and some more...

I guess I'll add a few more since this blog is sorely lacking in updates. There's something about the stillness and dormancy of winter that I find fascinating, Its so isolating and lonely for some but under our noses there's an entire universe of life that does not stop just because it's been blanketed in white. This doll is about that.

More

With this one I wanted to use Brian Froud's influence to create something more ancient, feral and yet wise. Something that has roamed the woods longer then we can concieve. Seldom seen, the eons pass before it in a fleeting blink.

Click

Some dolls

Here is a doll I did around Halloween. This is probably the quickest one I've made. She took a day from start to finishe but there was not that much to sculpt, because a lot of her is covered. I'm not sure if I wanted her to be the Bride of Frankenstein's monster or a Mummy or just a gross decomposing corpse but I wanted her to be on a smoke break because sometimes a monster just needs to take some "me-time". Details

I don't usually do fan art. But this was a comission of Neil Gaiman's Delirium. I have never read the graphic novel but I like how she turned out. She has a goldfish baloon and I love how her hair came out.Closer look

I'll post more soon.

Sculpting FAQ

I get a lot of questions about how I make my pieces so I'm putting this here so I can re-direct inquisitive minds and have their queries answered here!I will keep updating this.

Q: How do you make your wings?
I start by making a frame or some sort out of wire. It can be intricate (like a Cicada’s wing) or just a loose frame, depending on what I intend it to look like. I sometimes paint the wire a certain color but not always. Then I glue wrapping foil onto the frame using hot glue. I trim the edges and then I run an open flame (lighter, candle) over the edges and lightly burn over the entire wing in order to tighten it and give it a crisp, crinkly effect. The same effect but a bit more refined can be achieved using a heat-gun or by simply holding the wing over a toaster for a few seconds. The cellophane burns very easily so you have to be quick!

Q: What is that shiny stuff on them and where does one get it?
That stuff is your garden-variety gift-wrapping cellophane. It comes in clear, colors and iridescent, which is what I use. You can find it at most stationery shops like Hallmark or Carleton Cards.

Q: What is the hair that you use on your dolls?
I use mohair for the hair on most of my dolls. Mohair is the sheared hair of a certain type of sheep (perhaps a goat) and it comes in little packages at the craft-store, usually found in the doll-making section. I dye it using human-hair dyes but Sharpie markers can do the trick if you’re desperate or want streaks.
I have also used fake plastic hair (also found in the doll section at the craft store) but it does not look as realistic. It is however good for achieving a sleek, shiny look, or a super pouffed hairdo (anything in between looks blatantly plastic).

Q: How does one attach the hair?
I used to make a big hole in the back of the doll’s head and stick a wad of hair in, and then glue it down around in a style. Nowadays I find it MUCH easier to simply glue the hair directly to their scalp, lock by lock. It looks neater, you have more control and it’s easier to work out different styles.

Q: What are your dolls made out of?
They are made out of Super Sculpey (for the tan-skinned ones) and a blend of Super Sculpey and colored Sculpey for the colored ones.

Q: How long does it take to make one of your dolls?
The time really varies depending one what else I have to do but I can usually whip them up in a week if I sort of rush it (as in work on it every-day)

Q: What is the process that you use to sculpt the doll from start to finish?
I start by making a wire armature, bulk it up with aluminum foil and then cover the whole thing in polymer and sculpt as needed. I do bits at a time, usually as follows: I do the head first, as I think it’s the most important bit, then the torso (from, the shoulders to the butt) and then I bake it a bit, then I add the legs and arms, bake it again, and then I add the hands, feet, and attach the head.

Q: What kind of tools do you use to sculpt?
I have bought entire sets of tools and whittled them down to only 3 instruments. A wooden one with a rounded end and then a sort of spoon (only filled in) shape, a pointy metal one (like a thick needle) and my trusty knife (the kind whose blade you can extend about 3-4 inches)

Do you sell your work?
I do not currently sell the ones I make for myself BUT I will gladly do a custom piece for you! Info here: http://luizadragonescu.blogspot.com/2007/11/commission-info.html

If you have any other questions, ask away on here or better yet on my DeviantART account here http://harleyquinn1121.deviantart.com/ and I’ll answer promptly ;)

Commission info

I take commissions of my faery sculptures and wings.
Here is the information. :)

My price starts at $100 Canadian for a custom made sculpt as well as the shipping costs, whatever they may be. The standard doll will probably not go over that but if there are complicated or highly detailed elements to the doll I might ask for more. Either way this will be discussed and arranged before anything is paid.

I take money orders and I recently got PayPal and I am in the process of figuring it out, so that too is a payment option. Generally I prefer 60% of payment first before I begin the commission and then the other 40% plus the shipping cost once you have recieved your piece.

My dolls take days to craft and cost a bit to produce as so many materials go into them. I will make as custom a piece as I can based on your own preferences and I will not reproduce it for someone else.

I will however take pictures and use the doll's image for my online, personal, or professional portfolio.

I have recieved requests for costume wings as well so I will also offer those. The price will range from $30-$50 dollars depending on the size and intricacy of the pieces. Shipping costs will also be charged.

I hope that answers some questions :D

Thank you!

A bit about what I do..

Most of the things on here are probably going to be sculptures so I thought I'd start by posting a few. There are detailed photos of them on my DeviantART account. They are made of polymer clay, moulded over a wire armature. Their hair is real mohair (some sort of wool) but sometimes I use plastic doll hair (to a lesser effect). I paint the details with acrylic paint. They are small-ish, never bigger than about 10 inches but some, like this green one below are only about 4 inches tall.

This one is a Stray Sod. It's a creature that hides itself in the grass and when you step on him you'll become hopelessly lost even in familiar surroundings!


This next one is supposed to be a young princess who is unwanting of her new important role, desiring only to go and play with the others but, she might get her dress dirty.


And then this one speaks for itself. :)

First Post

I have enough trouble keeping up with my current list of websites so I thought I would add another one to the mix. Hang in there while I try to figure this thing out.