Step by Step Watercolor Painting of Two Girls

 

Two Girls watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

I thought I would share the step by step process of the watercolor painting I did of two girls recently.  I started out with doing a detailed pencil sketch.

 

Graphite sketch by Marla L. Niederer

I then added a watercolor wash of amazonite genuine to both the skin tone areas and the background.  On the background I added salt.  I let the salt dry and then brushed it off.

 

In process watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

I then started to add some shading with raw umber.

 

In process watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

After the first layer of raw umber was dry I added a second layer of shading with raw umber.

 

In process watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

I then used burnt sienna to start to add some details and a bit more shading.  I love using layers of watercolors in my paintings.

 

In process watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

After that was dry I added more burnt sienna and some rose madder.

 

In process watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

I added more rose madder and used quinacridone purple for the dresses.  I used salt for the dresses.

 

In process watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

I used brilliant orange and cerulean blue for the hair.

 

In process watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

I continued shading the painting with amazonite genuine, burnt sienna, paynes grey, and ultramarine blue.

 

In process watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

I added more depth to the hair with quinacridone purple.

 

In process watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

I let that dry and then added a second layer of quinacridone purple.

 

In process watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

I added a final layer of brilliant orange and paynes grey to the hair and last but not least, my signature. 

 

Two Girls watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

It’s not too late to sign up for my class Moulin Rouge Dancers online on AforArtistic.  You can find out more about the class and or sign up for it by clicking on the picture below.

 

Moulin Rouge Dancers Online Class with Marla L. Niederer

You can find out about my self-study classes by clicking on the picture below. 

 

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 my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel

 

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

 

 

I’m so excited to be teaching several online classes on AforArtistic this year!

 

The Goddess Online Class with Marla L. Niederer

The Goddess Online Class Starts May 11, 2021.  I added a few videos to this class to let you watch me needle sculpt and paint, and add facial detailing to the head.  It also includeds step by step downloadable PDFs with step by step pictures.  There is also a private facebook group as part of the class where I will join with you live each week of the class.   You can view a video about the class by clicking on the picture below.

Goddess Online Class with Marla L. Niederer

 

The Sleeping Mermaid Online Class starts June 15, 2021. Don’t you just love Mermaids?  I do and can’t wait to share with you how to create these Sleeping Mermaids. To sign up for the wait list on AforArtistic you can click on the picture below.

 

Sleeping Mermaid  Online Class with Marla L. Niederer

The Moulin Rouge Dancers Online Class starts July 7, 2021.  This class was inspired by the Moulin Rouge dancers that were often painted by the impressionist artists.  These dolls were so fun to create.  I bet you can’t make just one!  You can see a little video of them by clicking on the picture below.

Moulin Rouge Dancers Online class with Marla L. Niederer

 

The Bear and Raccoon Magic Online Full Video Class starts August 5, 2021.  Bear and Raccoon Magic were such fun to create!  They have my latest hidden ball joints and a needle sculpted face without an overlay and without a seam in the middle.  You can learn more about this class by clicking on the picture below to see a video on it.

Bear and Raccoon Magic Online Video Class with Marla L. Niederer

 

The Dia De Los Muertos Necklace Online Full Video Class starts September 7, 2021.  If you are looking for something to create that is relatively quick to make this is the class for you!  You will learn how to create the center of the pendant sugar skull face out of cloth and decorated with artist pencils and pens.  I used bead embroidery to embellish and complete the pendant.  The class even includes how to make a bead chain to hang your pendant on to wear!  You can see a video about the class by clicking on the picture below.

 

Dia De Los Muertos Necklace Online Video Class with Marla L. Niederer

I hope to see you in class soon!

 

You can find out about my self-study classes by clicking on the picture below.  I just added two new ones to my shop!

 

Self Study Classes by Marla L. Niederer

You can see all of the classes I am teaching on the AforArtistic website and sign up for each class waitlist by clicking on the picture below. 

 

Upcoming Online Classes I am teaching on AforArtistic

You can find out about the Little Lion Art doll I have for sale by clicking on the picture below.

 

Little Lion Art Doll by Marla L. Niederer

You can find out about all the free tutorials I offer by clicking on the picture below.

 

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

Fire Goddess, or Look who is sitting in the really cool Fire Throne?

Okay, so you are probably waiting with anticipation to see the Art Doll that I have created to sit upon the Fire Throne that my talented husband created for me.

I didn’t want to hold you in suspense any longer so here are a few pictures of her seated upon her Throne of Flames.

“The Fire Goddess is a symbol of transformation as she destroys the old to let way for the new.  Fire brings warmth, light, and comfort.  It is within the glow of her warmth that the embers of our creative spirit grow.”

The Fire Goddess is the first in a series of Four Element Goddesses. 

I am so excited to be teaching an online class on A for Artistic on how to create your own 19” tall Fire Goddess soon! 

warm hugs,

Marla

June Brides

I recently completed some wedding cake toppers I had started quite some time ago.  I had so much fun dressing the brides and making the topper base!  The base for the couple is covered with hand stamped rice paper.  I thought I would share some pictures of them with you. 

I am currently teaching an online class on how to create a ball jointed cloth doll.  

It’s not too late to sign up!  If you would like to find out more information about the class or if you would like to sign up for it just click on the following link to A for Artistic

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

I am also teaching two different sessions of a live class in Clayton New York this summer at the Thousand Islands Arts Center 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/index.php

Or you could send Marcia Roberts an E-mail

marcia@tiartscenter.org

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

What is on my Workbench?

I just thought I would share what is on my workbench this week with you.  I am in the process of creating some dolls for wedding cake toppers and I am also working on some needle sculpted ball jointed cloth dolls.  Here is a sneak peek.

Since I use watercolors for skin tone and facial coloration I decided to make a watercolor paint-box inspired by some antique paint-boxes.  I used a metal tin for the actual paints and a cigar box to keep everything in.  I really enjoyed the entire process and plan to make a few more. 

If you want to learn how to needle-sculpt cloth dolls and how to use watercolors for skin tone and facial coloration I am about to start teaching an online class on A for Artistic that includes instruction on those techniques.

  If you would like more information or would like to sign up just click on the link to AforArtistic.

Hope to see you in class!

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

Trunk Doll Challenge

As I shared before I am working on a trunk doll challenge for one of the online doll clubs I belong to.    I wanted to share how the project was going with you.  Originally I found this antique box that I was going to use for the trunk.  

Then, here goes that oh shiny thing again, I found a picture of this beautiful Jenny Lind antique doll trunk on Ruby Lane. 

Of course I had to attempt to replicate it.  Never mind that I have never made any sort of trunk, suitcase, box even before.  Anyway, since I am not familiar at all with woodworking other than all the woodworking dust that travels into my home on my husband from his woodworking shop, I decided to try my hand at making a replica out of a piece of mat board I had lying around.  First I drew patterns for the end pieces and then tried to figure out how to put it together.  After a failed attempt and advice from my woodworking husband I put together this very sorry looking mat board trunk.   

I had planned on putting microfiber suede cloth on to imitate the leather anyway and decided that I would give it a shot and see if covering would camouflage all of its flaws.

  As you can see the top really doesn’t fit the bottom and the trunk needs serious help.  

I will try this project again down the road just because but right now I am considering three other options since the challenge is due at the end of the month.   I am considering using the small antique box that the doll is sitting on for her trunk, using the antique box that I originally chose to use for her trunk, or accepting my husband’s response to my misshapen box.  I think I will go with the later and let him make the trunk out of wood in a size that will actually allow me to put the doll in along with some of her wardrobe and accessories that I will make for her down the road.  Off to JoAnn’s to buy more micro-suede!

If you are looking for a new project I am teaching Mistique online at A for Artistic starting September 29, 2015.  Click on the following link if you are interested in more information on the class.

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