some much needed confidence in my work... it's hard to put yourself out there as a free lance illustrator when you haven't really illustrated something.

I'd also like to try my hand at a weekly comic strip... I'm not very funny though... it'd be more of an exercise for me AND give my site new material.

Of course I'll be keeping my self busy trying to get my Etsy site a little more stocked... it may or may not be worth it... but after I fill a page or two with new pieces and still it isn't catching on... I shall try advertising in the local area... mural painting, ad design... whatever it takes... I don't want to go back to another mindless job filled with stressed out unhappy people.

All in all, I'm sure to be busy making the house a total mess and pestering the neighbors with audio books.

Oh! I have a show in Aug. I'm batting around ideas... and really have to get myself to figure out just what I want to do... paint? extra extra detailed illustrations? realism? a story? Do I want dolls? I want to spend a great deal of time on each piece as I'd kinda like to see what I can do!

Enjoy the weather!