My Doll Show Experience

This year, I made the decision to participate in the Quinlan Doll & Teddy Bear Artist Convention. The experience was amazing. I got to meet some really great collectors and some really talented Artist. I had the pleasure of meeting a very talented, kind, and personable artist named Joe MacPhale at the show.  I really wanted to share with you my video of Joe MacPhale's BJD dolls that blink... yes they blink!!! The amazing dolls are poseable as well. I was so astounded by the mechanical mind of Joe MacPhale's mind.  If you get a chance, check out his dolls on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joe.macphale or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/joe_macphale. Please check out his website at www.ancientwhispers3.com. Each one of his dolls have such intricate pieces and every doll is a piece of Art!!!

See link below if you can't see video:
https://www.facebook.com/maria.quinones.969/videos/815403845292557/

My journey

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I had to back out of the Quinlan Doll Event. I wanted to post how grateful I am to my family and friends who supported me. For those who were following my journey I apologize for not posting sooner. Here are a few images of the process.

Armature Process

Getting Ready for the Artist Doll & Teddy Bear Weekend in Philadelphia. I have been experimenting with a new Armature. I probably shouldn't be experimenting before this show but it is helping me to be a better artist. I am experiencing the stretching in me as an artist and it's making me learn what works for me and what does not. I have been doing a lot of research and came up with my own way of mapping out the skeletal system in this armature. I know it doesn't need to be this complicated but I find it useful in helping me map out the skeletal form. Here are a few images of my process.

I started with a sketch of my doll and worked on making a jig, I decided to make only one side on the board. I just did my left side and then right side. The bodice I just folded the galvanized wiring in half.

After the jig, I joined the armature together with white floral tape at the spine first and then attached the bodice. I filled in the rib cage cavity and the legs with aluminum foil.

Happy Sculpting!!!

Being Brave!!!

2016 rang in with me wanting to be braver than ever before as an artist. I want to share with you my journey getting ready for the Artist Doll & Teddy Bear Weekend Event hosted by the Quinlan Museum at the Clarion Hotel in Philadelphia, Pa. This will be my very first show ever, so I am very nervous and anxious.

Let me tell you about this event, I attend every year as a gawker (lol) just to see the amazing Doll artist and their amazing work. I always come away from the show INSPIRED!!! To see some of the detail these artist put into their creations is just so inspiring. It makes you want to go home and create!!!This event offers collectors and artist Doll and Teddy Bear Making workshops, Gallery showings, a Market Place, raffles as well banquets. Like I said it's an amazing event. It's a 3 day event and I hear it's a unique experience.

I would attend on the day this event was open to the public for artist to sell their Art Dolls or Teddy Bears. I would always look forward to attending because I got to see the creations of other Doll/Teddy Bear Artist up close. I also got to speak with fellow artist who are always so generous with their knowledge. It is an excellent show, Susan and Terry Quinlan do a wonderful job of hosting it. I was always encouraged by fellow artist to participate but my response usually was "Maybe next year I will do it" which turned into a long explanation why I couldn't find the time. Whether it be financial or personal reasons, something would always come up. But this year I decided that I would do what was necessary to attend. So here I am trying to gather myself to embark on a new journey. Come along with me as I chronicle my journey.

To find out more about this Amazing event here is the link to the Artist Doll & Teddy Bear Weekend Event http://www.quinlanmuseum.com/convention.html.

To be continued!!

My Sewing Swap Doll

Every Christmas, me and a bunch of talented women from our cloth doll club (The Garden State Artisans Cloth Doll Club) get together and either we swap a doll or exchange a handmade item for Christmas. This year, it was a sewing theme swap, so I thought I'd make a Needle Case with a Doll's face as the cover. So, I thought I'd share my handmade needle case doll. I usually make pretty dolls but this year I wanted to do something different.  I guess my style is changing or I may be evolving into a new style. I like diversity, anything from Pretty to Creepy to Gothic. I know it's an artist thing, we never can settle for one type of art. That's what makes Doll Making soooo Fun!!!  Here's how I started my process.... First, I started with a sketch and then made a template the size I wanted, this ensures that the doll is scaled appropriately. Second, I made a foil armature to save on the amount of clay I use and then wrapped it with floral tape. Third, I made the eyes out of Fimo Polymer Clay in white and translucent. I avoid using a straight pure white clay because it's too stark for an eyeball. Fourth, I then used Prosculpt Polymer Clay and Acrylic paints for the face. Lastly, for the hair, I used  multiple hair extensions. A lot of my dolls have this hair because I like the silky look. I'll try just about any type of product to get the end result...lol. I named her Angelia. Eventually, Heather, my friend, received the doll I made.

This is my template sketch

On the left is my Armature after it was wrapped in floral tape and beside it is the armature covered in Prosculpt.

I am not a portrait artist but i think i came pretty close with this sculpt...LOL!

Here is Angelia with her extensions... I definitely think she looks creepy in this photo...hehehe

She looks like Rapunzel with the long Braid... hahaha

These needles are Doll Making needles, so they're a little larger than normal.