Introducing "Hope"

The Indy Art Doll Makers Club challenged its members to create a doll inspired by a bird.  I chose the Hoopoe bird.  

The hoopoe was selected as the national bird of Israel in 2008.  The hoopoe used to be very populous in Israel. They have significantly declined in the area due to a decrease in their natural habitat.  Now hoopoes are found mostly in Africa and Europe.  They are very colorful birds and known for the spiky crown of feathers at the top of their heads.

The bright yellow feathers symbolize the joy and hope of finally being free and looking at the bright future that lies ahead. This is a good symbol for those who have recently felt lost, anxious, or depressed but found a reason to look forward to the future. 

   

Hope is an original paper clay doll that has been hand sculpted and painted.  Her gown is hand dyed silk.  Her “wings and tail” are hand painted with dye on silk.  Her hat is created with silk and feathers.  Her hair is English mohair.  She is posed as if she were ready to fly away.

   

Meet Calamity Jane

In the past I have made a doll for each of my sisters.  I have one brother but didn't know if he would want a doll that I made.  When I asked him he said, "Of course!"   He told me that he always liked the 1953 version of Calamity Jane staring Doris Day.    After explaining to him that I'm not a portrait artist, I agreed to make him Calamity Jane.   He provided me with a photo and I took it from there.   I made everything on this doll except the mini gun.   Calamity Jane's head and hands are hand sculpted polymer clay and her body is cloth.  Her hair is mohair.  I used suede for her buckskin outfit.  For the gun belt, holster and boots I waxed the suede to make it look more like leather.  If you look closely you can see "bullets" in her gun belt.   I truly had fun creating this doll for my brother.   

 

Gallery Exhibition

I am honored to be included as an artist in the Twymon Art Gallery in Evansville, Indiana.   If you have enjoyed my dolls and textile art you can now purchase them at the gallery.   Below is an invitation to the opening and reception.   Hope to see you there.  

Meadow's Edge

 This fabric painting is another impressionistic style textile painting.  I really like mood of the photo and was eager to translate that into an impressionistic style.  The girl looks at peace in the meadow but also there is a sense of contemplation as she looks out over the sea in the background.  

Midnight Dalia

I've just finished this fabric painting using all tiny bits of fabric and thread painting.  No actual paints were involved.  I used slightly larger bits than in my previous paintings since this one is a close up shot of the flowers.  I wanted a dramatic piece so I used photoshop to manipulate the colors.   I first sketched the basic outline of the flowers and then underpainted sections to help identify color areas.  I used misty fuse to adhere the first layer of fabric bits to the background and then added tulle over all when finished to capture the loose bits.  I then thread painted over the tulle to add definition.   I've also include a couple of in process photos.  

Fabric painting

Photo reference