Another bad hair day

I realize the bangs on this wig aren't even cut straight....

The wig cap fits these dolls, but the "volume" of hair just seems overwhelming...

On to clothes.  I will have to get a wig made.  Or try to make one myself (either endeavor will be a feat).

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I'm not a fan...

synthetic hair wigs.  But I figure some hair better than no hair.  She has on quite a bit of make up, but it's not that evident in photos.  I'm content with her blushing, although it isn't obvious in the photos, I can tell the difference.

She looks pretty good for her close up (in dim lighting) ;)

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Face up'ed

I think I'm pretty happy with her face up -- but the camera tells for sure....

ahhhkkkkkk.... I can't tell.  There's not enough sun light... but I am liking her eyes more.

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Layering the eyes

I've decided I want to "keep working" on them.

I'm going to seal and then put on some make up.  I need to "clean up the lashes"

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My biggest problem now is...

I've re-done the eyebrows... (lost count as to how many times)

I just need to resign myself to the fact that I'm not an artist and my face-up will never look like those that are.  I think my paint is all wrong. The other paints appear more translucent.  Mine are too opaque.

I'm going to seal her, add make-up and then one day when I get up the gusto, I'll wipe her and redo.

Really??????????   I don't know why this happens -- I must turn the camera the wrong way, but I really thought I hadn't....

I have to laugh (at myself)

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I "wiped" her face

I guess it is like erasing everything and starting over.  It looked ok.  But not what I was looking for.  With limited time and talent, I still want more.... better.....

I was nervous to wipe her face as I thought what if it looks worse the next time....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iz9X4UPM_0

I took the plunge, so I started from scratch and redid her teeth and blushing. Very happy with the teeth. Lips are a paler pink...  Couldn't decide....

Then came the brows, still not happy with those, before I seal, I think I'll wipe those and start again.

Pretty happy with her eyes.  Took my time and slowed down the process.  I think they still need more depth...  Eye lashes need a redo....

Wiped her brows.  The look ok in person, in photos I think they look ridiculous.  Same for the lashes, tried adding darker tones, then ended up wiping most of them too.

Maybe similar to people, no one should be subjected to this type of close up ;)

Added colors to the eyes...

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Windows of the soul

There's a saying, the eyes are the windows of the soul... as far as dolls are concerned they make/break the face.  I think I need to use some more translucent of a medium and perhaps build the color as in a real eye that has many colors/features.  The work is tiny and exacting.  I have no talent or experience, so it's hard.

I finally got a feathered brow that I liked, only to realize they are too high... back to the drawing board.

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Face!!!

So, this was my first "faceup" ever.  I had to do quite a bit of research on youtube and Den of Angels.

Well, now looking at her in a photo, I guess that shows...  She looked so much better to me in person...
Maybe it is the lighting or my bad photography.  Hmmmm,  back to the drawing board.

The eyes are tough...  I knew they would be..  I like the lips and the teeth if that is any consolation...

The eyebrows took me about 20 tries....  In photos, looks like I should have had a few more goes!  ;)

I'll decide what to redo and try again....

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Start out slow....

Face painting.  I've blushed a bit. (forhead, around eyes, nose, cheeks, ears)...

Then I wanted to do the eyes (hardest -- imo)....

I hated what it looked like so I used that kneadable eraser and removed it.

So then lips.  Yes lips.

I like the way they look in person, I did wonder what it would translate to photos.

In photos, they look a little light.... I'll decide whether I want to darken them up... as with everything nothing needs to be permanent.

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mani, pedi....

St. Patty.  (Happy St. Patrick's Day)

After the blushing, I started with the easiest part of the painting.  The mani and pedi.  Not that easy.  It takes a very steady hand and I don't like the sloppy moons or nail tips that just look like a blob/circle.  I've been amazed at the workmanship on the dolls I have that are already painted, so I embrace the challenge.  Not easy at all -- for me.

And I thought they looked so good, in the up close photo, not so much....

Pedi looks better than the Mani.

I think the blushing on the hand looks nice ;)

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Very happy with my progress

Spent quite a bit of time body blushing.  I tried to do a stop motion animation on it as I thought it would be cool to do.  But I needed an extra person...  someone to photograph as I did the work.  I was nervous too so that didn't help.

I'm all about light blush.  I really don't like to "see" where was blushed, more it helps with the way the light bounces off the doll making it look "more human"

I've been pleasantly surprised and love the look.  The doll does look "colder" or less alive without the blushing.

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Just what I need...

So, before spraying that stuff, I needed a respirator.  As luck would have it, the husband had one... Now my question is:  Why is it pink??  Did you get it on sale or something?

I'm going to be oh so stylish as I go outside to spray!!

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I'm "ready" to go....

Work has been so stressful lately.  I'm working until late tonight.  I got a package in the mail yesterday. So I can begin my body blushing/ faceup attempt.....  Very daunting for me.  I'm pretty scared.  The last thing I want to do is wreck my new found muse and joy.  I'm going to take it slow and I also have to make sure it is not too humid (that's a trick where I live).

There's so much I want to do...  I look back on this blog and realize I'm a procrastinator.  I just need a little umph to get me to do all the things I want to.  I guess I lose interest quickly....  I'm off to conquer the world (tomorrow) ;)

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Wasn't my favorite day

I had a pretty rough day today, but when I stopped home for a break, it was so amazing to see this doll.

The more I look at her, the more I marvel.  I have quite a few dolls that I'm enthralled with, but some how, this one is just a little different.  I really wish I had her (the doll) when I used to travel...  It would have been so cool to try to sneak a photo of her inside Rue Cambon or while I waited in Gaulthier or Gucci or countless others.  It would have been like those "flat stanleys" I took so many photos of for my niece and nephew....  I think flat stanley is an American invention but perhaps our european counterparts have something similar.

Flat Stanley was a paper cut out of a man.  You would fold him up in an envelope and mail him off to different people and they would take photos (in interesting places) and with family members and mail the photo and the flat stanley back to you and at the end of the school year they would display all the photos and kids would get up and talk about the photos.

(unfortunately, with the way things are today, I probably couldn't bring the doll in the box -- and then there would be the x-raying of it everywhere.....)

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Faceup, wigs, shoes, outfits, so much creative juice and no time!

I definitely feel motivated.  I know now how designers get inspired and refer to some models as their muse.  I've got a ton of ideas for faceup, for wigs, for shoes -- it runs the gamut.  I am however super busy at work and just taking a little of my time to post this as I feel electric!

Here's a quick pic of my "loot" -- art supplies for faceup and blushing.

Things you can't see are the brushes, etc.  (this stuff is pricey)... which reminds me.... Back to work

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I spent a good deal of time

researching face-ups and trying to figure out how to "try it on my own".  I'm not the most artistic person, but I do think I'm crafty.  I bought some supplies.  (I think I'll only do this once or twice, so I shouldn't have "invested" so heavily -- but I didn't want to get anything that was substandard -- why ruin a work of art with substandard materials).

I've always been enthralled with the way people do face ups so I got a boat load of stuff:

It's too dark to get a good picture so that will have to wait.

I'm only disappointed that I have to go to work tomorrow, but without working there wouldn't be any ability to continue getting stuff so it's a merry-go-around.  I work so I can buy.  I buy so I have to work more ;)

I'm pretty excited.  Can't wait to start but that probably won't be til next weekend.  When I get home it is always late (dark).

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Ahhhhhhh!!!! It's been a crazy week

I've been waiting most of the week to open my new doll.  That's right.  My restraint was unparalleled.  Even my husband said, "aren't you going to open it?"  He got it for me as an anniversary present!!!  It arrived when I got home late one evening from work....

Ok, so I wanted to do an SMA of the opening.  Similar to the one I have posted on the side of the blog for Agnes (Terri's lovely porcelain BJD -- PaperWhite).  SO....

Here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqxE1JHpjkE

I'm so proud.  The other SMA was shot by my daughter.  I really thought this was going to be a bust.  It is short but sweet.  I'm going to do another SMA of her faceup.  I'm so excited I could SCREAM!!!!!

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Slight set back

So, if it isn't enough that I have work and a sick parent, last Tuesday, I was returning late from work and was in a car accident.  Car accidents in Florida are an everyday occurrence.  Luckily no one was hurt.  The person that caused the accident claimed "the light was green".  Well that's funny, the guy you hit and sent his car into mine and I both say it was red.  

Enough drama.  I'm going to finish the first coat of the paint on the bed as I did like the final "test" side.  I can't decide whether to leave it some what "flat" or to gloss coat and seal it at the end.  I do notice that the details of the carving is being lost.  I was thinking I might use another color grey or even pink or blue and lightly rub over the white so it "clings" to the inner carvings and gives the bed more depth.

I left the deepest recesses unpainted for now, but you can sort of tell (from my kind of crappy photo) that the detail is being lost with the painting.  But I think it will be ok in the end.

 

perhaps a white stain for the next one.... (just kidding, don't think there will be a next one).

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