Happy New Year

It's almost 2016 and this week I have felt like painting. The joy of drawing, and thin washes of bright color and animals. So here are all of the above. How I enjoy seeing the pencil lines, the artist's hand. The thought and process visible on the surface. Might put these on the Etsy shop. Definitely in Artisans on the Ave in Lake Worth (Betty's Gallery).

New Heads

When I screw up I always try to find the sunny side. A few weeks ago I was making a head and it just looked goofy, so in disgust I  flattened it and something funny happened; I liked it. (it was this head)

Then I made a second head and I smashed it flat too (it was this one)

And then I gave her a flower in her hair. Then I called in my husband as I often do and said "opinion?" He liked them too. I tend to be tight with my art but with these I am quite loose.

 And they're really fun to make. I get to smash  them and make them weird.

Don't worry, I even made a salt and pepper set. I am still making my crazy dolls. But these I am going to explore some more. New things just in time for New Year.

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to show a new piece and wish a very Merry Christmas. I have been scouring old sketchbooks from 20 years ago (can you even imagine?) Me neither. Exploring and making old ideas new again.

So far I am calling this Barnacles. She's part octopus and part mermaid. I've got two more similar to her just about done. Merry Christmas!! And a very happy, healthy, creative new year.

Everything Old is New Again

The house Martin's are out of the kiln and ready to fly the coop. House forms and birds will always be a part of my visual language. Playing with a lot of color lately.

These measure between 7 and 8.5 inches tall.

And they're for table top or shelf display.

 This one sold, and is living in north Florida. 

Merry Christmas early.

Say Hello to New Old Friends...

If you know my work you will remember a few years ago I was making pieces similar to these. Let's call them "house Martins". And if you know me, you'll know I go in cycles. I run through something and always come back. Knocked these two out last  night and anxious to see where they go.

Like they say the only thing constant is change. The first change is these two are slightly larger. They look to be about 6-8 inches tall . Making art is always a fun exploration and I always enjoy the journey.

Born to be Wild

Here's a new double figure called Born to be Wild. Sometimes my work can lean to a slightly darker vein. This one is just silly sweet. While I think I am sort of wild I am so not. I am totally Boring. These guys sort of play on that. I guess wildness is sort of like beauty:  in the eye of the beholder.

 And I have fond memories of being a child and ogling Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit illustrations. So I drew my own Peter Rabbit type character.

The head on the right is so like a couple of my nephews. Funny how that happens. Hope you enjoy them.

New Saatchi Art Shop

Recently I started a shop on the Saatchi online gallery. Take a visit.

There's a lot of talented people over there. We'll see where it takes me, and my dolls.

Two Fresh Sculptures on my Etsy Shop

Two new babies. All clay hair, featuring my drawing and painting.
This first one is titled

I am the Captain of my Soul

and this one is Halfway There

Back to my studio to make more. These kids have hair made from clay for those of you who miss the old babies.

Monday Oh Monday...

Last night I was tidying my studio table and thought it looks pretty so I grabbed my camera and snapped pics.

 My new table and happy roses. Looks like my model skeleton (Mr. Bones) is talking to my newest doll.

 A cup of coffee after dinner and a Trapp Candle for lovely smells.

Got into work this morning and looked the photos I took. The top image is my new desktop image on my work computer. There was something nice about being in my office and being so connected to my studio. Made me purr inside.

Life is Short So Be Happy

I can't believe I never posted a pic of my new big girl. Her name is Life is Short. (every time I say to myself... life is short, and so am I). But as cheesy as it sounds it's true. Whatever it is, just do it. Don't wait, be happy. This figure is about 30 inches tall, freestanding. Hand painted leather wings.

 

 

Different Doll

Totally different for me but so much fun to make. I do love painting and you know how I love my girls. Vibrant happy colors. Thought we deserve to be happy on a Monday.

Artists of Art Salons Exhibition: Lake Worth, Florida

I delivered two babies to a show today at the Armory Art Center Annex in Lake Worth today.

 Lady Luck

 Queen Bee

Lady Luck and Queen Bee will be on display starting next Friday for the month of October. Find a gallery of all artists participating on Elle Schorr's website. I will be at the opening (if you know me I tend to be rather shy but I'll drag myself out.)
Annex Reception: Friday, October 23, 2015, Lake Worth Armory Annex 6 – 8 pm.
Armory Annex Gallery, 1121 Lucerne Avenue, Lake Worth 33460
Annex hours: Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 11 am – 6 pm and Friday, 11 am – 8 pm

Two for Tuesday

Here's 2 more girls for the last day of summer. I shot these this morning before my day at the Cleveland Clinic.

 The figure Unknown has a sacred heart and ouija board. My mom was catholic and you know I have a spooky side. Isn't all spiritualism and religion really hope in the unknown?

 And the other figure called The Taveler has a fox and dream catcher. My dad was part native and nature really inspires me.  We're all connected. Hope you enjoy them.

Now you see them, Now you don't

I posted these 4 pieces on Facebook and 2 sold. Yay! And one in my Etsy shop.

Double yay. Can I even tell you how much I am digging illustrating my dolls?

Seriously. I mean I love sculpting but I am Donkey Mad

for drawing and painting on my figures. (Donkey Mad? ... I think I like that. Sounds like a title for a new piece). The piece just above is titled Rose Mary's Bee Bee. Because it's got a baby carriage, roses, and bees on it. Perfect huh?

And of course I had to make an old school one. The stripes will never leave me. And I have 3 figures with clay hair going into a bisque tomorrow.

A New Big Tattoo Girl

This girl is a big whopper measuring approximately 25 inches tall. I am calling her False War on Drugs. The imagery tells the story.

 The skull represents the people who die from prescription and other drugs.The deer is stuck in headlights, paralyzed by his addiction. Normally deer are pretty alert, they flip their white tail and run at the sign of danger. Not this baby.

 The flowers are poppies and fawn lilies. We know poppies can be used to make drugs and fawn lilies, well they have a deer name.

And of course it reads False War on Drugs. I am really having fun drawing, realizing how much I miss it.

Making Old New Again

This doll had been hanging on the wall for a few months. Naked. Just couldn't find the right outfit. Now she's tattooed and done. The text reads Never Ever Give Up. Having so much fun illustrating my girls.

New Tattoo Dolls

My summer project has indeed me down some different artistic paths. I've been drawing on my ceramic dolls.

This is Queen Bee. Complete with bumble bee and crown.

And this is Lady Luck. When I was a child I used to draw tattoos on my baby dolls, funny how it's gone full circle. All free handed and pointalist and really just whatever pops into my head.  I think I am going to explore this for awhile. Do you like?

There's No Place Like Home

Dorothy was right, "there's no place like home". And seriously, is there anything better than getting home from a vacation to a clean house?

My couch and I are doing some serious reconnecting.

Homeward Bound

Today we leave Dublin and arrive home later tonight. It'll be nice to set down a suitcase and set my feet back on home soil. We've seen a lot of wonderful things. Here's some "artsy" things that I liked.

We saw the play Wicked at the Victoria Apollo Theatre. Simply Amazing. And if you haven't seen it, you must. Changed the way I see the Wizard of Oz and particularly the Wicked Witch of the West. All of this time she was really one of the good guys. Aside from that we saw some cool street art like this

and this

and this

We walked a lot, about 10 miles a day. And my sketchbook is bursting with new ideas. Watch in the next few weeks for updates and new work.

Holiday Doll Updates

I submitted my blog post for CreateMixedMedia yesterday where I updated the status on my Holiday Dolls.  Watch for that in the next week or two.

Somehow I haven't gotten any paint on the white bedding.

I have been using paint pens, micron pens and thread to decorate the dolls.

 Here you can see I have made a few different bodies.

So far I think I like these the best. But trust me the others will not go to waste. Enjoying the challenge, you should try something different too.