Monday, April 18, 2011

New Doll - Unnamed

This little doll came together quickly, but is yet unnamed. She was created using the techniques I struggled through to create Fradira.  You can read about Fradira here

Fradira's little friend has a wire armature. 
Her feet are made from Apoxie Sculpt. Hands are machine sewn,
attached and stuffed with cotton batting.  Armature is then wrapped in batting. 


All wrapped in batting and ready to be "skinned".

Let the "skinning" begin!

All Skinned!

 I wanted to try yet a couple of other techniques on Fradira, but was afraid that I would mess her up or wouldn't like the result.  The techniques...the first was just just using paperclay to sculpt the head and shoulders into the fabric of the body...awesome technique...loved it...worked great! 

Head attached. Paperclay sculpted onto
fabric at shoulders and feet...seamless!

A view of the back and copyright label that will
actually be underneath the seal and paints.
The other technique was just sealing and painting the surfaces of her soft sculptured body...that also worked great!  She'll be a little cutie!
Multiple layers of a mix of molding paste
and acrylic gel before gesso.
 FRADIRA UPDATE:  All skinned and ready for head to be attached, posed, sealed and painted!


Gotta think of a name for Fradira's little friend!

Stay Creative!

Lezlei

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Fradira is Late!

Meet "Fradira".  "Fradira" is my latest doll that I am creating for the ADO Quarterly Challenge - Steampunk Dolls.  She should have been completed April 1...she is late!  Fradira is just now squeezing into her Lycra body skin.  I love this picture!  Have you ever rushed to put something on over your head and it gets stuck?  Smiles.

Fradira is pretty special.  First, she is a big doll for me.  When finished, she will stand approximately 24 inches tall.  My biggest doll ever!  She was created using a wire armature reinforced with copper tubing for strength.  Her soft body is made of muslin stuffed with cotton batting.  Her arms and legs are wrapped in cotton batting followed by gauze.  Her body is "skinned" with cotton Lycra (another first for me).

Fradira's head and shoulders are creating using a wonderful Cloth Overlay technique taught by Susie McMahon, one of my favorite doll artists.  I am VERY pleased with my first cloth overlay doll head using Susie's tutorial available in her Etsy shop here

Fradira's hands were created using a technique learned at the "Handling Hands" class taught by Judy Skeel available on one of my favorite shopping websites, Joggles here.

Another first with Fradira is that I started from a drawing.  It is amazing to me that I actually remained true to my original sketch of her size and body proportions.  I also sketched her costume.  It was REALLY hard once I had sketched the costume, not to start on it...but of course I couldn't without having the finished doll to use to fit the costume properly...aargh!  Here are pictures of the sketches (I will save the costume sketch for the the next "Fradira" post).


Stay Creative!
Lezlei