Soulmaking Art Dolls - Recently Updated Pages

Inspiration and Creativity

awesomeart — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:08:40 CDT

Greetings and welcome to our little nest in the net!

Make yourself a cup of tea and stay for awhile, this site branches out in many directions, you can stay in these pages or follow each artist to their shops and
gallery sites in the sharing of creating healing dolls, recycling art
and bringing to life delicate mystical dragons.

I also want to explore the process of inspiration and creativity...what moves each artist to create a doll?

Eventually we will have a "step by step" on how we make our dolls.

Thanks for visiting,

Griselda

The Art Spirit Gallery
and Fantasy Artists of Etsy

Happy Springtime Everyone!

Favorite Sites

awesomeart — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:58:17 CST

Note to our writers: Please add your favorite sites

Tricia Anders, Diva Dollie Arquive-Prepare yourself for a unique experience, out of this world paintings and art dolls

Lynn Dewart -Amazing work by a creative artist, she has unique art dolls

Cynjon Noah-He inspiring, intuitive artist and creative dollmaker

Doll Street Dreamers -Wonderful art dolls, so many styles!

Healing Dolls 101-Everything you always wanted to know about making a healing doll, great site

Michael de Meng-Shamanic creativity in motion...!! Assemblage art

Art Dolls -A journey in fiber

Kerry Kate -OctoberEffigies-...her dolls are somewhat scary but simply facinating

Doll as Art - This is a very interesting page has many historical references

Recycling and Art Dolls

awesomeart — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:58:01 CST

The art of recycling, found materials and then some...

There is a lot to be said for recycled materials as means of creating assemblage and art dolls, but let me start by introducing a great artist and good friend of mine.

I have the pleasure to know a very talented artist, Monica Magness she is generous and creative to no end. Monica has provided many times the body of my dolls and tons of colorful scraps for my work.

Don't forget to stop by her Etsy Store or eBay auctions as well as her site, she has many treasures to share with you.

Art working space

awesomeart — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:57:46 CST

The top photo was taken in May of 2007

Same working area today on November

I have never managed to keep my studio neat for more than a couple of weeks...and worst now, since I collect all kidns of "found objects" for my assemblage art.

I have continued working with larger paintings and my dolls have also grown in size, the largest one is 19 inches. I actually feel blessed to have so much, but it could be more fun if I find what I need instead of looking for things when I am ready to create.

Photo on left was taken in May

This is an update 6 months later on November 15, 2007

A Dragon in the Making

awesomeart — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:57:33 CST

I thought I'd share a little bit about what takes place behind the scenes of a dragon in the making - starting with a step-by-step wing-making tutorial!

Miniature Pot-bellied Dragon (papier-mache)

Wing-making Tutorial

You will need:

-jewelry wire (for small wings; larger wings require heavier wire)
-needle nose pliers or pointy tweezers
-exacto knife and/or cuticle scissors
-tissue paper
-white PVA glue
-a flat wide brush (at least an inch wide)
-wax paper
-a hair dryer

Cut 3 or 4 pieces of wire for each wing (depending on desired number of wing segments) each gradually a little bit longer than the first. Curve to desired shape.

Make 'Curly-Qs' if desired. Use very fine needle nose pliers or pointy tweezers. Lay wire flat on table or work surface and grasp the very tip of wire firmly with pliers/tweezers. Hold the tip very still, as the center pivot point. Use other hand to gently bend the wire round (clockwise or counterclockwise; whatever is comfortable). Curl tightly or loosely depending on how much of a curl you want. Go slow and be careful to avoid 'kinks' in the wire.

Fold the tissue paper in 4 layers (do this twice or use 8 layers for two wings at once.) Cut the approximate shape of the wing. Don't worry about perfection, you'll be trimming it later - in fact you should make it a bit bigger than the final wing size (except where the curly-q's will extend out).

(Once you start this next step you need to work fairly quickly so the glue doesn't dry before the next layer is added)

Using slightly watered down white glue (I don't really have a measurement here but too much water will cause your paper to be soaked and tear easily, but straight glue might be too tacky causing tearing as well) and a flat wide brush (at least an inch wide depending on size of wings, if you use expensive brushes wash them thoroughly afterwards to remove glue). On top of a piece ofwax paper (keep more than one piece on hand) lay down the first layer of tissue. Brush the glue gently and quickly over it, covering right to edges of the paper. Then lay down a second layer of tissue (careful to make sure edges match up). Brush this layer as well. Do watch for air bubbles but don't worry about wrinkles, it adds texture and character...especially for dragon wings; it will look a bit 'leathery' when fully dry. Don't add the last two layers yet...next come the wires.

Carefully lay out your wires right on to the tissue (while the glue is still tacky) so the ends come to a point but the curly-q's are off the edge of the paper (you might have to straighten out the wires a bit to make them reach; do this before placing on tissue paper).

(Wires on top of first two layer of tissue)

Now you can add the last two layer of tissue, brushing each one quickly but evenly with glue. Basically you are sandwiching the wires in the middle of four layers of tissue paper. (If you want to use a thicker type of paper, handmade or otherwise you might only need two layers total...this could be done with fabric as well, but you must make certain the fabric soaks up the glue effectively enough.)

(Shows the wires with last two layers of tissue on top)

*Now, you very carefully lift/peel the paper wing off of the wax paper. Start lifting from where the wires meet together at the base of the wing, use tweezers if necessary to grasp all the wires together. Transfer to a fresh piece of wax paper. Don't wait too long to do this step or your wings will be stuck to the original piece of wax paper. Now you can use a hair dryer on low to speed dry each side. Lift, and place flat on wax paper each time while gently drying...when each side is dry enough (not tacky on the outside) use your finger to pat down any serious wrinkles and press gently along each wire to make sure the paper is secure.

Let the wings dry in a safe place (a few hours or over night) and trim to desired shape once completely dry. I use a fine tip exacto knife or a sharp pair of cuticle scissors (reserved for art projects) to trim between the curly-q's. Because the wire will hold its shape, the wing is now gently posable and shape-able (is that a word? lol) but be careful!

(Shows wing after trimming)

***I would like to mention that this wing-making technique is an adaptation of a tip shared by a fellow Papier-mâché artist; David Osborne. You may view David’s gallery of work here at http://www.papiermache.co.uk/gallery/artist/94/ on thePapier-mâché Resource site. This site has a great forum and tutorial section for those interested in PM. Or come join me and some fellow papier-mâché artists on a very friendly and lively papier-mâché group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PaperMacheArt/ where PM enthusiasts of all levels of experience continue to share insights and grow as artists.

Happy Wing-making!

Now for more on: A Dragon in the Making!

(This next part is not a tutorial but just some general hints and tips for successful papier-mache dragon making. In the future I hope to add a tutorial on armature making.)

Here are some of my favorite tools: cuticle scissors (reserved for art) for trimming wings, a color-shaper with a soft, pointed silicone tip for smoothing glue and paper strips, needle nose pliers/snips for shaping and trimming wire, a pair of elongated, curved tweezers for handling beads, wire etc., and under all of it is a large self-healing cutting mat used both as a protective surface when slicing paper with a knife and a work area (I just soak the glue off of it when it builds up :)

Also note the container reserved for my slightly watered PVA glue and the strips of paper torn ahead of time – ready when needed.
Important: always tear (don't cut) your paper strips, the feathered edges mesh together much better and show less in your final product.

I use the color shaper to smooth the glue on to the surface of the sculpture. (You may use your fingers or a paintbrush but for small work I like the color shaper especially for smoothing paper in difficult to reach areas such as between dragon toes etc.) Make certain that your glue is not applied too thick or your paper strip with slide but not too little either or it will dry and get tacky too soon.

Then lay a strip of paper down on the gluey area and using a bit more fresh glue smooth
the whole strip down making sure that all the edges are smooth and not lifting.

Keep moving and repeating this over the surface with slight overlaping to get even coverage. Use larger/wider pieces of paper for broader areas (dragon body) and narrower/smaller strips for the legs, tail, neck and snout.

For extra strength I alternate the direction of the paper with each subsequent layer. In the next 2 pics I am applying the paper strips ‘around’ the tail.

On the next layer of paper I change direction and apply paper along the length of the tail (for more overall smoothness it is best to apply along the length of your sculpture for the very last layer.)

My favorite part of dragon making is the finishing and embellishment stage! After adding facial details I also chose tiny sea shells and micro-beads for decorative horns.

Here you can see the beginning of dragon scale application. To get a natural overlap it is important to start the scales at the end of the tail and the end of the legs/toes working gradually backwards towards the spine and the head of the dragon.

Here she is, almost complete, and admiring her metallic green scales…

The finished work: with more embellishments on her forehead, the addition of eyelashes and glittered wings.

Once completed I like to take snapshots of my sculptures with different kinds of backgrounds and lighting…

A word to the wise, or for those who get totally engrossed in their photography please don’t leave your work unattended (and therefore open-season) to those curious felines who may be lurking about – waiting to ambush a sweet, unsuspecting dragon!

Or maybe he just wanted to share the limelight…one can never tell. Better not to take any chances!

I also took some outdoor shots. I especially enjoy photographing my dragons in a natural setting. Natural, diffuse lighting is much easier to work with!
Note: in the photo you can see the trim I used to embellish the dragon’s spine. For more photos from this outdoor set please view my blog at: http://blog.myspace.com/lilacgrove

You may also view more of my OOAK fantasy sculptures at http://www.myspace.com/lilacgrove.

Thanks for visiting Soulmaking Art Dolls!

Mystical Dragons

awesomeart — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:57:17 CST

Lilac Grove's art

"Those who refuse to listen to dragons are probably doomed to spend their lives acting out the nightmares of politicians. We like to think we live in daylight, but half the world is always dark; and fantasy, like poetry, speaks the language of the night." ~Ursula Le Guin

What is it about dragons?

There is a wealth of symbolism associated with dragons on an archetypal and cultural level. In the realm of mythology I am especially fond of Joseph Campbell's interpretation of dragons as representing the "Unity of Heaven and Earth," through a combination of the earthbound serpent and winged sky-roaming creatures such as bats and birds -- a mixing of the spiritual with the mundane. In the past, culturally and spiritually, dragons have also been associated with both benevolent (in the East) and malevolent (in the West) power and primal forces. More recently dragons have enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in literature and mainstream movies in their benevolent aspect. From the widespread appeal of The Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey to the more recent Aragon books (and movie) plus feature films such as The Neverending Story, Dragonheart and Shrek; it seems that dragons have wormed their way into the hearts and imaginations of many. What young fan of fantasy and magic didn't want their very own Luck Dragon?

What do my dragons mean to me?

It is this endearing quality of dragons on a personal level that inspires me to sculpt my dragon creations. Many of those who find that my dragons delight and amaze them reveal that these little figures bring to mind childhood memories of an invisible and/or magical dragon or creature whom only they could see or talk to -- a treasured companion who shared their joys and kept their secrets. It pleases me to think that my creations invoke or preserve that spark of childhood wonderment when every day was an adventure and anything was possible. It is disheartening when we are no longer able to view the world from the stance of child-like wonder and appreciation.

Please come to visit LilacGrove's pages where her wonderful dragons and magic beasties come alive, and her Etsy shop where you will find OOAK fantasy sculptures and wearable art created from laminated paper (papier-mache.)

Healing Dolls

awesomeart — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:57:03 CST

It is my pleasure to welcome Cody Goodin with his Healing Dolls, please take some time to visit his site.

The Evolution of Faery Dolls

awesomeart — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:56:48 CST

I am inspired to create my Faeries and mythic creatures though my fascination with the ancient lore and legends of the Faerie People of all lands.

My artistic inspiration comes from Nature, first and foremost.

I also love and greatly respect the work of artists such as Brian and Wendy Froud, Alan Lee, Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac.

In addition to these, my inspiration as a doll artist comes from my love of old world dolls and old fashioned marionettes. I love the quality of a doll being doll-like, and yet seeming as if it could come to life at any moment. I believe this influence shows in my work, and is a part of what makes my dolls unique.

My dolls truly seem to me to form themselves--I am only the medium. They emerge from the clay, each with his or her own distinct features and personality--they are always a surprise to me!

I began FaerySpell Creations to share them with others, (and because I couldn't seem to stop making them and they had begun to take over every available shelf and nook and cranny in my house! :)

FaerySpell dolls are meant to capture the faery as archetype, and details such as horns, fur, feathers, leaves flowers and other natural elements are incorporated into them.

They are lovingly handcrafted with no molds used of any kind, (as such there are slight irregularities to each one that add to their uniqueness).

My faeries and mythic dolls are a work of magic, and it is my experience that each chooses their own 'home'

You can learn more about me and my creations by visiting me at:

Faeryspellcreations in My Space

Rag Dolls

awesomeart — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:56:27 CST

This is one of my latest dolls, made with rags and a face and torso designed by Monica Magness.
I called her La Huesuda in honor of Dia de los Muertos. She is holding an authentic Milagro.

Bone Dolls

awesomeart — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:56:12 CST

La Loba, The Wild Woman

She represents our inner quest to find ourselves, the hidden dreams found in a cave of La Loba (She Wolf)

If you are not unacquainted with La Loba, here is her story as written in Women Who Run with the Wolves by Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estes:

There is an old woman who lives in a hidden place that everyone knows but few have ever seen. As in the fairy tales of Eastern Europe, she seems to wait for lost or wandering people and seekers to come to her place. She is circumspect, often hairy, always fat, and especially wishes to evade most company. She is both a crower and a cackler, generally having more animal sounds than human ones. She is called many names: La Huersera, Bone Woman; La Trapera, The Gatherer; and La Loba, Wolf Woman. The sole work of La Loba is the collecting of bones. She is known to collect and preserve especially that which is in danger of being lost to he world. Her cave is filled with the bones of all manner of desert creatures: the deer, the rattlesnake, the crow. But her specialty is said to be wolves.

And La Loba sings more and the wolf creature begins to breathe.
And still La Loba sings so deeply that the floor of the desert shakes. and as she sings, the wolf opens its eyes, leaps up, and runs away down the canyon.

Somewhere in its running, whether by the speed of its running, or by splashing its way into a river, or by way of a ray of sunlight or moonlight hitting it right in the side, the wolf is suddenly transformed into a laughing woman who runs free toward the horizon.

So it is said that if you wander the desert, and it is near sundown, and you are perhaps a little bit lost, and certainly tired, that you are lucky, for La Loba may take a liking to you and show you something--something of the soul.
~©Clarissa Pinkola Estes

My Bone Collector doll, holds a bundle of bleached bones, painted with acrylics and fastened to wood with wire, her face was handcrafted with polymer clay.

Please visit the site of Lynn Dewart where she has some of the most creative Bone Dolls I have ever seen.

Josua Meadows site has beautiful sculptures made of bones

Your Muse and Creative Energy

awesomeart — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:55:54 CST

Finding meaning is important to me but it is not easy to figure out the essence of things or to convey its meaning to others. Discovering the "why" of making spirit dolls has been fun, finding names that suit their shape and weaving stories around these little creatures has taken me into fantastic realms. They are not "pretty dolls" some are in fact very "raw and ugly" but somewhat in spiring, I am blessed to say, "The Muse" of creativity has helped in the process of their being.

My friend Monica invited me to join The Crusade for this round of Green Pepper Press Street Team to explore on the theme of "Who or What Is Your Muse?"

I have been inspired by many people, artists and authors but my doll making took a spin in another direction when I started reading the marvelous books by Charles de Lint . He has a unique way of getting people close to nature where magic becomes reality, in one of his books I found a reference to numina spirits and realized that similar kind of energy takes place in a Spirit Doll. I have read 10 of his books and I am making a wish list to get to the rest of the list, even tho it seems to me I am not meant to keep a collection of his books because I have lent them out and gave the rest away last month. Ahhh but this magic is at work...someone surprised me with 4 books which I had not read! So far, my favorite is "Dream and Memory" where he describes in detail many aspects of the numinous spirits very close to those I imagine, living all around in nature. Besides that, I also love the sound of these words...numinous, numen and numina; a presiding divinity or spirit of a place, a spirit believed by animists to inhabit certain natural phenomena or objects, a creative energy and genius.

Just as my little Spirit Dolls who come to life representing nature spirits and helpers, because every time I allow one to come into being I feel a sense of nurturing peace. You can see why de Lint's books and his creative spirit have become the center of my attention making him my latest muse.
I also want to say that I was able to contact Mr. de Lint's beautiful wife MaryAnne Harris who corresponded with me, and now two of my dolls and a small crow painting are part of their collection. They were sent as gifts of gratitude for all the hours of inspiration...such a lovely lady, and a great artist and perhaps de Lint's muse with a lage "M"

If you are interested in his work, here is a list of his books but don't get intimidated by such a long list, you can start anywhere you want, many of his novels are set in a city called Newford but each story stands on its own and soon enough you will be traveling to that place on your own. I have read The Onion Girl , (which was the first one and I got hooked) Someplace to Be Flying , (with its marvelous mythology on Raven Girls and Cayote) Memory and Dream ,(the story of a gifted artist, with enough power to blend urban mystery with folk tales) Into the Green and The Little Country (a fantastic journey to The Green Isles) Dreams Underfoot , (this is probably a good one to start with because it is a collection of stories set in Newford) The Ivory and The Horn (another collection with my favorite "The Bone Woman") Spiritwalk (a glorious blend of Shamanism and Celtic tradition nestled in an enchanting house called Tamson House) and I just finished reading Forest of the Heart and Trader .Who knows how Spirit moves from one person to the next, we live like the mighty redwood trees, standing tall in a grove we reach to the heavens for inspiration, supporting each other by a network of roots, we are "All-in-Spirit" and perhaps you and I are already someones muse! Why not, the veils lift and we find layers of creative genius hidden moment by moment, I believe we just need to trust the process, the "real muse" lives inside each and everyone of us. I will leave you with this quote from Steve Martin:

"I have learned that there is no harm in charging oneself up with delusions between moments of valid inspiration"

These dolls are part of my "numinous" series, the forms for my dolls were created byMonica Magness, she sells the blank forms and doll heads for beading in eBay and Etsy.

The Art Spirit Gallery

Raw and Ugly Dolls

awesomeart — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:55:39 CST

It is never easy to explain or give folks a reason why I make these dolls...I know they are not "pretty or cute", they are in fact, plain and simple pure expression of my own inner quest for transformation and creativity.

I take great pleasure in their making, specially because they look like they need much loving.
I remember an old doll of mine long ago, it got wet and startedh to fall apart. My grandmother said we had to burry her in the garden, and I used to dream of me digging her out, I had forgotten about her until the time when I made this little doll! Now, that is one doll in great need of some loving, perhaps we create to heal old memories....who knows, I can only share what I have experienced and encourage others to do the same. You don't have to know "why" these creatures come out of your hands, they are a mystery, your own creative genious at work...or at play!
Author Charles de Lint wrote, Without mysteries, life would be very dull indeed. What would be left to strive for if everything were known?

This is one of my Numen Dolls, raw and primitive, she reminds me of something

found in some Egyptian digging, I loved
her simplicity and even in her uglyness, she looks endearing to me.

If you want to take one home
Some of my "ugly" dolls are for sale at my ETSY STORE

Altered Dolls Gallery

awesomeart — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:55:19 CST


These little dolls used to be Dollar Store findings which I treated with latex primer and acrylics, wrapping them with wire adorning them with beads and other charms.		.

In celebration of life and death

awesomeart — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:55:00 CST

If you're not ready to die, then how can you live? Charles de Lint

Although painting is my first love, assemblage and art dolls have become
an essential spiritual practice in my life. I am convinced that for all of us who make Spirit Dolls, they represent "the little mysteries" and hidden dreams that come alive in our very busy lives. There is something very healing in this process of sculpting with polymer clay or working with textiles.
The magic of yarn, fibers and beading entwined...creating a context where magic begins.

I've been inspired by many cultures where dolls were made symbolic of the sacred...full of meaning and creativity...here there is an element of reverence and solitude that guides me gently into that type of art. It is a form of meditation...a beautiful Spirit dance.

I like to think of my dolls as tools for creativity. They are my little "totem / fetishes" .
A fetish is an object, natural or man made, in which a spirit is thought to reside, some have animal faces... mine are of a kind dolls, wrapped with soft cotton and yarn, supported by twigs, vines and mossy tree bark, using polymer clay, gems, shells, herbs, charms and jewelry findings.

Some represent Angels, Spirit Guides inhabiting the forest. Others are Magical Kachinas and Fetish Dolls, helpful Kitchen Witches, Divas and Goddesses...Icons of the Divine Feminine. To me this is a kind of Spirit Inspired ritualistic art from many ancient traditions.

~A word about "Dia de los Muertos"~

The day of the Dead is called "Dia de los Muertos" in Mexico and in some of our Southern States. It is a traditional celebration originated long ago by theAztecs and other Meso American civilizations where a human skull was symbolic of death and rebirth. Such imagery was used to honor their ancestors who would come back in spirit during these days of ritual. The natives viewed death as a continuation of the circle of life and as such they embraced it.

I love making little skull dolls in memory of my muse, Frida Kahlo.

"...The isles of the dead, the bone deserts of the psyche, the face of the mountain, the rock of the sea, the lush underworld - anyplace where La Que Sabe breathes upon us, changing us. Our work is to show we have been breathed upon - to show it, give it out, sing it out, to live out in the topside world what we have received through our sudden knowings, from body, from dreams and journeys of all sorts."

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Art Dolls for Soulmaking

awesomeart — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:54:41 CST

Long ago, people used to teach their children to make their dolls with corn husks and twigs wrapped with rags, the same way my Nana Maria did with me when I was a little girl, my dolls were intended to be my toys, but she would also make other kind of dolls and "Catrina" with sugar skulls, a kind of Spirit Dolls to give away for Dia de los Muertos which she placed in her altar to celebrate All Soul's Day.

I love tribal art and have been doing research on old traditions from many parts of the world where small images were made and used as "power tools" often found in burial sites. I believe that the creative spirit that moves within each and everyone of us, shapes our lives with inspiration and brings forth images that come awake and alive in one form or another through art. It is amazing that some of these figurines, soulmaking dolls have lasted this long as silent sentinels in time.

During the Paleolithic period people would make portable figurines or decorative objects which were carved from bone, stone or antler. In the old traditions these little totem-fetishes were molded mostly with clay, stone, coral, jade and other semiprecious stones, a few have been found made of metal. These were small figurines of animals and human forms, little goddesses, detailed female shapes. They often served as symbols of protection in some form of ritualistic or magical purposes. They all seemed to be helpers to the mainconcerns of ancient peoples for food (hunting and harvest) or fertility, and to gain some kind of control over their environment, or in the case of Egypt and Peru they placed small dolls on graves. It is not certain whether they served as company to the deceased or if they represented offerings to the dead or their gods.

In ancient religions, the numen or manitou was a protector spirit or force which was anonymous. Although it was not known as a person, its power and presence was felt, usually, it was regarded as being attached to some place or object, like a tree, or a large rock.

I don't pretend to know much about ancient traditions, but they resonate with me and I allow spirit to guide me, making dolls makes me feel good, as simple as that... and whenpeople ask me why do I make art dolls...my answer is always the same...because they keep me sane and fill my soul with gratitude and peace!

I am sure my dolls serve mainly as decoration to some of my buyers and collectors, but for others they are symbolic of magic and good will...quite simply, they are great helpers, little massangers of healing power...like an image of an angel by your front door or besides your bed. I like to believe each one of my little dolls finds its own way to your hands charged with good energy and full of creativity, they may serve as a focal point for meditation, a mandala or a feng shui remedy, my intention is to share with others a little miracle which is still working its magic on me.

What do I call them, people ask...they are Totem Fetishes, Numen Spirits or Fantasy Art Dolls, they are my interpretation of Manitou, they are Nature Spirits, that is what I call my little dolls a little mystery that keeps on giving me joy.

Bright Blessings everyone,

Griselda

This is an interesting page about old dolls in many traditions and their uses.

Please visit my Gallery site