Saturday, October 26, 2013

Ange de la Renaissance

The base-coat was applied early this a.m.  and a bit of photo 
"softening" helps capture the unfinished status of this Santos.
She is mimicking that old world appeal... 
that I am hoping to capture.

Friday, October 25, 2013

American Santos... All Coming Together!

Thank you Home Depot!
I made a mad dash to Home Depot this a.m. and they had wood 
roping by the boat load... So her skirt is ready to be base-coated.
I also gave her some ears! (and copper-beaded earrings)
Her "halo" is a brass gear taken from a circa 1867 mantle clock
that Katie found years ago at a local thrift shop.  I am loving that
re-purposed victorian pin and brass gear breastplate!
A little sanding, one more coat of gesso and then her base-coat!
Make-Over...anyone? (wink!)  thank you for stopping by! Daryle

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Ange de la Renaissance

It's amazing what a little paper clay...
a quick application of gesso...
some vintage jewelry and brass clock gears...
and wings... hinged wings... can do!
(and a bit of "mood" lighting never hurts!)
"The Angel of Rebirth!" (Ange de la renaissance) is born...
Once daylight returns here to South Jersey...
I will take a few more pics that will (hopefully) capture her
new look and the direction she has taken!
Night, night!  Daryle

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Styrofoam...to the Rescue!

I had a Styrofoam ball in my stash...and with a bit of 
"gentle compression" it filled the skull cavity that was left
after I started sawing and sanding her head away!
Those "chipmunk cheeks" are softened... 
The arms will be re-attached with wooden dowels, 
replacing the original metal screws...
The wood roping on the skirt will add some interest...
And her paper clay "make-over" will transform this sad Santos
into a glorious creature!  (a bit "lofty" in my expectations, huh?)

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

American Santos... A Tuesday Morning Markdown!

She has been sitting on the shelf at the "Tuesday Morning" store
in Hockessin, Delaware for about eight months... marked $39.99
I just wasn't willing to pick her up at that price... (even in tax-free DE.) 
Although that was easily half the retail price on the internet!
So the other day, when Katie and I stopped at the store
and she was marked down an additional 20%...
Well, she came home with us!
I'm not kidding myself: She's not that pretty with those 
"gopher" cheeks and that wavy "hair!"  
From my perspective: her only redeemable attributes...
 are those articulated shoulders, elbows and wrists!
(O.K. and maybe the nice textured finish on her torso/arms)
So... I'm thinking a major "make-over" from the cage skirt up!
I believe she is partially wood, partially resin... 
I'm thinking that I am partially certifiable (if you know what I mean!)
So...let the chisel fly... let the sanding-block rip... 
and get out the paper clay... 'cause:
This girl's getting a make-over!  
(Yup... the walk-out-of-the-store-price was: $31.99)
What have I to "lose?" (wink!) Daryle

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Fini... A Shrine Doll!


This guy really has been a labor of love...
A bit quirky, certainly colorful, and (tongue-in-cheek) timely!


From textures to color palette...  sheer pleasure!

Sigh... what's next?

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Approaching the Finish Line!

This doll... like most, just seemed to take on a life
of its own during the past week!
His personality has just emerged over the past few days,
with the addition of some layered colors and of course;
those big, brown eyes!  ("moo-cow" eyes, as we called them).
I have been video-taping the process; hoping to share it
as a workshop or class... "out there"... in the near future!
I still need to apply some crackle medium, tie up that
loosey-goosey collar, and add his primitive hang tag.
As always... Thank you for stopping by!  Daryle