The Story of the Moulin Rouge Dancers and La Fae Verte

If you know anything about me or follow my blog, you will know that I follow everything shiny down the artistic rabbit hole.  I thought you might enjoy finding out how this affinity for chasing everything shiny led me to create the Moulin Rouge Dancers and La Fae Verte.

 

Hand beadwork  for Ocean Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

Prior to the Moulin Rouge Dancers project I had been working on my Ocean Goddess for six months.  I was trying some new techniques with her and wanted to use beadwork to create the shimmery scales of a fish.  After doing a few rows of the beadwork on her I knew this was going to be a long project. The process became quite meditative and something I looked forward to each day.  When she was complete I felt a bit lost and was looking for something not quite as intense and a bit lighter to create.

Ocean Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

I had been fascinated with the costumes of the Moulin Rouge and thought it might be fun to create a Moulin Rouge Dancer.

I started the project by developing a pattern that would utilize a wire armature to hold the pose of the dancer. Then I started searching the internet for pictures of Moulin Rouge Dancers to use as inspiration for the pose and the costuming.  This is where the chasing everything shiny down the artistic rabbit hole kicked in.

 

First Moulin Rouge Dancer by Marla L. Niederer

As I was creating the first Moulin Rouge Dancer which has a very happy expression on her face, I started to research the history of the Moulin Rouge and the stories of the dancers on the stage.  I found out that the Moulin Rouge, which is still a tourist attraction in Paris, was where the can-can dance started. 

 

Moulin Rouge Dancer by Marla L. Niederer

I also learned that the Moulin Rouge was a place where the different social classes would mingle.  It was also frequented by many artists, one of which was Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. 

 

Moulin Rouge Dancer by Marla L. Niederer

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was known for painting the most realistic portrayals of the Moulin Rouge.  As I researched more about Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec I found out about his fascination with the dancer Jane Avril who was the subject of several of his paintings.  Of course that led to researching Jane Avril. 

 

Moulin Rouge Dancer by Marla L. Niederer

Jane Avril had a very difficult life which was the basis for the character Nicole Kidman played in the 2001 movie Moulin Rouge.  Of course I had to watch this movie again for research purposes only, wink, wink.  I then created my Jane Avril inspired Moulin Rouge Dancer with the not so happy expression on her face.

 

 Jane Avril inspired Moulin Rouge Dancer by Marla L. Niederer

Originally I was going to do the costuming completely with fabric but soon found myself utilizing beadwork in the costuming inspired by some of the costumes used in the 2001 Moulin Rouge movie.  I guess I just can’t leave those beads alone!

 

Moulin Rouge Dancers by Marla L. Niederer

I was enjoying this project so much that I decided to continue to create a series of Moulin Rouge Dancers with three different poses from the can can dance.

 

Moulin Rouge Dancers by Marla L. Niederer

When creating an art doll project I tend to immerse myself in everything to do with the project and since I enjoy reading I tend to do quite a bit of research along with it.  I continued to read about the Moulin Rouge and how the artists tended to gather together there while sharing their ideas and a drink or two of absinthe. 

Absinthe was called La Fae Verte (the green fairy) by many and five o’clock was often called the green hour due to the popularity of the drink.  La Fae Verte became a symbol of artistic transformation and artistic liberty.

 

La Fae Verte by Marla L. Niederer

When Absinthe is prepared to drink, cool water is slowly dripped on top of a cube of sugar on a slotted spoon placed over the glass of absinthe.  This process transforms the drink into a cloudy greenish-white mixture.  As the drink transforms from the green liquor into the cloudy greenish-white mixture, it is supposed to transform the mind of the drinker liberating his/her thoughts.  Absinthe was considered a muse by many artists and writers.  

 

La Fae Verte by Marla L. Niederer

Once I read this information about absinthe and La Fae Verte, I had to create my own version of La Fae Verte, the green absinthe fairy leaping out of a bottle of Absinthe.  Maybe she can act as my very own artistic muse!

If you wish to join me in a class to make your own Moulin Rouge Dancer, I will be teaching this at Artistic Figures In Cloth and Clay April  25-28, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio.  For more information on the Artistic Figures in Cloth and Clay conference and to sign up for the Moulin Rouge Dancers class go to the website cyndysdolls.com

Until next time……..

warm hugs,

Marla 

Art Doll Creation: Taking Many Paths to One Place

Needle sculpted Figurative Fiber Art Doll by Marla L. Niederer

Okay, so I have mentioned before that I have a propensity for chasing all things shiny down the artistic rabbit hole.  My artistic interests have been varied throughout my life and continue to be so.  That can be very distracting when trying to focus on refining skills in one area but it also can lead to growth in the area of focus.  I have currently been working on a project that has been taking considerable amount of time.  But the more I work on it the more I see all my varied artistic pursuits falling into place.

The project I am working on is a Figurative Fiber Art Doll.  I started it in response to the critique I had on my work at the NAIDA Conference last summer.  I completely revamped my Art Doll patterns to create this doll and this is the latest of many revisions.  If truth be told, it is definitely not the last.  Although I still need to make further revisions in future Art dolls, I wanted to see how things flow together so decided to complete this one.

Needle sculpted Figurative Fiber Art doll by Marla L. Niederer

As I have been working on this doll I have started painting watercolors with a group of watercolor artists.  When I paint with watercolors on paper there are no expectations, no classes to put together to teach, no paintings needed to be painted to sell.  It is just the flow of water, paint, paintbrush, vision, and being in the moment.  It has been a very calming experience for me and one that I plan to continue.

Watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

I have been using watercolors to create facial features and skin tone on my art dolls for quite some time but the added practice with watercolors, even though it is not doll related, seems to be impacting my painting of my art dolls.

Needle sculpted Figurative Fiber Art doll by Marla L. Niederer

Before I started working on this project I was going through this renewed interest in crochet.  I hadn’t crocheted in over 20 years but when going for some shopping therapy after my NIADA critique I stopped in a fiber shop and came across some fine silk crochet thread that made its way back home with me.  I didn’t know what I wanted it for when I bought it but it was silk and shiny and soothing to the soul.  I played a little bit with crocheting motifs with the thread thinking I was going to make some earrings with them.  That never happened but………

Needle sculpted Figurative Fiber Art Doll by Marla L. Niederer

Needle sculpted Figurative Fiber Art Doll by Marla L. Niederer

I have been an avid jewelry maker for quite some time.  I typically make jewelry for myself and gifts with an occasional sale here and there.  So I started getting a beading magazine this fall and decided to make this pair of earrings amongst other things.

Hand beaded Maple Leaf Earrings by Marla L. Niederer

Of course I also had to embellish my art doll with some beadwork. 

Needle sculpted Figurative Fiber Art doll by Marla L. Niederer

Needle sculpted Figurative Fiber Art doll by Marla L. Niederer

This work is still in progress.  I’m hoping to have her completed to exhibit at the Quinlan Philadelphia Art Doll and Teddy Bear Conference and the Artistic Figures in Cloth and Clay Conference in Columbus Ohio this spring.  I will be teaching Art Doll classes at both conferences. 

Mardi-Gras Tassel Ornament Doll by Marla L. Niederer

I will be teaching Mardi-Gras  Tassel Ornament Doll at the Philadelphia conference.  You can find out more about the class and how to sign up here.

http://www.quinlanmuseum.com/convention.html

Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

I will be teaching The Goddess at the Columbus, Ohio conference.  You can find out more about the class and how to sign up here.

 http://cyndysdolls.com/?page_id=192

Claudette by Marla L. Niederer

And if you don’t want to wait until spring to take a class, I am teaching an online class on AforArtistic that starts this coming week called Claudette: A Cage Doll.  You can find out more about the class and how to sign up here.

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

One More Lady in Red

I dressed a second French Mignonette inspired ball jointed cloth art doll this week while working on the finishing touches for the first one.  I will be bringing both dolls to the Quinlan Artist Doll and Teddy Bear Weekend Event in Philadelphia on May 1st for my sales table.   If you are in the neighborhood pop in to say hello, or better yet sign up for the convention and spend the entire weekend with all of your doll and teddy bear friends!

I am also teaching a class at the event on Friday April 29^th.  

There are still a few slots open if you are interested in learning how I use watercolors for skin tone and facial coloration on needle sculpted cloth dolls.  You can find out more about the weekend event and how to sign up by clicking on the following link

http://www.quinlanmuseum.com/convention/

If you prefer to take doll making classes in the comfort of your own home I am teaching Bridgette, a ball jointed cloth doll on A for Artistic starting on May 25. 

You can find out more information on the class and how to sign up by clicking on the following link

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

If you are planning on spending any time this summer in the romantic Thousand Islands Region (which I highly recommend for vacations) I will teaching two different sessions this summer at the Thousand Islands Arts Center in Clayton NY on the use of watercolors for skin tone and facial coloration on needle sculpted cloth dolls.

You can find out more about the class by clicking on  the following link to download their summer schedule

http://www.tiartscenter.org/

Or you could send Marcia Roberts an E-mail

marcia@tiartscenter.org

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

Sometimes You Just can’t Make One

Once I design a doll I usually only make one unless I need to make an additional one for photos for one of my online classes.  But the Flower Faeries I have designed have been so much fun to make that I recently finished another one.  I know it’s time to move on to my next project but just wanted to share the photo of the four of the ones I made. 

 I am teaching an online class on how to make them on A for Artistic starting February 10^th 2016.  If you would like more info on the class click on the following link.

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

Newest Creations

I just wanted to share with you my progress on the flower fairies I have been working on.  As you can tell I have definitely been inspired by the beautiful colors of this fall and all that shines.  Each Fairy is needle-sculpted cloth that is hand painted with watercolors and embellished with hand beading.  I am still working on another one but taking time to photograph each process step by step so I can share how to create them in a future online class.  Hope you like them :-)

Artistic ADD or What have you been working on lately?

This summer I have been suffering from Artistic ADD.  It seems like I have been trying to work on a multitude of projects at one time and keep getting new ideas for more.  Then I have to chase the shiny new idea down the rabbit hole again!  Do you ever run into the same thing?  Anyway, I have been working on a garden sprite, created a sleeping mermaid, played around with new techniques for making and inserting eyes, worked on developing a few new patterns for cloth ball jointed dolls, and have been working on a challenge for one of the online forums I belong to.  On top of that I created and just finished teaching Poinsettia, an online class on A for Artistic and am working on getting ready to teach another online class called Mistique on A for Artistic starting on September 29^th.   Reminds me of the old expression, “No rest for the Wicked!”  I thought I might share a few pictures of the ball jointed dolls I have been working on and the antique box I will be making into a doll trunk.  Hope you are having as much creative fun as I am :-)  And yes I will be creating heads for the dolls sitting on the antique box!

If you are interested in finding out more about the online class Mistique that I will be teaching on A for Artistic just click on the following link.

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

Claudette: A Cage Doll

I just wanted to share that I will be teaching a new online class,  Claudette:  A Cage Doll, on A for Artistic starting March 31.   If you are interested in more information click on the link to the class

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

Season's Greetings

Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season and wonderful New Year!

How to Start Living the Life of a Full Time Artist

I have almost completed my first two weeks living as a full time artist.  I am finding that the first key to success as an artist is establishing a good working routine.  There are pitfalls to working at home without an established studio and I am trying not to get pulled into them.  I try to start each morning with an early morning walk, a green smoothie, and pot of tea.  I check my email, check Facebook, look at pictures of vintage dolls on the net, and then settle in to work on my current doll project.   I am learning that I need to limit my ipad time and not fall into the trap of searching for the end of the internet because I don’t believe the end really exists.   

The current project I am working on is a tuck comb inspired, ball jointed, needle sculpted, cloth doll with a face overlay.  When I am not working on the doll I am immersing myself into her time period.  I watched a movie on Netflix called Mansfield Park put on by PBS based on the book written by Jane Austin.  I assure you it was just for the sole purpose of costume research and the time was well spent because I had cloth and needle in hand during the entire movie.  In my spare time between doll making and sleep I have been reading Mansfield Park and Mummies by Vera Nazarian. As you may have guessed it is a parody on Jane Austin's Mansfield Park.  And during my endless search for the end of the internet I have found this website http://www.janeausten.org   that has everything you might want to know about Jane Austin.

I started working on this doll about 10 months ago while working full time in a demanding job outside of the art field, driving a ridiculous amount between work and home, and trying to keep up with the daily ebbs and flow of life.  I was able to experiment with and create some beautiful ball jointing techniques for this doll during this time period.  Typically I start with the head first but I was so excited about trying to develop different ball jointing techniques that I started with the body.  Unfortunately by the time I got to the head and costume during this time period I was exhausted and out of steam. The first head and beginnings of her costume reflected this and I tossed them into the dead head and dead costume pile.  I redesigned the head to have a more realistic shape and used a cloth overlay to cover that unsightly middle of the face seam often found on needle sculpted cloth doll heads.  I believe she reflects the contentment and balance that I am starting to feel as a result of entering this new phase of life.  Don't you agree?

It Was Another Spring Snow Storm or the Birth of Two Very Silly Bunnies

Last Saturday morning I woke up and took a peek outside my window and was disheartened by witnessing yet another blustery snow storm.  It was the 22^nd of March.  Enough with the snow!   It was time for the snow to have long been melted and time for the daffodils to bloom.  I couldn’t quite do anything about the weather outside but I was determined to start making it look a little more like spring inside!  At that thought I felt impelled to pull two bunnies out of my very full bag of unfinished projects to complete on that blustery spring day.  The bunnies were two that I had started two years ago when I had designed and shared the pattern for them with my doll club in Ottawa.  The first bunny was made to show an example to the doll club during the presentation and the second bunny was used for the demonstration of techniques used in the creation of the bunnies.  Somehow life moved on and the bunnies were forgotten and left unfinished until last Saturday.  I had quite a bit of fun completing and dressing the bunnies.  Just looking at them helps it feel more like its spring don’t you think

Tuck Comb Dolls

It was a blustery winter day, and I had the day off from my day job, so I pulled out some needle sculpted ornaments  that I made and a package of paper clay and decided to try out some ideas I've had to create tuck comb inspired dolls.  The ornaments were going to be practice heads but I really like how they are turning out so I may make them into complete dolls.  I will keep you posted on my progress!

Mistique Workshop

I just wanted to share with you some pictures of the Mistique doll workshop that I taught on A for Artistic.  This doll was created by Christine Chumley.  Isn't she just lovely!