ArT DoLL QuArTerly

    My fellow Cloth & Clay artist friends have me excited about the next challenge in Art Doll Quarterly.  The challenge is to create a shelf sitter.  I'm busy conjuring up ideas and materials!  I'll post  WIP pics soon!

Splatterings

     New goals and new directions are inspiring and invigorating for me!! I am now returning to my watercolor world.

     I am currently working on watercolors of my acreage.  I love the rural landscape and my goal is to capture my feelings about my Iowa world.  I am pleased with my first painting of my kitchen porch.  But have been hesitant about its finishing touches!

     I will still be creating art dolls but primarily just for  ART DOLL QUARTERLY magazine challenges and for my own collections!!  While I’m still teaching full time, it is hard for me to find the time for creating in 3D and 2D at the same time!

     I have always loved Andrew Wyeth’s work and hope to share the love of my farm as he was able to share his love of Kuerner’s farm.

     Another goal of mine is to travel back to Chagrin Falls and relive my childhood memories by painting scenes of my hometown.  I will also be returning to the Outer Banks where my family used to vacation each summer.  I yearn to paint the sea and cottages.

     Well, enough ramblings on my inner world.  I will post some paintings and dolls soon - Lori

MetAmOrphosis

Metamorphosis

by May Sarton (May 3, 1912 - July 16, 1995)

Always it happens when we are not there -

The tree leaps up alive into the air,

Small open parasols of Chinese green

Wave on each twig. But who has ever seen

The latch sprung, the bud as it burst?

Spring always manages to get there first.

These were the words that inspired me when I created my bottle doll Metamorphosis.  I wanted to capture the feeling of my fairy emerging from the bottle as a bud opens in the spring.   We see the latch sprung on the birdcage as Metamorphosis looks up into the air to view the bird’s flight.

Metamorphosis is created from an old pink Key wine bottle.  She is created from paper clay which was sculpted directly onto the top of the wine bottle.  Her paper clay arms were wired on. Her hair is created from braiding a knitting yarn with a metallic fleck. Her headpiece is created from flowers and netting cut from a woman’s vintage Easter bonnet.

     Her skirt is fashioned from an old collar. She sits among paper twigs and buds.  

Metamorphosis-W.I.P.

IDEAS NEEDED!  This is where I'm at.  I need ideas for what she should hold.  I do have ideas  for  her dress.

Metamorphosis-WIP

     A big thanks to Daryle Cook on the Cloth & Clay site for the inspiration to get back to work on the ART DOLL QUARTERLY bottle doll challenge!  I've really been enjoying my freedom this summer but I'm happy to be working again on this piece.  This is where I'm at now. -Lori

Additional Pics of Work Published in ART DOLL QUARTERLY Autumn 2011

I am delighted to have two pieces in the Autumn issue of Art Doll Quarterly.  My Hecate the Gourd Witch is on page 72 and The Boogiewoman (created by Kathy & I together) is on page 115.  It's GREAT to have fellow Cloth and Clay Artist Friends Daryle Cook (page 65) and Lorrie Rios' (page 72) artwork in this issue!!

Metamorphosis

     I've been asked to record a work while it is in process.  I will do my best but I tend to work close to deadlines!  I have a piece I am currently working on which I have titled Metamorphosis.  It is a fairy emerging from a bottle.  My goal is to take photos and post pics as I go along.  But we all know how best intentions are!

     I thought of this poem by May Sarton as I was working on my piece the other day...-Lori

Metamorphosis by May Sarton

Metamorphosis
by May Sarton (May 3, 1912 - July 16, 1995)

Always it happens when we are not there -
The tree leaps up alive into the air,
Small open parasols of Chinese green
Wave on each twig. But who has ever seen
The latch sprung, the bud as it burst?
Spring always manages to get there first.

Lovers of wind, who will have been aware
Of a faint stirring in the empty air,
Look up one day through a dissolving screen
To find no star, but this multiplied green,
Shadow on shadow, singing sweet and clear.
Listen, lovers of wind, the leaves are here!

UNITED WE STAND

     Lori's UNITED WE STAND dolls were created for ART DOLL QUARTERLY's TINY DOLL CHALLENGE.  They have a full page feature in ADQ Summer 2011 issue, page 65.   UNITED WE STAND represents Lori Dixon Carey and her son standing together in love for their country and each other.

     My tiny dolls (woman 3 3/4", boy 3") are created from pipe cleaner armatures and paper clay.  My son's clothes are fashioned from mulberry paper and ribbon.  My clothes are created from assorted sewing trims.  The flag pole is an old wooden fishing bobber and the flag is made from ribbon.  The dolls are mounted on a wooden star.

     

  

Carey's Quirks Presents

THE BOOGIEWOMAN

Put On Your Dancing Shoes!

Spring is on its way to Iowa, but Kathy and I are busy in the studio with thoughts of Halloween!  Our latest piece is one we worked together on. 
     The Boogiewoman has put on her boogie shoes and is ready to dance with you!  She's got the boogie fever as she dances upon the vintage pump organ keys.  If you've seen Kathy on Halloween night, you'd know she loves doing the hand jive!  Kathy's sketches  inspired the sculpture of the Boogiewoman!  The pump organ was one of Lori's end of the auction day bidding weaknesses for $3.00!  It was beyond repair but we've enjoyed adding pieces of it into our artwork.

HECATE- Gourd Doll Challenge Submission for ART DOLL QUARTERLY FALL 2011

     Meet Hecate-The Queen Of All Witches 

     She was conjoured up and created by Lori.  She is flying off to ART DOLL QUARTERLY to answer their call for gourd dolls.   According to Greek legends you must be careful invoking her because she just might answer your call!  Once invoked, the legends say it is hard to be rid of her services.

Gabriella, Strength From God

     Gabriella was created by Kathy Carey in the cloth and clay style.  Her head and hands are hand-sculpted from Paper-clay.  She is hand-painted and antiqued.  She is ready for spring with a vintage earring and milliner's forget-me-nots ornamenting her mohair-styled hair.

     Gabriella's frock is mostly hand-sewn from vintage fabrics and garments.  She is wearing a slip fashioned from an old dresser scarf.  Her bustled skirt is from a vintage woman's petticoat of white cotton lawn, embroidered in white work, with a broderie anglaise detail.  Gabriella's blouse was formed from a piece of a vintage collar with it's original buttons.  

     Gabriella's wings are made from an antique key-plate.  She cradles a lovely little bark bluebird in  her hands.  A charm which beckons us to "believe" dangles from her hand with a fob made from a vintage button.

"Life is sweet, tender, and complete, when you find the bluebird of happiness."

                                           --"Bluebird of Happiness" 

                     lyrics by Edward Heyman and Harry Parr Davies

Gabriella

MEET LEYNA, INSPIRED BY THE GERMAN BIEDERMEIER STYLE

    Leyna is a hand sculpted cloth and clay doll. I never use molds. Her head, hands and legs are sculpted from paper clay which has been sanded, painted and antiqued.  Her torso is painted muslin which has been gessoed, painted and antiqued.  Leyna's hair is sculpted from paper clay.  She wears a removeable 19th century reproduction cotton dress trimmed in vintage tatting and adorned with an ornate lace apron.  Underneath her dress, Leyna wears a removeable chemise, pantaloons and petticoat.  Each undergarment is fashioned from vintage cotton fabrics. The clothing patterns are from Dixie Redmond.  Leyna is 17 inches long.
    I have been enjoying the book GERMAN PAPIER MACHE DOLLS 1760-1860 by Christiane Grafnitz.  I fell in love with the Biedermeier style.

Kathy's Angel in Process

Gabriella is a paper mache angel Kathy has been working on.  She is hand sculpted using paper clay, antiqued, and is shown with her vintage petticoat.

Gabriella is getting ready to have her wings attached!

Gabriella looks up to God for strength as she wonders when this process will ever be finished!

Incidentally, Gabriella means "Strength from God."

Our New Co-Blogger

Katie is our new contributor to the blog!  Here she is learning to use the touchpad.  We shudder to think what her new blog entry will be!

Brew me a cup for a winter's night.
For the wind howls loud and the furies fight;
Spice it with love and stir it with care,
And I'll toast our bright eyes,
my sweetheart fair.
~Minna Thomas Antrim

My German Biedermeier inspired doll is still in process. She sits  here as  her first antiquing coat dries!