Ange de la Renaissance

The base-coat was applied early this a.m.  and a bit of photo 

"softening" helps capture the unfinished status of this Santos.

She is mimicking that old world appeal... 

that I am hoping to capture.

American Santos... All Coming Together!

Thank you Home Depot!

I made a mad dash to Home Depot this a.m. and they had wood 

roping by the boat load... So her skirt is ready to be base-coated.

I also gave her some ears! (and copper-beaded earrings)

Her "halo" is a brass gear taken from a circa 1867 mantle clock

that Katie found years ago at a local thrift shop.  I am loving that

re-purposed victorian pin and brass gear breastplate!

A little sanding, one more coat of gesso and then her base-coat!

Make-Over...anyone? (wink!)  thank you for stopping by! Daryle

Ange de la Renaissance

It's amazing what a little paper clay...

a quick application of gesso...

some vintage jewelry and brass clock gears...

and wings... hinged wings... can do!

(and a bit of "mood" lighting never hurts!)

"The Angel of Rebirth!" (Ange de la renaissance) is born...

Once daylight returns here to South Jersey...

I will take a few more pics that will (hopefully) capture her

new look and the direction she has taken!

Night, night!  Daryle

Styrofoam...to the Rescue!

I had a Styrofoam ball in my stash...and with a bit of 

"gentle compression" it filled the skull cavity that was left

after I started sawing and sanding her head away!

Those "chipmunk cheeks" are softened... 

The arms will be re-attached with wooden dowels, 

replacing the original metal screws...

The wood roping on the skirt will add some interest...

And her paper clay "make-over" will transform this sad Santos

into a glorious creature!  (a bit "lofty" in my expectations, huh?)

American Santos... A Tuesday Morning Markdown!

She has been sitting on the shelf at the "Tuesday Morning" store

in Hockessin, Delaware for about eight months... marked $39.99

I just wasn't willing to pick her up at that price... (even in tax-free DE.) 

Although that was easily half the retail price on the internet!

So the other day, when Katie and I stopped at the store

and she was marked down an additional 20%...

Well, she came home with us!

I'm not kidding myself: She's not that pretty with those 

"gopher" cheeks and that wavy "hair!"  

From my perspective: her only redeemable attributes...

 are those articulated shoulders, elbows and wrists!

(O.K. and maybe the nice textured finish on her torso/arms)

So... I'm thinking a major "make-over" from the cage skirt up!

I believe she is partially wood, partially resin... 

I'm thinking that I am partially certifiable (if you know what I mean!)

So...let the chisel fly... let the sanding-block rip... 

and get out the paper clay... 'cause:

This girl's getting a make-over!  

(Yup... the walk-out-of-the-store-price was: $31.99)

What have I to "lose?" (wink!) Daryle

Fini... A Shrine Doll!

This guy really has been a labor of love...

A bit quirky, certainly colorful, and (tongue-in-cheek) timely!

From textures to color palette...  sheer pleasure!

Sigh... what's next?

Approaching the Finish Line!

This doll... like most, just seemed to take on a life

of its own during the past week!

His personality has just emerged over the past few days,

with the addition of some layered colors and of course;

those big, brown eyes!  ("moo-cow" eyes, as we called them).

I have been video-taping the process; hoping to share it

as a workshop or class... "out there"... in the near future!

I still need to apply some crackle medium, tie up that

loosey-goosey collar, and add his primitive hang tag.

As always... Thank you for stopping by!  Daryle