Never Shared Until Now Using China Paints on Polymer Clay

This method of mine took sometime to figure out and when I did I haven't leaned away from it like other mediums. Paints go a long way and the results are more realistic and it doesn't give off a blotchy appearance.  It has a translucent look and that is what makes the paints look so realistic then others.  Watch my video and see how I apply them. 

Stop saying you can't paint you can its just the medium your using.

One of the things I have found with being with people and sharing my learning's of painting up a doll its all about the medium you choose to use. So many people get stuck and they think they can't paint and they are the problem. I see that so differently its not the person it's the medium. Everyone is different and we are not all made up to be the same. We must find what works and feels comfortable. I have tried so many different mediums until I found just one that felt comfortable. Then I just played with it and really I had to get to know it. Yes I mean get to know it. Hi my name is Barbara and I want to get to know you. How do you mix and how do you flow. What if I add this and that. What if I change my paint brush. Write down what you like and don't. Sit with a piece of tile and feel that paint flow off your brush. Then look at your stroke. Is there to much paint maybe yes ok I will keep trying with the amount of paint. Second is the stroke to hard, ok let up on the pressure. The biggest part is feeling confident and comfortable and last practice.

My next video is more informative on the mediums I did use and what I use today. All the whys and what I was looking for. Also I will share with you the medium I use on all and I mean all commissions. Never shared it with anyone only because I didn't want any outside influence saying I couldn't. I have found over the years when you are trying something its not always a good thing to share. Sometimes but not always. It can stop your creative flow with yourself and you won't expand on your idea. Do it for yourself and experiment research, practice and take notes. Don't reach out until you feel your in alignment with yourself. If your not then you feel not sure of yourself, giving up on your idea or just give up or here's the big one I'm not good because I didn't go to school to learn it. Don't let that thought in your doorway LOL..

See ya soon.... hugs

Doll Series I'm Moving right along

I think one of the biggest frustration when using polymer clay is DIRT.. Not specks but the dingy grey.. For many of you have fallen into the category along with me just know this your not alone.  When I first took up polymer clay I could not figure out how others kept there clay so clean.  To only find out years and years later they have the same problem too.  There are ways and I mean many ways to clean your clay.  And the reason for this is because there is always someone trying something to keep it clean.  I have worked with polymer clay for a very long time and I have developed my own way of understanding it and when its starting to attack my clay.  Let me reassure any of you that the longer you work with polymer clay the more you will understand how it works with you.  When you can start seeing patterns your on the way to working with the clay and not letting the clay work against.  It was made to have fun and not get frustrated.  Its truly not the clay thats the problem.  The clay is teaching us to understand how we work with just ourselves.
Here I'm sharing some methods I use to clean my clay.  Oh yes and I have many more LOL.. Hope you enjoy..  Please feel free to share with your friends and bring the brightness back into your clay.

Sometimes a crazy way to think can lead into and easier way of understanding

Sculpting the forehead and the skull are very important when sculpting.  Sometimes foreheads become way to short and to large.  When we start adding the hair something doesn't look right.  So we try adding more hair and that can actually throw your doll out of scale and it will look like she is all hair on top.  If the skull is to high along with the forehead we will try to fix it with pulling more hair around the sides and front of head.  This can also look odd too but if that's the look your wanting then by no means there's not a thing wrong with it.

My journey begins

Making eyes for me are never the same

I needed to come up with a way to make eyes for this doll I'm making. So I threw this together and I was very pleased with the results. My passion is making the eyes myself from beginning to end because thats where the doll speaks to my heart so Im one that will use many different Technics. This video shows all the stages of creating but no painting. Although at the very end of the video I slipped in a part where she is already painted. I will have in my other videos how I paint them. I don't always use Genesis oil paints. I use something entirely different and you will see what it is later. Hope this video will inspire. hugs

Taking polymer clay to another level

Good Morning all.. Update on what I'm preparing. I had mentioned I'm working on a video and yes it has taken me some time. The way I create my art it's not a weeks project unless I'm just making a basic doll. Here's what I'm offering to share with all here. In the video which I'm not finished so please don't look for the video yet its coming. I'm showing you what my method of steps I do when I'm sculpting a commission piece. To be very very honest with all of you here these steps I have not shared with anyone not even in class. I have been doing this method for quite sometime and it has totally expanded. I have mentioned I want for myself to take polymer clay and create a different look and ways then what we have been doing. I also don't believe or even saying here Im the only one with the method Im using. It's all in the mass conscientious and its free and available to all. I will keep you updated and hope that when the video is out it will inspire and you will want to take your art to another level. Hugs

Clean Clean Clean yeah I Enjoyed it, Love cornstarch

After my last video with blogging Day 8 I spent two full days cleaning and reshaping my doll.  Just about always when I start a doll and I layer my clay over the armature I either have to add more or take off.  In this one I had to do both. I started the legs so I can make a video on that and then its pretty much a go in motion for myself.  Putting the pieces altogether and then comes the real fun part.  How will I dress her what color of hair all that good stuff.  I hope to see all of you a lot sooner then my last video.  👀

Were On Day 8 Blogging Sculpting My New Doll Tips & Tricks

Yes I got through day 8 and in this video I show a little more with the torso.  Then I move on and show you with a few strips and shapes of polymer clay you can create an arm easy and quick.  Last I will show you how I would attach the arm on to the shoulder quite easy.  Hope you enjoy and subscribe and follow me to the her final days.  Leave a comment or a thumbs up if you would like to see more blogging sculpting dolls.

I love sharing it makes my world twirl and I just find more and more to share

I had a wonderful weekend and I did some more sculpting on new doll.  Trying to keep her going because I'm using femo soft clay and the weather is warming up.  Time to pull out my summer clays.  Here's a picture I took while sanding around her eyes.  I love these sanding sticks they come in fine,med,coarse.  They are wonderful for very small areas and they aren't all that expensive.  I find mine at Hobby Lobby in the hobby section.  The hobby section is my favorite place to head to besides the clay isle. The hobby section there are so many products you can use with polymer clay because of the plastic.  Not all you really should do research.  Also I'm showing what will be coming in regards of my new doll.  With just a few shapes and 1/4" thick clay you can sculpt shoulders and arms easy.  I'm sharing a method I use in class.  Hope to see many of you there with my blog.  Want to talk about sculpting feel free I'm open.  Please share this information with your friends.

Easy and with some strips of clay you can sculpt a female figure

Day 7 video is up.  In this video I show how you can take your clay and easily sculpt a female doll figure.  With a few tricks and tips anyone can do this. Hope you enjoy.

Day 6 Blogging Sculpting my new doll Tips & Tricks is on youtube

Hope you enjoy!  See you soon with Day 7

Day 6 Blogging Sculpting my new doll is just getting more fun everytime

Moving along with blogging my new doll and I just finished day 6. I'm in the process of editing and then the video will be on its way to youtube. In this video your about to watch will be the upper torso. Starting the core, wire, template, and the magic of just a few simple puzzle pieces will guide you along to establish the parts to make your doll happen. This method I chose to show all is highly used in our class's. I have many many more methods but this one has been well tested and great success. I'm also starting a book and I will be applying my methods and you will have the choice what works for you or you can combine the methods with each other. And you could always come up with your own. I did have just a few problems with this video and I slipped out of the camera but I will correct that problem with the rest of the videos. Again its hot here in Florida Feb OMG!! Hardly no winter.. My clay was getting soft and the electric goes out. But as always everything finds its way and just works out. I will let all here know when the video is ready to be viewed.
In day 7 I will go into some more things I wanted to go in day 6. Trying to give all I can for many of you interested. Day 7 will also go into the lower torso and Im hoping to get the back of her as well. Have to see how long they go. Just to give you an idea day 6 is I think 38min video. To covert the files it takes up to 5 and 6 and even take 8 hours. Then its uploaded to youtube. Maybe 1hr there. I will see all of you soon. Have a blessed and creative day. Be happy and think happy thoughts.. hugs

Getting ready for the body blogging sculpting my new doll

Getting ready to start day 6 blogging sculpting my new doll.  Here in my picture below I have measured out in heads length my wire.  Tinkerbell is about 4 1/2 heads long (tall).  Mine might be a little longer.  I added more to play it on the safe side.  I have take my 2part apoxie sculpt and made a core upper torso and lower.  They are not attached this is so I can pose my doll when sculpting. It might look confusing but you will see as I move along.  Its like sculpting the puzzle pieces and then putting it all together.  I use to make it all in one piece and I had more problems and I said time to make some changes for myself.  So I did and its working out so much better for me.  See you real soon.

Day 5 Blogging Sculpting my new doll tips and tricks

Yes I'm moving right along with my new doll and its all flowing very smoothly. You will see there are many stages I go through to just create a head.  Lots of years and practice to get things just the way I want them to be. But it never ends always another idea pops in my head.  I hope you enjoy this one and day 6 its on its way.  See you soon.

Day 4 Blogging Sculpting my new doll video is up

Yep she is moving along very well.  In this video I take you to my next step cooking, cutting out the crown.  Getting it all ready to start laying out the plan for her eye's which will be in blog 5 and is coming real soon.  Hope you enjoy.

Blogging sculpting my new doll ears tips and tricks

Wow I did it...  Everything flowed even though things were going in a different direction then planned.  When blogging this video temperature over 80 degrees and humidity was high.  No rain for 4mos here and storm heading our way.  My clay was to soft but made it all work for the video.  Time to edit and convert files when storm hits.  Computer half way through the files and we get a phone call.  Warning tornado has hit ground take cover.  Wind tearing through the weak trees due to no rain for months.  My mom had been taking to the ER earlier. Her dog has a mini stroke. Now reading all this you might think wow a lot happened.  And I will agree with you but when you can just do the best you can and know everything will work out which it always does.  It seems to go easier as your going through it all.
Wondering how it all turned out?  First my mom is being taking care of and she is ok right now.  She is going to need a pacemaker that will be next to go through.  We had a lot of wind damage some trees came down but no damage to our home or us. Just some days to clean it all up.  My moms dog Taco is doing ok.  Can't quite walk on his own but he appears that there might be some hope that he can recover from the stroke.  Eating well, potty is fine just his movement is scattered some.  Last the video made it and on youtube.  Everyone is fine and life goes on with more blessing everyday. I hope you enjoy the video.

  

No not crazy just happy

It always amazes me how the most simplest thing can feel so exciting and bring such joy to me. It all started last night with just a thought. And then I went to sleep LOL saw the rest of the idea. Got up this morning quickly put it together and of course testing it out and so far its working. So are you wondering what am I talking about? Well its going to be in my next video blogging my new doll day 3. Not up yet but I will let all of you know. You know when we get thoughts they really aren't just ours. Someone has thought of it too. Now I want to see if anyone here that is when you watch my video have thought of the same thing, did you try it, or not tried it, or you have been doing it and love it or not love it LOL.. Lets see if we can get together and have some sharing time. So now you will have to wait until I get the video up. Love the air you breathe and someone will catch a breath of yours. Pass it on. hugs

January 80 degrees and no rain and my clay gets to soft

Wow it's January and temperature here in Florida where I live is in the 80s.  When its this warm polymer clay just gets to soft and really quick.  Since I started my new doll I choose femo soft and now it would of been better to use my cernit. No I just refuse to turn the ac on but if it doesn't get cooler looks like were heading in the direction to do so.  I can't take the heat here during the summer so the ac is always on.  I look so forward to opening up the windows and breathing in the fresh air.  I feel so free when everything isn't closed up.  I know some people where I live never open there windows and that is so claustrophobic for me. I guess some people have health problems and would have to keep everything closed up. Where I live I love hearing the birds and this year we have a lot of them.  Keeping them well fed we are LOL...  Oh we enjoy them so much. Well I think my clay has had enough resting and I will get in there and wake it all up. Today I will be working on my dolls ears and will be blogging my work for all of you to view.  I have a couple of tricks up my sleeve that I will share. A great tool to make some pixie ears. See you soon and as always be happy and create. hugs    

Great day blogging day 2 sculpting my new doll I (eyes)

I sure do like those days when your clay just flows.  Today is day 2 sculpting eyes.  Some tips and tricks I use to shape them.  Stay tuned for day 3 coming soon.  Don't forget share with friends and join me and make one with me.  Ask questions as we move along.  Hope you enjoy and please don't forget.  Leave a thumbs up for motivation.  It truly helps....