Fun and Flirty (and 800)

8 1/2"x 11"

Watercolor and ink on cardstock

I found a photo of this dress in a book recently, and fell in love with it. It is from the 1920's, and seems to have an elegance, combined with the fun loving flapper attitude. I imagine this little gal is going to a fancy party that will dissolve into a bit of mischief as the evening wears on.

Oh, and yesterday's post was my 800th. That seemed worth noting.

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Walking Away

8 1/2"x 11"

Watercolor and ink on cardstock

I don't know why anyone decided that a big pouffy extension to a woman's backside would be attractive, but it sure does make for a dramatic exit, doesn't it?

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A Dress just for Walking

8 1/2"x 11"

Ink and Watercolor on cardstock

It's too bad we don't have things like walking dresses any more. We just have "jogging clothes" which are not nearly as glamorous. Imagine having a dress specifically for walking around town, perhaps doing some shopping, and calling on your neighbors. I imagine the motion of this skirt around your legs as you strolled through the streets was beautiful.

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Aloha!

11"x 14"

Watercolor on paper

$100

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Poised and Elegant

11"x 14"

Watercolor on paper

$100

I don't know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot.
Marilyn Monroe


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Talkin' bout a revolution

11" x 14"

Watercolor on paper

$100

Back when I was in middle school, I remember reading a book set during the American revolution. It had a teenage heroine and all seemed very glamorous and exciting. I am sure this time period was not nearly as fun as I imagined it to be as a 13-year-old, but just look at the fun dresses they got to wear!

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Can you dig it?

11"x 14"

Watercolor on paper

$100

I don't think I would wear it, but I kind of love this outfit. The 70's were so delightfully tacky. After the "New Look" in the 50's and the mod trend in the 60's, who decided, "you know what would look good? Velvet jumpsuit."

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A Woman of Wonder

11"x 14"

Watercolor on paper

$100

Yes, I know that I have done three or four paper doll versions of Wonder Woman. Besides the fact that I love her and always wanted to be her (think about it; bullet proof bracelets, lasso of truth, that cool spinning thing she did to become Wonder Woman), she is one of the reasons behind why I make paper dolls.

I love the idea that, with a simple change of clothes, a woman goes from normal to spectacular. You would notice this woman walking down the street for no other reason that her outfit. Granted, you might think she was crazy, but that is besides the point. Put the same woman in sweats and you might not look twice at her. 

Keep that in mind when you are getting dressed tomorrow. Do you want to be normal, or something a little more Wonder-ful?

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Bring out the Gipsy in Me

11"x 14"

Watercolor on Paper

$100

Love is a wild bird that no one can tame. It's useless to chase it If it won't play the game - From the Opera Carmen

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One Little Maid

11"x 14"

Watercolor on paper

I was thinking recently about why I make these paper dolls, and whether I have actually shared the reasons behind them before. They aren't simply to play dress up (although that is a big factor in it.) For a number of years, I have had a fascination with clothes and how they transform you.

Back when I was in grad school, I remember waking up everyday and deciding what to wear based on how I wanted people to perceive me on that particular day. If I was headed to my internship, I would pull out my "therapist clothes." (My masters is in Art Therapy, FYI.) If I had to go to class, I had my "student clothes."

Even today, on any given day I have my "artist", "teacher", or "swing dancer" clothes. The point is, in each of these roles, I want to be perceived differently (maybe as an authority figure, quirky person, vintage fashionista), and so my clothes for each place are different.

The idea of a paper doll seemed to fit this whole concept perfectly. You have a blank paper doll girl. You know nothing about her, in fact she has no personality, until you give her some clothes to wear. In an instant she is changed into anything imaginable. She can be from any era or fill any role. 

This most recent set of paper doll clothes have all been drawn to fit the same figure, but I have tried to make them as different as possible so that her personality changes are as dramatic as possible.

What other roles do you see this paper doll girl filling?

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Men love her, women want to be her

11"x 14"

Watercolor on paper

Do you guys know what a Gibson girl is? They were the pin-up girls of their day, illustrated by Charles Dana Gibson in the 1890's and early 1900's. The Gibson girl was the epitome of beauty in her day, tall and slender, always perfectly dressed, and at ease in any situation. She was intelligent and beloved by all men, (although she often didn't have any need for them.)

I have always been fascinated by Gibson's drawings, and can't resist, whenever possible, putting them into paper doll form.

You can purchase postcards, greeting cards, or small matted prints of this piece in my Red Bubble Shop. More images, sizes and products coming soon!

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A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of.
Jane Austen

11"x 14"

Watercolor on Paper

Who doesn't love a good Jane Austen novel? And you simply must have an appropriate dress to match.

Postcard, greeting card, and small matted prints of this piece are currently available in my Red Bubble Shop.

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On Her Wedding Day

11"x 14"

Watercolor on Paper

I know I have said on multiple occasions that I am not a watercolor painter. The way you have to approach creating a watercolor is totally different from how you approach creating an oil painting. And I am just stubborn enough to not want to change how I do things. 

But, doing paper dolls in watercolor on paper solves a few problems that I have had difficulty overcoming on canvas. When I create my dolls, I draw and ink the figure first. Then, I lay another sheet of paper over the top of the figure and use it as a guide to draw the clothes. I can't do this with an oil on canvas. Instead I have to create a pattern of the doll and trace it on the canvas, which, no matter how careful I am, doesn't ever make an exact copy. 

So, I have been trying to hone my watercolor skills. I still have some things to work on, but I LOVE this painting. This was just a piece that worked well from start to finish (which does not happen as often as I would like).

Also, the big news for the day is that you can now purchase greeting cards, postcards, and matted prints of this and my other recent watercolor paper dolls in my Red Bubble Shop. New images, sizes, and products will be coming soon!

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