Repaint

The crucifix is all finished,

painted and varnished 

and reassembled.

Here are the compare-and-contrast photos.

I was surprised at how useful

doll making was for this project.

After painting several coats of 

acrylic paint,

I used powdered pastels

brushed into the hollows

to bring out the sculptural depth.

Painted detail on the face.

And I got it all finished before Sunday!

Help a fellow Artist!

I have a friend on 

Deviant Art,

Rose Tursi

who makes amazing 

steampunk paraphernalia

(I have one of her fab Steampunk  rings)

and paints really charming and quirky images.

Like this anxious

Balloon Twisting Porcupine.

Or the gently humorous

Angler Fish with Reading Light

She's about to break out on her own,

making cards from her paintings

and I thought I'd 

give her a leg up

and post her Indiegogo page.

Go and visit, every little helps.

 Share, if you can.

In doll news,

Mistress Melinda is coming along.

But I think she'd like me to hurry it up.

Big project.

After restoring the

Infant of Prague

I was asked to make some alterations

to a large wall crucifix

 that hangs in a dark corner.

This is it hanging on my white wall.

It's a lovely piece

but with a dark oak cross 

and a bronze finish figure

it's pretty much invisible

where it hangs in the church.

The figure itself is beautifully modelled

with a lovely faux bronze patina.

I know this because I've had to restore this figure before

when he lost a thumb and some fingers,

and I had to match the paint finish.

This time,

I'm going to try to make him look like

a traditional carved and painted figure

as I don't think St Mary's has one.

It's a modern-ish building and most of the 

figures have a Mid-Century feel.

This is the first coat.

Sidestepping the loaded argument about

Christ's ethnicity

I've gone for a colour that's 

light enough to be seen in a dark corner

and will provide a contrast to the dark hair

and not be pink.

I'm not painting Jesus Piano Baby pink!

He really is beautifully sculpted

and the lighter colour shows the detail.

I hope to have him finished 

and back in place by

next Sunday.

I do feel privileged that 

the church trusts me with its

valuable and sacred figures.

In other news,

Steampunk Rabbit

is finished!

Have some pictures!

Firstly, the 

Top Hat.

Feathers and lace.

Steam GPS compass.

Fully functioning antennae.

The veil can either be tucked up,

or pulled under the chin for a riding hat effect.

Like this.

Here she is

sans hat,

reading her notes.

I hope Spring has finally come to wherever you are.

Unless you're Antipodean,

whereupon,

 I hope you're having a wonderful Autumn.

Hugs,

Rhissanna

She knows if you've been bad or good

Progress on my

wicked boudoir doll. 

More of the boots,

now with faux stockings.

The heels have a

cocktail stick armature

with paperclay 

and more paperclay for the sole.

I was worried about it cracking 

or flexing away from the fabric

but it all seems pretty secure.

Now she has hair 

(dirty blonde!)

and a face

and a name.

Melinda.

You'll address her as Mistress, however.

The stockings are made from tulle

with  seams at the back.

They'll have suspenders 

(Garter belt?)

and little garters.

I've finally worked out how to make the face 

with no center seam over the mouth,

which does make the lips easier to paint.

And I'd better get back to work

or I'm going to be in trouble.

A rush job

Just before Easter Sunday

like, about four days before

my Mother in Law calls me

and asks if I could do a rush job.

With the emphasis on 'rush'.

This Infant of Prague

had been knocked out of his niche.

He'd had a pretty efficient repair job

and hats off to whoever did it

because plaster is a cow to glue together.

The joins were strong and solid.

But some of the fragments didn't lie flat

and the cracks were horribly visible.

Could I pretty him up again

before

Easter Sunday?

So I did!

And, because this really was a rush job

non-stop painting and sanding, 

painting and sanding,

painting and sanding,

there's no finished picture.

Which is a pity,

because he looked pretty spiffy

 when he was done.

Back to Steampunk Rabbit 

and the commission.

Here she is with her clothes finished.

Her fitted jacket turned out

better than I had hoped.

 Corset laced at the front, 

with a pocket for her

Time Piece.

Riding habit influence at the back,

with buttoned flaps and epaulettes.

She has a tiny key on a chain,

which could be worn as a bracelet

or anklet,

or discreetly tucked into her blouse.

The hat!

Finally, the hat.

It  was going to be glued in place

but it actually sit nicely over her ears

so it's going to be separate.

I'm still adding bits.

Feathers and then some more lace

and ribbons

and the silver gears.

 This is a gear on the back of her 

Time Piece.

And this is the front.

It's not a watch, 

she tells me.

It's a 

Time Piece.

I'm not sure what it does.

Time Travel, maybe?

Here she is, posing.

Rule Buntannia!

Next, a sudden project

when Hubby asked me 

how fast could I make a doll.

The last time he asked that

I made Marie, and she took a month!

But I had an idea I was flirting with.

This is part of it.

And here's two, together.

Painted and sanded and painted and sanded and painted etc.

And this rather disturbing photograph here.

More when I have more!