Creating Art with other Artists

 

Watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

It is so nice to be able to attend my art group again.  I used to paint watercolors with a group of artists at TAUNY in Canton NY.  TAUNY recently opened up for the group again and I attended for the first time in a long time last week.  I brought along my watercolors and a painting I had started while on a walk by the river with a very dear friend who is also an artist.  I feel so fortunate to be able to spend time with such kind and talented individuals that are also good friends.  It makes creating art so much more enjoyable and leads to so much more growth as an artist.

 

Watercolor Painting by Marla L. Niederer

I also have been playing with my Silhouette cutting machine this week.  I’m still learning how to use the software and enjoying the process.  These pop up teapot cards that I made were designed by Lori Whitlock.  I bought the SVG file to make them on her website.

 

Teapot pop up card designed by Lori Whitlock

I’m also still teaching the online Goddess class and getting ready to teach my online Sleeping Mermaid class online.  You can click on the picture below to find out more and to sign up for my online Sleeping Mermaid class.

 

Sleeping Mermaids Online Class with Marla L. Niederer

You can find out more information about the rest of the online classes I am teaching by clicking on the picture below.

 

Online Classes with Marla L. Niederer

 

You can find out about my self-study classes by clicking on the picture below.  I just added downloadable face templates to my shop but don’t purchase them if you are buying a doll making class.  Each class has a face template included for that specific doll.

 

Self Study Classes by Marla L. Niederer

You can find out about all the free tutorials I offer by clicking on the picture below.  It will also bring you to one of my newest free video tutorials on how to needle sculpt a cloth doll nose if you missed it.

 

Free Tutorials by Marla L. Niederer

If you want to find out more about me click on my picture below.

 

About Me

Until next time…….

 

warm hugs,

 

Marla

 

One of my paintings was accepted!

I have been known to go off on watercolor painting jaunts as of the past three years and having quite fun with it I may add.

Fountain on the Square by Marla L. Niederer

Just for fun I entered three of my watercolor fountain paintings into a juried exhibit at the local museum and was happily surprised that one of them was accepted for the exhibit!

If you are nearby and would like to join me at the exhibit, the opening  is Saturday September 21^st from 2:00PM to 4:00PM at the Remington Museum in Ogdensburg NY.

Hope to see you there….

 

The Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

There are still some spots available if you would like to take my Goddess cloth ball jointed doll online class.   It begins September 23, 2019.  You can find out more about the class on AforArtistic here:

https://www.aforartistic.com/goddess

Until next time……..

warm hugs,

Marla

Urban Sketching and Watercolor Painting

I’ve been taking advantage of some of the nice weather we have had to do a bit of urban sketching.  This is a quick sketch I did using water soluble graphite pencil of a water fountain in Watertown NY.

Fountain on the Square sketchbook page by Marla L. Niederer

I then visited the fountain again to create a watercolor painting.

Fountain on the Square by Marla L. Niederer

I attended a wedding in St Albans Vermont this summer and did this quick sketch of the water fountain in the park. 

St Albans Ladies Sketchbook page by Marla L. Niederer

I took quite a few pictures and used both the sketch and the photos to create this watercolor painting.

St Albans Ladies by Marla L. Niederer

I will be teaching an online class this coming September on how to create your own cloth ball jointed Goddess on AforArtistic.

The Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

  Hope to see you in class!

Until next time…….

warm hugs,

Marla

Claudette A Cage Doll Shrine to Romance

Claudette by Marla L. Niederer

I am so excited to be teaching the online class Claudette starting next week on AforArtistic!

Claudette by Marla L. Niederer

I have always been a bit interested in Cage dolls and when I woke to the words left over from a dream, “Romance is the Music of Life,” I decided to create Claudette. 

Claudette by Marla L. Niederer

Claudette is my own version of a cage doll with a mixed media shrine to romance.  While searching for a picture to place in the mixed media frame I found a portrait of Queen Charlotte painted by Esther Denner in 1761 on Wikipedia.  I fell in love with her costume.  The bodice and choker created for Claudette were inspired by this painting.

Queen Charlotte by Esther Denner

If you wish to join me in the online class Claudette click on the following link to AforArtistic for more information and to sign up if you wish.

http://www.aforartistic.com/claudette-a-cage-doll-marla-l-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

One can never be surrounded by too many Angels

Christmas Fairy Angels by Marla L. Niederer

I was surfing the internet not that long ago (I know productivity buster) and found some really pretty antique Christmas Fairy Angels on Ebay.  They had china doll heads and were just so precious so I decided to make my own inspired version for the holidays.  I thought you might like to see some pictures.

Christmas Fairy Angels by Marla L. Niederer


I still need to decorate their base boxes and add some more embellishments.

Christmas Fairy Angel by Marla L. Niederer

 

Christmas Fairy Angel by Marla L. Niederer

If you are looking for some ornament ideas It’s not too late to sign up for two online ornament classes I am teaching on AforArtistic.

Mermaid Ornament by Marla L. Niederer

You can find out more about the Mermaid Ornament Class and sign up if you wish here

 http://www.aforartistic.com/classes/open-classes/mermaid-ornament-brooch-with-marla-l-niederer.html

Poinsettia by Marla L. Niederer

You can find out more about the Poinsettia Ornament Class and sign up if you wish here

 http://www.aforartistic.com/christmas-in-july-poinsettia-with-marla-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

I am also teaching Claudette, a Cage doll, an online class on AforArtistic in January 2017.  

Claudette by Marla L. Niederer

If you want to whisper in Santa’s ear to buy the class for you more info came be found here

http://www.aforartistic.com/claudette-a-cage-doll-marla-l-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

Ball Jointed Cloth Dolls

This week I have been working out some new designs for ball jointed cloth dolls.  I have been trying out some new techniques for attaching the arms to the shoulders and new hand designs.  I thought I would give you a sneak peek by sharing some pictures with you.  I will be sharing these techniques in my future classes. 

If you would like to take an online class now I am currently teaching a class on how to make a ball jointed cloth doll on A for Artistic.  

If you would like to learn more or would like to sign up just click on the following link.

http://www.aforartistic.com/bridgette-with-marla-l-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html 

I am also teaching Mermaid Broach, a live class, in Clayton NY at the Thousand Islands Arts Center.  The class is offered later this month and again in August.  If you would like more information about the class and or to sign up you can send Marcia Roberts an E-mail

marcia@tiartscenter.org

Or give her a phone call at 315-686-4123 Ext. 203

Ball Jointed Cloth Doll

If you would like to create a ball jointed cloth doll the Bridgette online class is now open on A for Artistic.

In the class that I teach you will learn how to needle sculpt a cloth doll head, hands, and feet.  In addition you will learn how to create a ball jointed cloth doll with a cloth facial overlay. 

If that isn’t enough, instruction on utilizing watercolors to create skin tone and facial coloration, needle felting a hairdo, and elaborate costuming instruction are all included in the class.  

If you wish to find out more or to sign up for the class just click on the following link to A for Artistic.  Hope to see you in class!

http://www.aforartistic.com/bridgette-with-marla-l-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

The Eyes Have it

I recently read Lisa Lichtenfel’s article on eyes in the current edition of Art Doll Quarterly and was so inspired that I have been working on painting my own doll eyes on glass pearls for the past few days.  I didn’t paint them quite like she did and will be experimenting on how to insert them since I don’t use a Styrofoam base for my needle sculpted doll heads.  Not sure quite how I will do it yet but it will come to me when I get ready to put them in.  If not, there just will be a few more heads entering the dead head pile.  Hope you are having fun creating something new!

It’s not too late to sign up for Poinsettia, a Christmas in July class that I am teaching on A for Artistic.  If you would like more information on the class just click on the link below.

http://www.aforartistic.com/christmas-in-july-poinsettia-with-marla-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

Tiny Mermaid

I just wanted to share a picture of the tiny mermaid I just completed.  She was a lot of fun to paint and bead :-)  

If you would like to join me in creating some Christmas in July decorations I am teaching a class on A for Artistic called Poinsettia.  Just click on the following link if you would like more information.

http://www.aforartistic.com/christmas-in-july-poinsettia-with-marla-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

Taking a short Jewelry Break with a Brick Stitch Fringe Earring Tutorial

While getting ready to start teaching my next online class Bridgette on A for Artistic  I decided to take a quick jewelry break.  I have wanted to learn how to create brick stitch fringe earrings for a long time and noticed that the Beadaholique website had several really good free tutorials.  I learned how to make these earrings while watching a tutorial on their website.  You can see it here http://www.beadaholique.com/t-video-How-To-Make-Brick-Stitch-And-Fringe-Beaded-Earrings.aspx     It was fun and calming to make them.  I'll have to make some more soon!

Its still not too late to sign up and join me in my online class Bridgette on A for Artistic.   I can't wait for it to begin :)   http://www.aforartistic.com/bridgette-with-marla-l-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

Transitioning to the Life of a Full Time Artist

I have six weeks of working full time at my day job left before becoming a full time artist. I would like to share with you how things are going through this transition, some of the practical aspects of preparing for this transition, and what I learn through the process.  I truly believe that there is always more than one path to each destination.  I am only sharing the one path I am taking in these articles but keep in mind that there are always different possible paths to take.

First, I’ll share how it’s going as I face the prospect of abject poverty (no full time job, no full time paycheck).   All of a sudden I am starting to smile more often.  My heart is beginning to hear the music again.  I am starting to lose some of that unwanted weight.  An inner calm is beginning to pervade my inner being.  The list of future artistic projects is growing and filling my dreams.  So in a nutshell the transition so far is going well. Keep in mind that I haven't faced the abject poverty yet.

Second, I’ll share some of the practical aspects of how I have been preparing for the transition. The first thing that you need to do to prepare for the transition to full time artist is to never allow your fears to get in the way of facing the challenges you find along your path (you can read more about the 10 lessons learned from a well lived life here http://orsinisangels.blogspot.com/2013/02/in-memory-of-princess-ten-lessons-from.html ).  In preparation for this path I have started teaching online doll making classes a few years ago. I have something that I know I will be working on as I transition and this helps me handle the abject poverty fear.  It’s not that I expect to make a fortune teaching online doll making classes, but I enjoy teaching them a great deal, I believe in sharing techniques and assisting other artists along their way as others have helped me, and I hope that teaching will help pay for some of the art supplies I need to continue to create.   I have been working for the past year on a tuck comb inspired doll that I will teach a new class on called Brigette.  As I mentioned in my last post it is difficult to find the time to create when you exhaust all of your energies in your full time non art field job on top of your other everyday responsibilities.  So the project has moved slower than I would have liked but I have so enjoyed working on her.  One of the challenges of the project was to create cloth doll jointing techniques to imitate the mortise and tenon joints of the antique wooden dolls I fell in love with.  That took more than one try.  I also have a little OCD tendencies when it comes to my art and online classes.  So I created more than one pattern for the doll, more than one undergarment, etc before I was pleased with the outcome. I didn’t like how some of the pictures came out so I also created an additional doll to retake some of the pictures for the class.   I am currently working on her costume and hope to get quite a bit done on her overdress this weekend.  Here are some pictures of her in progress.

Other things that I have been doing to prepare for the transition to full time artist is setting very clear goals and expectations.  My goal is not to make a lot of money as a full time artist.  My goal is to set aside the time to fully immerse myself in my art and develop my art as far as it can go.  I don’t expect to bring in much of an income from my art for several years.  That being said, one needs to eat, one needs to sleep.  My husband and I have been preparing for this transition for quite some time. To prepare for this transition we have lived within our means for a long time and have added ways to keep our expenses down once I make this transition.  We will have our mortgage paid off shortly, our cars are paid for, and we have cut our utilities by adding geothermal and solar to our home. Our credit card balance is paid monthly.   We live in the country with plenty of space to garden.  I have grown many of our vegetables for several years and we are putting in more raised beds to grow more so I can freeze or can some of our food for the winter.  I love gardening and look forward to the time I will have to spend doing this.  I have dried the herbs from my garden for several years already and not only does this cut the cost of buying seasonings but they also taste so much better than the dried spices you buy in the grocery store.  If you don’t expect a lot of income coming in while pursuing your art it helps to minimize your expenses.  So a lot of the preparation has focused on minimizing our costs.

How all of my plans fall into place and what I learn from this I can’t share with you yet but will continue to post updates on this blog to let you know how it goes.  So follow, or check back in from time to time, pour yourself a nice cup of tea, and I will continue to share the story of living the full time artist dream.

P.S., P.S.

I am teaching a class on A for Artistic beginning next week on how to create a Boudoir inspired ball jointed cloth doll called Mistique.  You can learn more about the class and sign up for it if you wish by clicking here.

http://www.aforartistic.com/classes/open-classes/mistique-cloth-ball-jointed-doll-with-marla-niederer.html

Mistique is on A for Artistic!

You can sign up for my new online class  by clicking on  Mistique Workshop   It will bring you to the A for Artistic website for a course outline, description, and to sign up if you would like. She is a 17" cloth ball jointed, needle-sculpted doll inspired by the beautiful 1920's boudoir dolls.   I can't wait for the class to begin!