Percival Up for Adoption on Ebay MRSBO

May I introduce to you Percival (under no circumstances may you call him "Percy" because of a pending lawsuit from the unfortunate couple with whom I most regrettably forgot to warn). Percival is currently residing in Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage (MRSBO) and just cannot wait to find a new home with lovingly dedicated parents. Percival's story is a rather sad tale. He was brought to the orphanage earlier this year after his parents met with an unfortunate boating "accident." Now our poor little chap has become somewhat of an expert on maritime disasters. Percival can tell you about every single recorded major disaster at sea from memory (and I must suggest you pay attention). Percival is only five years old and I firmly believe you are the just the loving home he needs. At such a tender age, there is still hope for little Percival.

Potential parents may view Percival here.

Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage (MRSBO)

I have just started a brand new Ebay group called Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage for the Unattractive and Mentally Unsound (MRSBO). The group's focus is to create a community and an online presence for dollmakers who like to make bizarre, weird, ugly and strange primitive and folk art dolls.

http://groups.ebay.com/clubforum.jspa?forumID=1600021395

Group Charter:
When applying for membership to MRSBO, please supply the following information:

1. Your first name.
2. Your return email address.
3. Your reason for wanting to join MRSBO.
4. You must provide examples of your work.
5. Website, blog or photo galllery URL.
6. How did you learn about MRSBO (Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage)?


If you would like to join our group, please review our etiquette guidelines below.

MRSBO Guidelines:

Please use proper etiquette, correct spelling, good grammar and common sense when posting.

Posts that are uncivil, impolite, discourteous, malicious, or inflammatory are counter-productive and minimize the zest of MRSBO for others and are grounds for immediate expulsion. In addition, Mrs. Blathersby frowns upon coarse and unrefined language. After all, there are children present.

So I hope to hear from some new applicants.

Happy Dollmaking,
Melisa

I've Made Ebay Pulse!

I have to brag because I just couldn't believe it myself. I actually made Ebay's Pulse page. If you're not familiar with Pulse, it's a list of the most watched items in a category. Along with nine other auctions, Violent Violet is now one of the most watched items in the Primitives category. That means out of the 15,530 items, my naughty Violet is one of the top ten items with the most watchers. Now that may change in the next ten minutes for all I know. But in the meantime, I'll bask in the glory.

Percival WIP

Since I enjoyed making Violet so much, I thought she'd need some siblings. So may I introduce her little brother, Percival. He is six years old, and just like his sister he is a veracious reader. His favorite subject is maritime disasters. Below you will see the genesis of Percival. As always, I began with a thumbnail sketch of what I wanted to do. I planned on using the same head pattern I used for Violet to make Percival's head. But I knew I was going to have to make a new body pattern. So I made a measurement of Percival's head and used it as a guide to measure the rest of his body. He came out to three and a half heads tall. Next, I made the pattern pieces and transfered them to muslin and sewed his body. His head is made out of cotton knit and then I needle-sculpted the eyes, nose and mouth.
Here are the results. Percival looks pretty innocent so far, but just you wait. He won't stay that way for too long.
First, I dipped his head in Paverpol to stiffen the fabric. The next step is to add a layer of liquid paperclay. I let it dry and then add paperclay features. In this case, I added eyelids, a furrowed brow, ears and hid seams. After I allowed it to dry overnight, I then added a couple of layers of modeling paste over his head, arms and legs.
Now it's time to paint an acrylic flesh-toned base coat on his head and arms. His legs have simple brown shoes and white socks.
Next, I apply a burnt umber wash to give the doll some depth. The wash is quickly removed with a damp paper towel, leaving some burnt umber in the recesses and furrows. It also gives the doll an antique look.

At long last, the fun part. I love adding the details. The paint is applied in very thin washes, like watercolors. The only exception being his eyes, those are painted with opaque acrylics. I told you he wasn't going to look innocent for too long.
To finish, I seal the doll with a flat acrylic varnish. Then I apply Diamond Glaze to his eyes and lips.
The next stage is to create his little sailor outfit and props. So please come back and check on little Percival's progress. If you are interested in when Percival will be available for sale, please subscribe to my mailing list at the left.

Percival is almost done. His hat needs a little red pom-pom. I am going to put him up for auction tomorrow.

Violet on Ebay

I must admit that I'm rather excited about Violet going up for auction tonight. She will be a seven day auction. Check back later tonight for the link. Wish me luck. Oh yes, please bid.

Click here to bid on Violet.

Update: Violet WIP

I just finished painting Violet. She has a tiny smile starting on one corner of her mouth. Perhaps she has some nasty little plan cooking up on that snake brain of hers. Rust never sleeps. At any rate, in order to get to this stage I added a few coats of Golden modeling paste and sanded the surface smooth. Then I proceeded to paint her flesh tones and features. I was going to give her dark brown hair, but I really liked the black undercoat so much that I decided to just keep it black. I used Diamond Glaze on her eyes and lips to complete Violet's features. Her arms are finished but I am going to wait a few hours before I remove the masking tape to attach them. I've learned to wait overnight to let the acrylic paint cure. Even though it may seem dry to the touch, it is still fragile. I painted white stockings and simple black Mary Jane style shoes on her legs and feet. Later today, I plan on making her dress. I'll post more pictures later.

Violet

Introducing Violet. She is completely inspired by the notoriously accident prone children by Edward Gorey. Halloween is coming around the corner. So I thought I would make some ugly little nasty children. Gloomy little children is one of my old favorite themes. I love movies like, Village of the Damned (1960), The Bad Seed (1956), The Good Son (1993) and Lord of the Flies (1963 version). Certainly children are wonderful, but the nasty ones are just so much more interesting.

Violet has a needle sculpted head with paperclay hair. She has a rag doll type body, but is a little top-heavy due to the clay. So I may have to change her legs later, but I 'll wait until after the clay dries and it loses some of the water weight. I used liquid paperclay to cover her face so it will match her hair.

Stay tuned for more pictures of Violet (you know if you add an "n" to her name, you'll get an idea of just what her disposition truly is).

If you'd like to know when Violet will be sold on Ebay, please join my Yahoo mailing list to the right.

I've had a request.

Well, friends, I've received a request from my hubby to keep posting on my blog. He thinks it would be good for me. I agree, although I still have some reservations. I love my blog, but sometimes I feel distracted by it (not in a bad way). The wonderful thing about being married is you have someone to hold you accountable. Someone who's there for you and offer some advice. God love him, he just wants to be able to read my blog.

Perhaps he's not the only one who wants to read more.

So I will keep posting on a regular basis. I had planned not to post anything new until November. Just know that I am currently working on some ideas I developed in 2005. They were abandoned because I didn't take them too seriously. It's because I tend to get too distracted and, quite frankly, trying to think of ways to earn some extra income. I've lost my focus and identity trying to make some money.

There is an artist, Maddy Nupp McDonald, who was very frank about herself on her website. It has touched me deeply ever since I read it. In fact, I was moved to tears because I could really identify with her. Lately, I've been thinking about her and realized I needed to take some time off and really think about what direction I want to go with my art. So in the meantime, please visit her website, read her "about me" page and buy her work.

That's all I have to say about that for now.

Thanks, Bunny.

Please note that Brap is updated on it's original post. That way you can see all of the doll's progress in one post.
Illustration above is called The Little Purple Weirdo, 2006 by Melisa Matkin

Sabbitcal

For quite some time now, I have been reflecting on my body of work. It seems I have come to some conclusions along with a lot of inner criticism (an artist is their own worst critic). Soul searching is something I've been needing to do. So in order to do more deep thinking, I am going to take some time off and really focus. In other words, I am taking a sabbatical. In the meantime, Brap will be finished and a couple of round robins. So I'll be back in November with a new perspective and a fresh, more honest approach to dollmaking. I'm even going to write a nice essay or artist statement, if you please. For those of you who have stuck by me through all of this, thank you for being there.

I am the crow in the middle.