Summer Break

Well I have been quite neglecting of my blog. Facebook has been shown the love. So I thought I post images of two dolls that are very summer timey.

They are both covered in hand made flowers and raspberries.

One is soft and ghostly and the other intense. I am really liking the soft ones lately. Perhaps it's getting older and pondering mortality, or the fading of ones being. (how depressing is that? ha ha) But I mean it in the best possible way.

On a lighter note: We are off to London and I will be running the Vitality British 10k. After my broken heel bone  6 months ago I am hoping for a good outcome. It's a wonderful route all throughout central London. Trafalgar, Victoria, Westminster, Send good vibes. And I am going to be sketching A LOT. This is my charge my batteries time.

Artist Proposals: Palm Beach State Art Gallery: Lake Worth

If you're an artist and make really nice work then I want to hear from you. As you may know I am a  Professor at Palm Beach State College. Recently I was asked to take over the art gallery on our Lake Worth Campus. I am so excited to help develop the arts in South Florida. So excited! And if you're an artist in South Florida and you would the opportunity to exhibit your work in a gallery please contact me (at work). And yes I work in a really cool building. So great telling people "look for the building with the big purple triangle".

And if you're saying "awww, I don't live in South Florida" don't despair! If you think you'd be able to ship work, safely and easily. That's cool too. But I do know local can be easier setting up. We artists have to look out for one another.

 

Exhibition Opportunity: South Florida Artists

The Gallery at Lake Worth, Palm Beach State is accepting artist submissions to exhibit in the gallery. Solo and group exhibitions. Email digital submissions to Victoria Martin: MartinV@palmbeachstate.edu. Please include Art Gallery or Artist Submission in the subject line.

Or snail-mail: Victoria Martin
4200 Congress Ave., MS# 15,  Lake Worth, FL 33461.

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.

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.

 

 

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.

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?

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.

Edinburgh, Scotland

We took a train north from London and have been enjoying Edinburgh for the past 2 days. Really cool, hilly city. Amazing how the castle just rises up from the gardens below.

 

Beautiful art galleries, museums, and architecture. Don't miss the vaults under the city streets.

 

We did The Real Mary King's Close yesterday and might do the Blair Street Vaults today. 

So much history and inspiration. Well worth the trip. And if you're a Floridian like me the temps are comparable to winter weather.

 

Artisans on the Ave: Lake Worth

Thought I'd share a link. A really nice write up on Artisans on the Ave, Lake Worth, FL. Betty and Linda are as nice as they say. No, even nicer! Thanks to Lee Hershfield for the great write up.

 

And this is John McCoy in the pic, if you ever see me swilling coffee from GORGEOUS tall coffee mugs, he's the artist who makes them. I collect his cups the way some people collect butterflies.