Sunday, October 24, 2010

Inspirations and Insights

It's kind of funny how inspiration finds it's way to my door. Hiking beautiful wild places always seems to make my mind fill with new ideas and reading is a constant source of inspiration, but every once in awhile I get an idea from one of my customers that is just so right and then that can lead to a completely new insight.

A long time customer recently asked me if I would make her some Gnomelings but give them braids so they would look more ...well girly! So I did...


and I loved how they looked so much that I went and gave braids to my little Pink Gnomeling too. I also did a bit more to her face which made her less Waldorf I guess, but I think she looks awesome!


Interestingly this little process really got me thinking about my art in general, particularly as it involves the toys I make. I love the whole concept of Waldorf dolls, but I've realized that the minimalist faces are just not me. I love them on dolls made by other folks...if you want to see one of the best check out Little Jenny Wren's gorgeous beauties ...but when I put them on my dolls I always feel like I'm doing someone else's art, not mine. So I've decided that I'll continue to make all natural dolls...even my art dolls are made this way...but from now on I'm going to stick with my kind of faces. To do anything else is just not being true to my own art and the older I get the more important that becomes to me. What do you think?

7 comments:

  1. Definitely go with your own style; I think it's incredible! Love the braids as well!

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  2. Your own style is such an important thing - I'm currently stuck on my first art doll because i'm not sure how to make the head. The Waldorf head-shape looks easy enough but it'd make a doll that's supposed to be a woman into... well, a child. So that's that project suspended for a bit.

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  3. I think you are absolutely right! Your dolls are magnificent and can only get better if you make them the way you want! That little face on your pink Gnomeling is just Beautiful!

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  4. Love the braids on your Gnomelings! My vote is to do it your way, but you already knew that!

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  5. Definitely stay true to your own art. The faces you paint are beautiful!! Adorable braids, too. ^.^

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  6. Lindo trabalho. Parabéns por sua arte.
    Beijos do Brasil

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