Making Santos

Gaelyn Lakin, one of our Portland Art Collective members, is moving to California. She makes the most incredible Santos and several of us wanted to learn how she creates them. Gaelyn, Tory Brokenshire and Stephanie Brockway taught the workshop. First, we took our dolls found at the Goodwill and removed their bisque heads (no hair) and arms. Steph made each of us a doll stand with her wood working skills.

Tory showed us how she covers the head in Sculpey clay, bakes and paints the faces.

The arms are attached to painted dowels. The stand is painted before assembling the doll. Then, I sewed the head to her body/stand and wired the arms onto to her body.

Tomorrow, we dress the dolls. In preparation, I stained some muslin, lace and cheese cloth using an acrylic staining process learned from Susie LaFond's tutorial. I can't wait to see how she evolves.

Art Retreat, Kitchen Spirit Doll & Journal Stencils

Each Spring our Portland Art Collective members attend a retreat at Menucha in the Columbia River Gorge. It's a time to create, enhance friendships and enjoy nature. Below is a photo looking west just before sunset.
The sunset on this hot day colored the sky.

I finished a kitchen spirit doll for Mme Corbel Elisabeth, our five star chef at her Keraret Bed & Breakfast in Plouguiel, Brittany. She loves dolls and I promised to make her one.

Then, Cynthia and I got our our spray paint and stenciled in the calm morning. I took my journal that I made (see here) in January and sprayed away. I like how the red paint integrates the cover.

Here is another page with the red paint stenciled on to it. The red paint on the dark yellow on the left really shines.

This page, I sprayed with yellow paint.

Here's a page from my black and white journal.

If you are interested in stenciling, Mary Ann Moss is offering her online Stencilry class this month. I highly recommend it. It's full of resources, interesting videos and lesson plans.