March

Hello again darlings! What do you think? TWO posts within a single week! Amazing! But I just couldn’t wait to introduce you to my third new friend, March!

March is more or less a nature spirit — a visual metaphor, if you will. She represents the month of March. See how cold and wintry everything is at her feet? Oooh, those poor little cold feet! (but it’s okay — she’s a nature spirit, not a real person — she doesn’t mind, I promise!)

This was the first time I really focused on the base for my doll. Bernard sits on a shelf, and The Baroness stands on a plain wood base. This time I wanted to evoke an environment. You know how everything is just cold and gray and icky and muddy by the end of winter, and you just feel like spring is never going to get here? That’s what I was going for.

But March only begins that way. As you go along, signs of spring really do start to appear. See how the mud on her skirt begins to dry, and little bits of pale green foliage begin to emerge?

And then — leaves, and blossoms:

And a sure sign that spring has truly arrived: a bluebird!

March seems a little surprised, doesn’t she?

I wanted to give the impression that there was a brisk spring breeze, so I stiffened her gown at the bottom. I think it worked pretty well.

So now you’ve met March, my third art doll!

This was my first attempt at making a “pretty lady” doll. I have to admit I’m not entirely satisfied. I think her face and hands could definitely have been more refined, and the pose is a little bit static. But I remind myself that I’m still a beginner. It’s all a wonderful journey.

Until next time darlings — love to you all! Ta ta!

Making Friends

Okay, so you remember Bernard, right? From my last post? Waaaaaaaaaay back when? Yeah, I know. I’m not so good at this whole keeping-up-with-the-blog thing. But anyway, I introduced you to Bernard back in December when I had just discovered that I wanted to try making an art doll. I sculpted his head, hands, and feet from polymer clay. His body is a wire armature covered by knit fabric stuffed with polyfil.

Well, I pretty much fell in love with Bernard and with the whole process of making him. And as I said then, I wanted to try making another one. So I did. . . .

And lo, The Baroness was brought forth!

Like Bernard, she’s from the 18th century, but unlike him she has human proportions (and human ears!) She’s a French aristocrat — very wealthy and spoiled. She was quite the coquette in her youth, and she still believes she is very beautiful. And guess what? Her many admirers, of all ages and both genders, all think she is very beautiful also!

See how artfully she employs her fan?

I really enjoyed making her gown and accessories. Doing the research made me want to watch Dangerous Liaisons again. Lordy, those costumes!

Ah, sigh.

Now, The Baroness may be less elaborate, but my dears, she is nevertheless quite stylish. Look! She wears une robe à la française, with “Watteau” pleats in the back!

And her hair is dressed à la hedgehog (which is an actual historical style)!

So there you have her. My second art doll. I enjoyed making The Baroness as much as I did Bernard. And after that, I was off and running! Tune in next time for my third little friend, March!