Watercolor Headdress

I am still playing around with the art doll I shared with you last week.  Inspired by a tutorial shared by Ross Barbera on how to create rice paper earrings, I created a waterlily headdress for my doll along with some rice paper earrings.  I thought I would share some pictures with you and the link to the Ross Barbera’s free tutorials.  And yes, I did paint the cheesecloth that I will be using for her skirt with watercolors!

  You can click on the link to see his tutorials here:

 http://watercolorjewelry.com/blog/?page_id=1776

If you are interested in how I use watercolors for skin tone and facial coloration I share those techniques in an online class I am currently teaching on AforArtistic called Flower Faeries.  If you would like to learn more about it or wish to join me in the class just click on the following link.

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

New Eye Technique

I am always trying to develop new and better techniques with my doll making so that my art reflects more of what is in my mind.  I haven’t been satisfied with the eyes I have been making on my needle sculpted dolls and have been contemplating the subject for quite some time.  Last spring I came up with a way to cover a wooden bead with cloth and insert it into the needle sculpted head.  It was a pretty cool technique but it just didn’t hit the mark of what I saw in my head when I looked at the finished dolls.  So I set the idea aside until quite recently when a new idea just popped into my head.  The eyes on this doll are completely needle sculpted in cloth. I may play with it a bit more before teaching the technique in one of my classes. 

If you are interested in taking a needle sculpting class I am currently teaching my online Flower Faeries class on AforArtistic.  To find out more information and to sign up for it click on the following link to AforArtistic
http://www.aforartistic.com/flower-fairies-with-marla-l-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

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

Watercolor Painting

I have been playing with watercolors over the past few days.  I love to use watercolors to create skin tone and facial coloration on the cloth dolls I create so I wanted to share what is on my worktable now.

If you are interested in learning how to use watercolors to create skin tone and facial coloration I will be teaching this process in a few of my upcoming classes.  Just click on the tab above to go to my workshops and events page to find out more.

Quite a few years ago I was fascinated with wedding cake toppers and created a few.   My fascination with wedding cake toppers has returned and I have been working on a few of them again.  I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

Here are a few pictures of wedding cake toppers I have created in the past. I custom made the toppers with dresses that matched the dresses the brides wore.  They were lots of fun to create!

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

Wishing You a Happy New Year!

                 Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

May 2016 bring you good health, love, happiness, and lots of fun in all of your creative pursuits.
warm hugs,
Marla

What to do when you no longer can read the news?

I don’t want to keep my head down in the sand so I do try to keep informed by reading the news.  But sometimes, when there is so much negativity in the news, so many things out of the typical individuals’ control, I just have to focus on something else, something that is pleasant, peaceful, engaging.  Something that will bring a smile to someone’s face including my own.  So what do you do when you can no longer read the news?  You create more Flower Faeries, that’s what you do!   

I have been happily working away on my third Flower Faerie the past few days.  Even though I have used the same pattern and techniques to create each one, they all are a little different, as if each one has their own little personality.  If you want to join me in on the fun I will be teaching a class online on AforArtistic in February on how to create your own little Flower Faeries.  So put a gift certificate for A for Artistic on your wish list this holiday season. If you would like to purchase a gift certificate you can click on the link below to A for Artistic

http://www.aforartistic.com/