Well, as I've mentioned, this Monday sees a continuation of last Monday's Parade of ADO Works in Progress for our Shakespeare Challenge! Here, I'm profiling some of our creative and talented members, and the dolls they've created, based on a character (or several) from the plays of Shakespeare!
It might also be a good time to note that I have been mightily aided by fellow reporters from our ADO team, who have helped interview our lovely group. These reporters (and fellow doll creators and all around super-creative-superwomen) are Nat and BlackEyedSuzie. So, the formats might not be quite as uniform throughout the interviews, but the information is still wonderful and worth sharing.
THIS WEEK, I have included an interview of Nat's within the mix (thanks Nat!)...and be sure to look for more reporters' work, and of course ALL of our work--in future posts. Gee, you sure I didn't forget anyone?
So without further ado (or is it A.D.O?) Here are the dolls! And THEIR dolls :)
(click pics to enlarge)
Laura Bartlett of Chat Noir Studios
I was going to do a new version of Ophelia or maybe Livinia from Titus Andronicus, but I watched a version of A Midsummer's Night Dream the other afternoon.
Now the frilly tiny sweet Victorian fairies are just adorable, but to me real fairies seem more earthy and temperamental..... if not down right nasty if their desires are thwarted.
My Titania is regal and pretty, but more sinister and more animal than human. I realize she has no arms, but I was thinking fairies would be able to transform themselves to fit the situation.If Oberon could give Puck a donkey head, I don't see how transforming wings into arms when necessary would be difficult.
Titania is in many ways an experiment for me. She's my first freestanding figure built over a hidden base. The interior of her wings are appliqued and beaded pieces of lace. Both experiments were successful and I intend to create more freestanding figures.Bonnie Lee Fontaine of Wyrdlands Studios
1. What inspired you to undergo the (Shakespeare) Challenge? What character did you chose to create, and why?
I love literary figures, especially archetypes, and Shakespeare's plays are fabulous subjects.
It took me a while to pick my character. I knew I wanted to do a tragedy subject, and went back and forth with several before settling on Juliet from "Romeo and Juliet". I think out of all the tragedies, "Romeo and Juliet" is the most devastating, as it deals with very young, innocent teenagers and the hate between their families that destroyed them.
It is a them that rings true even today, and many young people can identify with these poor creatures 2. What method(s) and materials did you use to create your characters?
This is my second full body sculpt in paperclay.
3. How long did it take to create your piece? What were the easier aspects of creating it? What were the more challenging parts?
Well, I'm still at it, so hopefully a month! The sculpt is finished and I will be sanding and painting her next. Then it's on to costuming! I think getting the final pose correctly situated, as well as establishing the look of the face is the most difficult part. Once those are done, the rest is much easier. 4. Were you satisfied with the outcome of the art piece? Would you change anything, did you learn anything?
So far, so good! I am very pleased with her expression, and the position of her hands. Every doll making journey is a learning experience. I hope to continually perfect my craft, so that I can better express what is in my heart with passion and accuracy.
Jacqui of Odd Dollz (from an interview by Nat)
I decided to join the Shakespeare Challenge because I though the title was soooo witty I could not resist!! I don't know alot about Shakespeare but what I do know I find extremely interesting.
When I heard of the challenge I started researching his work and decided to do one of his tragedies.
Because Othello is not one of his more popular plays and is a romantic tragedy I though it would make a good visual project. I wanted to do a scene that was powerful and emotional. I also love the furniture of that time so wanted to have the bed in the scene. I will be doing the scene where Othello Suffocates his wife Desdemona in her bed. He thinks she has committed adultery and kills her then finds out it was not true then kills himself.
I have not completed Othello or Desdemona and the bed is almost finished:). Othello was made using polymer clay (ethnic prosculpt) using a wire armature and a soft body. Desdemona's neck will have little support and her arm and legs will also be limp to try to give the feel of a lifeless body. her head , arms and legs are polymer but her body will be soft.
I will be using a joint like structure to the wire armature. using material to connect the fore arm to the top of the arm and the same for the legs. I have attached a photos of her armature. I imagine this project will take about a month to finish and I am anticipating challenges along the way:)Kaerie Faerie of Kaerie Faerie/Twigs Faerie Land
1. What inspired you to undergo the (Shakespeare) Challenge? What character did you chose to create, and why?
I jumped at the chance to join the Shakespeare Challenge, Midsummer Night's Dream has always been my favorite play, it takes place in the forest and has lots of faeries and mythical creatures. My cast included Puck, Nick Bottom, Queen Titana, and four attending faeries, Peaseblossom, Moth, Cobway & Mustardseed.3. How long did it take to create your piece? What were the easier aspects of creating it? What were the more challenging parts?
It was easy to create the patterns for the dolls, more difficult to fashion the donkey head hood covering and also to figure out the ball joints of the attending faeries.
4. Were you satisfied with the outcome of the art piece? Would you change anything, did you learn anything?
Very happy with the way my cast of players turned out, and I use to do a lot of photo styling in my early years, so shooting pictures in the forest just added to the magic. I learned to make Soft Ball Jointed Dolls, I love working with fiber, and learned it is possible to make just about any kind of doll out of fabrics.
It was easy to create the patterns for the dolls, more difficult to fashion the donkey head hood covering and also to figure out the ball joints of the attending faeries.
4. Were you satisfied with the outcome of the art piece? Would you change anything, did you learn anything?Very happy with the way my cast of players turned out, and I use to do a lot of photo styling in my early years, so shooting pictures in the forest just added to the magic. I learned to make Soft Ball Jointed Dolls, I love working with fiber, and learned it is possible to make just about any kind of doll out of fabrics.
Victoria Mock of Mocking Myths Studio
1. What inspired you to undergo the (Shakespeare) Challenge? What character did you chose to create, and why?
I just really liked the idea..many, many characters to choose from and try to make them your own. This is actually the first challenge I've signed up for, the "theme" hooked me. I chose diabolical Oberon because I could play with his appearance and make him look anyway I wanted. I made him smirky....and he has antlers.
2. What method(s) and materials did you use to create your characters?
2. What method(s) and materials did you use to create your characters?So far, just the metal armature and clay. It'll be a posable figure though, so I'm using Fosshape (my new toy!). He'll probably be wearing various shades of leather.
3. How long did it take to create your piece? What were the easier aspects of creating it? What were the more challenging parts?
Hard to say yet, but I'm trying to be diligent.
4. Were you satisfied with the outcome of the art piece? Would you change anything, did you learn anything?
I always learn something every time I make one. That's what's really cool about experimenting! Having said that, there's always something I want to go back and change when I'm done too. *grin*Rosanna Pereyra of Rosanna's Art
1. What inspired you to undergo the (Shakespeare) Challenge? What character did you chose to create, and why?
I wanted to enter this challenge because I thought it was a great opportunity to try out
something different that I normally wouldn't make.
1. What inspired you to undergo the (Shakespeare) Challenge? What character did you chose to create, and why?
I wanted to enter this challenge because I thought it was a great opportunity to try out
something different that I normally wouldn't make.
I chose Ophelia because I have always loved the painting by Millais and the model herself had a tragic end as well.
2. What method(s) and materials did you use to create your characters?
I am using polymer clay for the limbs and head on a wire armature, and a cloth body, silk for the dress and fine mohair for her wig.
3. How long did it take to create your piece? What were the easier aspects of creating it? What were the more challenging parts?
I work on several projects at a time so it has taken me 3 days to have the doll at this stage in the picture and it will take me 1 more to finish her and 1 more to add the finishing touches, so 5 days in total. The easiest part was choosing the character and the hardest was how to convey the idea but not copy the artists style.
4. Were you satisfied with the outcome of the art piece? Would you change anything, did you learn anything?
2. What method(s) and materials did you use to create your characters?
I am using polymer clay for the limbs and head on a wire armature, and a cloth body, silk for the dress and fine mohair for her wig.
3. How long did it take to create your piece? What were the easier aspects of creating it? What were the more challenging parts?I work on several projects at a time so it has taken me 3 days to have the doll at this stage in the picture and it will take me 1 more to finish her and 1 more to add the finishing touches, so 5 days in total. The easiest part was choosing the character and the hardest was how to convey the idea but not copy the artists style.
I am satisfied with the outcome and I don't think I would do anything differently. I learned that I LOVE challenges and I can't wait to do more of them.
NEXT Monday--Shakespeare Challenge Madness Continues! The bard's characters captured in cloth, clay, ceramics and silks! As they say, "All the World's A Stage" my friends!
