Monday, May 14, 2012

Sculpting

About two years ago, I was shopping in Historic Bethlehem with a friend.  As we approached Ostara on Main Street, I noticed Molly Stanton of Elven Elysium sitting outside sculpting what was going to be a fairy doll from polymer clay. Intrigued, I stopped and watched for a while.  I knew then that I wanted to learn to sculpt and, being a doll lover and collector, hoped that I might be able to one day sculpt my own dolls.  I have since taken several in person classes with Molly, who is a wonderful teacher by the way, as well as a few online classes with various doll artists including Dee Schiller of Oddfae and Autumn Things.  (I have also begun purchasing books on various sculpting techniques for dolls, jewelery, and artsy objects one might find around the home.)  These pictures represent my fourth doll (previous dolls were two fairies and one strange fairy guy).  It also represents the first doll I have made all on my own!  I think she would be considered a mixed media art doll as her skirt is made from a bird cage.  Her body was sculpted with paperclay over a wire armature.  Her head is paperclay over a styrofoam egg that I first shaped to look more like a proper skull.  Her wig is made from viscose and was attached using fabri-tac.  Her dress is either sewn or fabri-taced.  Her clothing design was all my own idea as well!  She will be part of a display at the Doll Party Gala at Punderson Manor next weekend.  I am so excited ..... my very first doll convention! :0)  I am not sure what her name will be as of yet .... the theme for the Doll Gala is "Glory Be".  Any suggestions???





4 comments:

  1. Great job on doing your first all you doll. Great concept.

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  2. She's FANTASTIC! You did a wonderful job of sculpting and creating her. I'm excited for you. It's so nice to hear about doll makers 1st doll of their own. I Love the bird cage. I was at Michael's a couple of weeks ago and bought all the bird cages they had left on their shelf. They were half price and I sure couldn't pass that up. I love that we use all kinds of items in our doll creating. Again, FANTASTIC doll. Have Fun at Doll Party Gala at Punderon Manor. Sounds like lots of fun. Can't wait to see your post and pictures of the conference.
    Hugs
    Fran

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  3. She is a lovely doll, and you should be very proud of her! Well done. She is inventive and fun, especially to someone like myself who finds faces tough going!

    Marjorie
    (ps plain background might be better to see the pictures)

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  4. Great work, Melanie, keep it up! :-)
    ~Rivkah
    Dollmakersmuse.com

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