Girl In Progress. My current WIP

Hmmm...well, that little title just inspired perhaps another doll!  I kind of like the way it sounds.  But, alas, this one that I am sharing with you today already has the crumbs of a story forming around her.

I know that many doll makers write their story (either literally or just in their imagination) before making a doll, but for me, I'm finding then whenever I create a personality of any kind her story begins as my hands begin to form her.  It grows as I choose my materials and decide on color palettes and such.  And her story is never complete until she is complete...and even then there is more to tell...it just depends on the character.

That being said, I'm brand new to this doll making thing, but I've created personalities in my artwork before, so I'm not TOTALLY new to that.

Here are her beginnings.  I began by sculpting her arms, legs, and a flat head/face from polymer clay.  I chose translucent clay in case I decide to leave it unpainted.  I'm not sure where I want to go with that yet, but I'm leaning toward 'naked' clay parts at this point.  We shall see, though.  If she tells me she wants paint, paper, or even fabric, I'm open to her ideas.

I then sculpted a wire body figure from a copper wire.  I'll be honest.  This wire was NOT the best choice, as it is super malleable and that makes it rather hard to keep in place AND to work with in general.  BUT...remember that part about me being new to this...well, that means I don't quite have all of the 'proper' supplies yet and I'm not the type to just go spend a gagillion dollars buying a bunch of new stuff.  I will gradually work on getting things I know I will use and, in the meantime, use what I have.  I've found that this kind of exploration keeps your mind open to less traditional ideas AND keeps your studio from overflowing with stuff you SO don't need.

Not that I've EVER purchased anything that I didn't need.  That just doesn't happen.  Ever.  Yeeeeeeah.   So.    (Ummm...if you believe that, I have some BEAUTIFUL ocean front property out in Denver I'd like to show you...just give me a call....we can chat! Heee!)

This is the start of her head.  I sculpted the piece fairly flat with a large indented center.  I stuffed some canvas with some plastic bag stuffing and then glued it down to fit in the indented area of the face.  The fabric is currently covered with Gesso, as I plan to paint that with her facial details.

I'm hoping to wrap in in strips of vintage papers or newspaper...not sure which yet...her story is still formulating, remember, and the material will be guided by that story.  I thought about using some of those brightly colored handmade papers I showed you yesterday, but I don't think they suit her...they are waiting for a much more spirited doll!  One who LOVES color.  No...while this doll has a very 'colorful' personality, she is not one who would be considered a 'lover of color.'  You shall see.  I'm kinda loving this story part - it's way fun to create someone exactly the way you imagine them.  The funny thing is...you would think more perfect dolls and creatures would be created, but nope.  They all have SOMETHING about them.  Why?  Well, because we all have something about us, that's why!  As I imagine these stories and the who and why of pieces I create or even pieces I see I find that they are never perfect.  As a matter of fact - it is in their imperfection that they shine.  That is what makes them so amazingly wonderful...personalities that are so REAL and so full of LIFE!

Yes, each one is an adventure.  It's pretty neat, actually.

At least I think so.