Happy Thanksgiving!

Flower Faeries by Marla L. Niederer

How to feed your Artist Soul

Goddess by Marla L. Niederer
There is a myth of the tortured artist that in order to be a great artist, one must suffer tremendously.  There are many great artists throughout history that have creating amazing work despite all the suffering they endured during their lives.  But the question really should be, how much more magnificent could their work have been if they didn’t have all the obstacles placed in front of their art work by the painful life they endured?

Claudette by Marla L. Niederer

I know for a fact that my art flourishes when I am happy, secure, comfortable, warm, and loved.  It really takes a nose dive when I am discontent and/or stressed.  Part of keeping me happy so I can create my art from a happy place is feeding my artist soul.  There are many different ways to feed your artist’s soul.  I thought I would list some of the ways that keep my artist soul happy in case you might wish to try some of them too.

 

Flower Faeries by Marla L. Niederer

1.     Find your tribe.  Art very often occurs within the solitary space of one’s own studio but it doesn’t always have to.  If you are working in your own studio, alone, hours on end, days on end, you need to make time to be social.  What better way to socialize than to find other artists to connect with.  Join an art group in your community.   For years I belonged to an art doll group.  Since that is no longer available, I am now a member of a fiber art group and meet with a group of watercolor artists once a week to paint.   Art flourishes in the warm glow of a good supportive group of other artists.

2.  Read books about art and artists.  This statement dates me for sure but I have learned so many techniques by reading.  This started while I was a child and has continued to this day.  It is also inspiring to read about the lives of other artists.  And it is also enjoyable to read fiction with the art world as its setting.  Two ideas of books to read are , The Painted Kiss by Elizabeth Hickey, and Making Color Sing by Jeanne Dobie.  You can find both on Amazon.

3.   If you don’t like to read about techniques there are so many good videos out there available on sites such as YouTube.  Make yourself a nice cup of tea and watch some of them. Here is a link to my friend Maria Greene's website.  She offers really good art tutorials. http://mariagreene.org/

4.  Visit art museums.  It goes without saying that viewing a work of art in a magazine or on the internet pales in comparison to viewing it in person.  I always find that a trip to an art museum is uplifting, inspiring, and educational.  Viewing amazing art is music to the soul.  One of my favorite art museums to visit is the National Gallery of Canada which you can click on a link to here

http://www.gallery.ca/en/

5.   Buy new art supplies when you can.  Okay, the secret is out.  I am an art supply hoarder.  I have my first set of pastels that were given to me when I was eight.  If you didn’t know, that was many many weeks ago.  That being said, it still is always exciting to bring home new art supplies just crying out to be tried!

6.  Attend conferences for the field of art you are engaged in.  I have learned so much and made many friends by attending conferences for doll artists through the years. I always leave so inspired and ready to get back to my studio to try out new ideas. There are several really great conferences to attend.  I am teaching at two next spring.  I am teaching at one in Philadelphia and you can click on the link to it here  http://www.quinlanmuseum.com/convention/

      Another I am teaching at is in Columbus Ohio and you can click on the link to it here http://cyndysdolls.com/

     There are also two wonderful doll art orginizations that put on annual conferences 

      ODACA  you can click on a link to here  http://www.odaca.org/

     NIADA  you can click on a link to here http://www.niada.org/

Lissette by Marla L. Niederer

7.   Sometimes it is okay to chase something shiny down the rabbit hole, especially, if it leaves you with a smile as wide as the Cheshire Cat’s grin.  For example, I saw a little antique lamb on eBay.  I had to have it but the price kept going up and up and up.  I could have blown my art supply budget to buy it but then I couldn’t buy more art supplies and frankly I really enjoy buying art supplies.  So I decided to make an inspired one of my own.  It was very off task, very off the focus I have been trying to maintain.  It took time that could have been used for something more “productive.”  But, what fun!  And what a smile it has left on my face.  Now I’m ready to return to my “real” work!

Lissette by Marla L. Niederer

 If you have other ideas about how to feed your artist soul feel free to post them in the comments section.  I would love to hear from you.

Until next week….warm hugs,

Marla

If you are looking for something to create for gift giving during the holidays I am teaching two online classes on AforArtistic that you may be interested in.

 

Mermaid Ornament by Marla L. Niederer

Mermaid Ornament Class begins November 8th  2016

If you wish to find out more about the class click on the following link to AforArtistic

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

Poinsettia by Marla L. Niederer

Poinsettia Bust Ornament Class begins December 1st 2016.  If you wish to find out more about the class click on the following link to AforArtistic
http://www.aforartistic.com/christmas-in-july-poinsettia-with-marla-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

Pretty little gifts to make.

Mermaid Ornament by Marla L. Niederer

I know it isn’t even Halloween yet, but I have been busy making ornaments.  I created a Mermaid ornament which can also be made into a brooch doll.  

Mermaid ornament and Mermaid brooch

I also made a Mardi Gras tassel doll ornament.  

Close up of Mardi Gras tassel doll ornament by Marla L. Niederer

These projects were so much fun and easy to make!  

Mardi Gras Tassel Doll Ornament by Marla L. Niederer

Mardi Gras Tassel Doll Ornament by Marla L. Niederer

 Since I am on an ornament roll, I also thought I would share some pictures of an ornament/bust that I created called Poinsettia.  

Poinsettia by Marla L. Niederer

Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Warm hugs,

Marla

If you would like to join me in on some ornament making fun I am teaching a class on AforArtistic on how to create the Mermaid Ornament/Broach starting November 8^th, 2016.  If you would like to find out more about the class or to join me in the fun click on the link to AforArtistic.

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

I am also teaching a class on how to create the Poinsettia Ornament/bust on AforArtistic starting on December 1^st, 2016.  If you would like to find out more about the class or join me in the fun click on the link to AforArtistic here.

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

If you would like to join me in a live one day workshop in Philadelphia at the Art Doll and Teddy Bear Conference to create the Mardi Gras tassel doll ornament in May 2017 you can find out more about the class by clicking on the link to the conference website. 
http://www.quinlanmuseum.com/convention/agenda-details.html

Mardi Gras Tassel Doll Ornament by Marla L. Niederer

Sign ups for the conference in Philadelphia will start November 1^st.

If you want to boost your creativity, try this….

 

Transformation by Marla L. Niederer, close up

It is really easy to chase everything shiny down the rabbit hole when you are trying to focus on developing your skills as an artist.  When I first started working as a figurative fiber artist full time it took unbelievable self-control to remain focused on figurative fiber art.  I wanted to work on my art but also make journals, learn how to watercolor, create jewelry, and everything else that caught my attention for the moment.

Transformation by Marla L. Niederer

 If I were to chase all of those interests down the rabbit hole I would not have been able to continue to develop my skills and techniques as a figurative fiber artist because the focus wouldn’t be there.  

Fire Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

But sometimes it is okay to chase all things shiny in the name of artistic cross training. Sometimes your creativity just needs a little boost. If you find yourself in a creative rut and haven’t been feeling very inspired it sometimes helps to work in a different medium than you are accustomed to.  It lets you stretch your artistic skills and gives you a different perspective. 

Hand beaded earrings by Marla L. Niederer

So, I recently rewarded myself for being so focused the past two years by taking a jewelry making and watercolor painting break.  Playing with the two mediums has resulted in several new creative sparks for my figurative fiber art. 

Reflections by Marla Niederer 

Mission accomplished!

Winter Sky by Marla L. Niederer

It’s not too late to sign up for my online class Fire Goddess that is currently being presented on AforArtistic. 

If you would like to learn more about the class and to sign up and join in on the fun just click on the following link to the AforArtistic website.

http://www.aforartistic.com/fire-goddess-with-marla-l-niederer-doll-artist.html

The Beauty of a Needle Sculpted Art Doll

What I love the most about needle sculpting my cloth art dolls is that they never come out identical.  Even though I can use the same exact pattern, fabric, etc, each doll seems to have its own personality and never looks quite like the first one I created.  I love this aspect of the needle sculpting process because it makes each doll unique. 

I just completed a second Goddess while in the process of preparing materials to teach her as a class next spring at the Artistic Figures in Cloth and Clay Conference.  Don’t they look so serene sitting together?

If you are interested in joining me in a class I will be teaching an online class which starts soon on AforArtistic 

You can find out more information about the class by clicking here

http://www.aforartistic.com/fire-goddess-with-marla-l-niederer-doll-artist.html

If you would like to join me in the live class the Goddess at Artistic Figures in Cloth and Clay you can click here to find out more information.

http://cyndysdolls.com/?page_id=192

Designing an Art Doll

Some artists will sketch out their ideas as part of the process of designing an art doll.  They will explore and develop a theme for the doll, a color scheme, decide on the materials and techniques they will use all before they begin.  This method works very well for many artists.

I never was able to work that way.  My art dolls almost happen by themselves.  I put a lot of time into practicing, developing, and refining techniques but when it comes to the actual design it feels like it just happens as I engage in the process of creating the art doll.  I thought I would share with you the process of how I design an art doll during the creation of the Goddess.  

She started with a new eye technique that I wanted to experiment with.  After I used the new needle-sculpting technique I wanted to see how she looked painted so I used watercolors for skin tone and facial coloration.  I was pretty pleased with how she looked but couldn’t figure out “who she wanted to be.”  So I let her sit for a few days.

While she was sitting I engaged in one of my most time zapping past-times,  surfing the internet to explore what other artists are up to.  Art often inspires more art. I have always been fascinated with watercolors which is why I use watercolors for skin tone and facial coloration.  I am also fascinated by jewelry and all that is shiny.  So it is no surprise while surfing the internet that I would be fascinated by the beautiful watercolor jewelry that Ross Barbera creates.  I had found his website and free tutorials quite some time ago with the plan that someday I would follow his tutorials and create some watercolor jewelry of my own. You can see his tutorials by clicking on the link to his site here: http://watercolorjewelry.com/blog/

Since I was working on my art doll I decided to follow one of Ross Barbera’s free tutorials on how to make rice paper earrings and use the techniques he shared to create a waterlily headdress for her.  Since I am not new to wire jewelry fabrication I designed the waterlily headdress to attach the rice paper to.  I love the translucent nature of the watercolor painted rice paper coated with varnish.  I experimented with a few sizes of the waterlily headdresses along with a few pairs of earrings while I was playing.  

Now what does she want to wear?  Well, with her headdress inspired by translucent waterlilies she seemed to be asking to become a Faerie Princess, Queen, or Goddess.

She needed clothing that would lend to an ethereal look so I started playing with cheesecloth.  I know some artists hand dye cheesecloth to use in costuming but I had watercolors still on my palette from the rice paper part of the headdress.  So I just painted some cheesecloth to use for her skirt. 

As I was drapping the cheesecloth on her as a skirt we had an ice storm.  The picture of the trees don’t do justice to the beauty that surrounded my home and studio but it gives you an idea.

 As a result of the ice storm I decided to use silver lined rainbow silver glass seed beads to embellish her skirt and bodice.

I usually take pictures of my progress when working on a doll and took some pictures of her seated on a pedestal.  As I looked at the pictures I noticed that the way the cheesecloth was draped it looked like the foam from the sea.  She now had an identity.  There is a Goddess, or Bodhisattva, known as Kuan Yin. She is filled with compassion, peace, and is strongly associated with water. 

 I continued embellishing her costume until she felt complete but wanted to exhibit her in a way that further conveyed the essence of water.  I also decided to give her “Henna” tattoos to further convey her peaceful nature.

After the doll was complete I asked my husband to create a turned and carved pedestal that I antiqued with blue paint to give the finishing touch to her presentation.

I hope you enjoyed following the process I used in creating the Goddess. 

If you wish to learn how to make your own Goddess in a live class I will be teaching a three day class at Artistic Figures in Cloth and Clay April 20 – 23, 2017 in Columbus Ohio.  If you would like more information on the class and how to sign up click on the following link

 http://cyndysdolls.com/?page_id=192

If you don’t want to wait that long to take an art doll class, I am teaching how to create your own Fire Goddess on AforArtistic this month.  If you would like more information on the class and how to sign up click on the following link.

 http://www.aforartistic.com/fire-goddess-with-marla-l-niederer-doll-artist.html

I Am So Excited to be Teaching Two Brand New Classes!

Lately I have been busy working away on two Brand New classes that I would love to share with you! 

I will be teaching the Fire Goddess online class on A for Artistic starting September 27, 2016.

Click on the following link to A for Artistic to learn more about the class and sign up to join in on the fun!

http://www.aforartistic.com/fire-goddess-with-marla-l-niederer-doll-artist.html

I am also teaching a Live Three Day Class at the Artistic Figures in Cloth & Clay Conference that will be held in Columbus, Ohio April 20 -23, 2017

Click on the following link to the Artistic Figures in Cloth & Clay website to learn more about the class and sign up to join in on the fun!

http://cyndysdolls.com/?page_id=192

Hope to see you in class soon!