Sprout

I spent some time over the weekend reworking the green doll. In the process she decided that her name is Sprout. Partly because she is cute like the Jolly Green Giant's little buddy and partly because she comes from the middle of the forest where she spends time watching all the green things sprout and grow. I wanted to call her Forest Nymph or something like that, but in my world the dolls always have the last word! Either way she now awaits a new home on Etsy. Check her out if you are so inclined. Sprout, OOAK Art Doll

I finally got some decent pictures of her.

Taking it slow

Today I worked on my green girl who to me represents the heart of the deep forest. She was originally made in 2008, but I have never felt she was quite finished. Last night and today I spent a few hours reworking her in hopes that she and I could agree on her fabulousity and send her out into the world. I worked just an hour here and an hour there and I think she's done. This is a picture of her previously. Pictures of the update will come soon! As soon as I figure out how to actually take a decent picture.

I think I may be learning a little bit of balance in my life. If you have read my profile you will see that I mention being bi-polar. I find this both a blessing and a curse as a creative, artistic type of person. On one hand there are times when I seem to have a source of unlimited ideas and a drive to work work work. On the other there are times when all of my energy is suddenly gone and nothing at all can get done as I struggle to pull myself out of depressions. It's often been an all or nothing type of thing. I've been worried to fully explore doll making, because there have been too many times where I have worked frantically for several days rarely even sleeping. Eventually my body gives out if nothing else and I find myself crashed, or sometimes even sick.

It's been a struggle to learn that it does not have to be that way. I find it really refreshing that I can put in a few hours at a time and then walk away to do something else. This way I can try to give attention to some other things in my life once in a while and I don't feel so frantic and frazzled. Here's to hoping I can keep it up and continue to learn healthy habits for my life!

First Etsy listing!

I'm feeling quite giddy at the moment. After years of contemplating, and saying over and over I was gonna... out of nowhere I got up the nerve to post a doll on Etsy. It's kind of a big deal for me since I am the queen of uneasy procrastination. I am great at ideas, but I often get bogged down with fear from all the little details. Today I sat down to do something else and the next thing I know we have this!

"Breath" from Night's Vision Please check it out if you get a chance!

The Dreaded Classroom

For most of my life I have been self taught at everything I do. The only exception to that has been my little certificate of completion from an ROP program telling me I can be an Interior and Architectural design assistant, and Belly Dance classes. Belly Dance has been my complete passion for the past nine years and I've had little time to do anything else. Even with that I usually found classes to be torture.

I come from a history of being diagnosed with "school phobia" at the age of eleven, back when they didn't think kids had those type of things. Later it moved on to agoraphobia and blah and blah, but always the fears stay very firmly around any type of class. I love to learn things, but usually I would rather be boiling in the desert than in a class. This is of course a very strong statement coming from someone like me who wears sunglasses when it's raining. I may be a mushroom, I'm not sure. Either way it's often hampered me when there are so many things in the world that I'd love to learn. Unfortunately those usually involve classrooms.

So, taking all that into account imagine how bizarre it feels that all of a sudden I want to take classes! I want to take as many as I can and cram all sorts of lovely information in to my head. I want to try to expand on whatever little talent I may show. It's quite a nice feeling actually. I think I'll roll with it.

Adventures in Inspiration Part II

The second leg of our vacation was spent in Las Vegas. My mothers Aunts live in Vegas so we spent quite a bit of time with them. Both are wonderfully interesting women, and are inspirational just being. I hope to continue to possess that much fire in my personality when I reach their age range. I want to continue to feel vibrant and alive for the remainder of my life.

I believe that it is really important as doll artist, painter, and dancer to fill myself up with visual inspiration as often as possible. I often find myself wandering around stores just to soak up the design element that runs through even the most mundane product. Target is one of my favorites for this. Another is World Market. Though, I think my favorite is just about any bookstore, Barnes and Noble being my favorite. You can only imagine then just how full of inspiration I feel when returning from a place like the Las Vegas Strip!

While we were there we saw Ka, Jersey Boys, and Mus.I.c, the Jabbawockeez show. Cyd and I went to the Bodies Exhibit, the CSI Experience, and the Titanic Exhibit. The rest of the time window shopping, walking and ogling with a bit of time in the casinos with the Aunts. My absolute favorite thing though? A trip to the  Boneyard , I was so excited to hear and think about the history of all the gorgeous neon signs in the display. The colors and textures of age on some of the pieces had me fascinated. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves any kind of color, shape, and texture visual stimulation like I do.

Having been home for over a week now, my mind is teaming with ideas. I've drawn two or three sketches for dolls, made tons of To Do lists, and spent many hours incubating ideas. The action should start any day now.

Adventures in Inspiration Part I

I had a fabulous vacation. Our first stop was to visit my Aunts and Grandmother in Arizona, and I always leave there with a little bit of inspiration. This time I came home with some lovely fairy figurines from my Aunt Annie, and from my Aunt Margaret several sets of beautiful hand made polymer clay beads.

I am always in awe when I walk into Margaret's workroom. She has displays of her jewelry that make me feel like I've just walked into a shop. Then the eye turns to her workspace and my jaw always drops at how organized everything is! I am pretty organized, well when I'm not in the middle of a project, but she completely has me beat. Not only that ,but with the sheer amount of things to look at there would be no way you could walk out of there without at least one or two ideas floating around.

I can't wait to use these beauties in something wonderful. Next stop Vegas!