Sunday Afternoon Doll Making

Mary Elizabeth, formerly painted with acrylics as a brown eyed brunette, has been transformed into an oil painted blond with blue eyes.  I took an oil painting class called "20 Oil Painting Techniques."  It has opened up a whole new world for me.  I learned very simple things, such as how to clean brushes and how to dispose of oil paint waste.  I needed this information to get brave enough to use oils on a regular basis.  Now I can't stop!  I am obsessed with the look of oils.

Vintage rick rack lines the top of her body covering.

I think Mary Elizabeth likes being a blond.

I sculpted her toes from paper clay.

Mary Elizabeth

My experiment doll, Permelia, also got a makeover in oils.  I am interested to see what the final effect will be.  Under the oils, she has an acrylic crackle paint layer.  I oil painted right over the cracks.  I was happy that I could still see some of the crackles.

There is a small, bored rat terrier on the stairs.  I have been ignoring her all morning because I have been doll making.  She is ready for me to put my paints and sewing machine away.

11 inch doll with cloth layered head construction - painted in oils

Work in progress

 2 Blond dolls

Edyth has been inspiring me with her excitement about Queen Anne dolls.  I sculpted this head from paper clay onto a torso that she designed.  

I embedded some paperweight, glass eyes into the paper clay.

So far, she has a single outer layer of oils and one undercoat of burnt umber acrylic.