Debbie Jackson & Dawn Schiller

Two Polymer clay artist:

 Debbie Jackson & Dawn Schiller 

It is like comparing Apples and Oranges! 

Two Fruits but a different delightful taste!

Apples - Debbie Jackson

Oranges - Dawn Schiller

     I would like to introduce you to two very unique polymer clay artists.  Both are educators, teaching their style and techniques.  Both have been in numerous s galleries, magazines, and the focal point of many blogs.  Both are authors of their very own polymer clay “How to books”.  In 2013 both artists will be teaching at Artistic Figures in Cloth and Clay.  That is where the similarities end.  They both march to a totally different drummer. Check out their close up profiles and chime in if you have had either of these teachers, read their books or had a chance to purchase their art.

 Debbie Jackson

Debbie Jackson's book “Polymer Clay Jewelry” was published in 2004.  Debbie has appeared on the 'Carol Duvall Show' on HGTV, where she demonstrated a project from her book. Her business and web site “Debbie’s Adornments” show cases a sample of her work.  Debbie has a love for polymer clay and art dolls which has led her to create some very interesting jewelry.  Combining these two interests and her love of African and Asian patterns, textiles, rich colors and texture she has developed Jewelry that is true “Art doll makers accessory” 

Her attention to the smallest detail is apparent.  Just take a look at these brooches made with her caning technique”.  Debbie has sold her jewelry including her art doll pendants and earrings at AFICC.  Artist, students and visitors have drooled over her work. She has a strong recondition and popularity in the polymer clay society.   This year we are so fortunate to have her teaching and bringing a new dimension to our art doll community

   She has incorporated gorgeous cane work into this pendent. She will be teaching this type of Reversible Art Doll Pendent, which focuses on Cain.  If you want to learn how to manipulate polymer clay even further check out the earring class featuring design, color and texture.  (Check out her classes click here) Step out of your box and look at art dolls in a whole new way.  Adorn yourself with wearable dolls and learn techniques that can be used in full size dolls too. 

Debbie has not only taught but is very involved in her community art centers, and national polymer arts.  She is active in museum education and has served as president of the Columbus Polymer Clay Guild for several years. She is also a member of the Ohio Designer Craftsmen and participates in their annual Winterfair Art Show. Debbie is well known on a national level;  for several years she has served on the advisory board for the Polymer CAFE' magazine.

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Dawn Schiller

Dawn Schiller has just released her book “Fae Maker”.  This is a wonderful step by step book which features her award winning doll making techniques. 

 Dawn is an artist with a twist, and then twist her again. Or is that her little troll all that is twisted up?  Regardless she has a look, and style all her own. 

 Her web site name is Odd Fae, which should explain a lot.  Her work embraces twisted and bent trolls, sea and pod-dwelling hermits, odd fae, and mythological beasts. She ever so gently balances on a tight rope of odd and mystical.   Dawn shows and sells her work every year at Comic Con in San Diego. Her work is collected internationally and with out much more than a glace at her work you can see why.  She has a style that says "Stop look and wonder about how I was made."

 She is teaching her sweet little troll  from her book "Fae Maker",  Fetch at the up and convention in Columbus. (Check out her classes click here)  It is a two day class which goes over every step in detail.   Get some hands on experience with her at AFICC is the place to be on April 25-28, 2013.  She is teaching Eggcentric and Fetch where you will get the full Odd Fae package.

Dawn has been featured on blogs and magazines but most recently she presented a step by step editorial along with a Artist profile in Polymer Café magazine June 2012 issue. There are twenty seven pictures of sculptures alone.  The How to editorial has 63 step by step pictures accompanied by instructions.  She is a tremendously talented artist and devoted teacher. . You must pick up a copy if you can as I have never seen such detail pictures on “How to” create a odefae "Clancy". 

I think you understand now why I say Apples to Oranges.  Yes they both artist are extremely talented, both are educators and author.  Artistic Figures in Cloth and Clay could not be more delighted to give our students the opportunity to learn from these creative artist at the convention in 2013.  

Christine Lenz

Looking for Funky Fun Folk Art 

WeeMee Whimsies - Artist- Christine Lenz

Felling Sluggish 

   I first ran into Christine Lenz on her Etsy site (click here)    I was in search for months to find a teacher that had one foot in the primitive doll art world with a voice of their own.
 I wanted primitive with a twist, someone with talent and a new edge.  After weeks of searching I almost gave up.  So you can imagine my glee when I found her during one of my Google searches. Typing in primitive, Folk Art, whimsical and a bunch of pictures popped up with the word “images”. 
With a click I started to review the pictures. Then  I sat straight up in my chair!  Could this be what I was looking for?  Was it primitive?  I think not.  Was it Folk art?  Yes, and more, it was funky, fun folk art, I was in love with it.  

Ballet Recital

Christine had a style and look all her own.  I hoped to see more dolls.   I went to her Etsy sight and immediately admired her work.  Not only did she make dolls but she sold collages, paintings, ornaments and of course dolls.   But would she teach, could she teach?  The rest is history! 

 It was nice to see work so light hearted and fun.  As I read on I realized that Christine did a lot of searching for used materials.  Although she is not asking her students to go to thrift stores to by their cotton sheets she certainly is not apposed to them using re purposed materials as she does. 

Collage - Sing

She declares her art work as folk art dolls.  I call them amazingly addictive. Every time I go to her site she has some little play on words, like “Feeling Sluggish” painting,  a comical art doll, a delightful ornament or collage doll.  The name “WeeMee Whimsies fits her like a glove. 

Wheeled Bird

Christine sells her wonder prints 8” x 10” on her site for as little as $11.99.  When you see them you will feel the fun and love she puts into her work.  Her petite characters are charming. I hope she brings them to Artistic Figures in Cloth & Clay so we can see all her work up close.  I just know everyone that is unable to see her work on line should get the opportunity of experiencing her sense of style and humor in person.

Wise & Wacky Owl

Take note that she only uses the rich Golden Fluid Acrylic paints.  Christine believes that the colors are richer and more vibrant than the stock block liquid acrylic paints.  She is indeed correct,  acrylics tones are much more intense.  She is teaching with these exact types of acrylics at AFICC. (See her classes click here)  This will give her students an opportunity to step-up their painting and face painting skills a notch.  Improving your supplies and ability to work with them is just as important as improving your skill level.  Christine hopes to share both her talent and passion of painting with all her students.

Michel Lynch

Michele Lynch A Diamond in the Rough

 

Artistic Figures In Cloth has a new look this coming year.  We have always celebrated the blending of clays into workshops at the convention but this time we are saying it loud and clear. 

 

 

ARTISTIC FIGURES IN CLOTH & CLAY. 

 

Feature: Michele Lynch

I search and search for new talent.  It's important to keep our classes on the cutting edge, stay up with the newest techniques and styles. I just glow when I can introduce a new teacher at AFICC.  This time I think I  have found several gems. The first one I want to introduce you to on the blog is Michele Lynch.  You might even call Michele Lynch a diamond in the rough!  In her own words, her art work has risen from rough frustrating days at her job. Michele’s Goth/Steampunk sculptures started after taking a full time job with what she so fondly now likes to call “The Soul Sucker Corporation”.  I think a lot of us have been there and can totally relate to the feeling of having the very life sucked out of you day after day.  Well Michele need to relieve some of that stress. She needed a place to put her negative energy. So she started creating.   This was the beginning of her transformation, from depleted into artist.  She no longer works for that corporation,  thank goodness.  Lucky for us she still makes her wonderful art dolls and was now free to come to AFICC and share her interesting techniques and artist style. 

This and the picture above will can be
seen at Swoon Gallery 9/14/12

I am for ever looking for artist with an edge of their own.  As I was browsing through the winter issue of Art Doll Quarterly.  There these sweet goth steampunky dolls were.  There was a profile on her with lots of pictures of her dolls.  I knew immediately I had to find her.  It didn't take long and we began emailing back and forth.  finally I called her.  I instantly took  a shine to her bubbly personality.  You would have never known that she had been stressed out in her entire life.   I was very  thrilled when she submitted her proposal. 

 

She most recently has had a doll in Summerset Studios September 2012 issue.  Coming up this September 14, 2012. she is just at an online gallery showing,  You can visit this show at Swoon Gallery.    Don’t miss it!  These pictures are only a few of the many pieces of art work that she has in the show.

Learn more about Michele Click here

"My Little Darling" 1 Day workshop

Michele’s work is currently being shown at POP Gallery in New Mexico, and the Auguste Clown Gallery in Australia.  We are so happy to be able to bring the Art Doll world her unique prospective and talents.  I am sure she will have lots to teach and dolls to sell at AFICC 2013.

 

 

I am only putting up one of the many samples she sent me of her 1 Day class "My Little Darling"   You simply must go to her workshop pages and see all the fun techniques and quirky little dolls ready to inspire her students as she is teaching.   Different samples of art dolls and lots of great ideas to incorporate into your very own Little Darling.  If Michele Lynch is your cup of tea then you do not want to miss this opportunity.

Click here for Michele's workshops at AFICC

Sneak Preview

Artistic Figures in Cloth & Clay

 April 25-28, 2013

Sneak Preview

Over 22 class 13 Instructors

Evening Events * Shopping * Exhibits

and much more.....OHHHHHHH

so much more!

Only 15 of the 22 workshops coming next Spring

Set the date aside and start saving your pocket money!

Artistic Figures in Cloth & Clay Line-Up

Artistic Figures in Cloth & Clay

April 25-28, 2013

Time gets away from me the next thing I know it is time to plan Artistic Figures in Cloth and Clay 2013.  Wow is that even possible.  Well don't you fret I am on it and all the teachers have been contracted.  It is simply an awesome line up.  Every year I can hardly believe I can come close to getting the level of inspiring workshops and entertainment!  I think the instructors have out done themselves this year.  I will be featuring 2 teachers a month starting in August.  Here is this years line up:

Lillian Alberti, Jean Bernard, Debbie Jackson,

Lucy Landry, Christine Lenz, Michele Lynch,

Stephen Rausch, Rosie Rojas, Dawn Schiller,

Barbara Schoenoff, Christine Schively-Benjamin,

Ute Vasina and Kathryn Walmsley

I of course have all the events and entertainment planned. I have some special guest coming in to speak and perform.  I can not wait till the big reveal......In the mean time I am feverishly working on the web site and will be reporting again soon.

Lost in the Summer Heat

On the heels of Artistic Figures in Cloth followed a whirl wind of activity, none of it included interviewing teachers, presenting art work or reviewing books for this blog. So I thought I would give you a picture trail of my late spring and summer activities. Then I will have you caught up with my 4 month hiatus from the blog.  I will not have to go through apologies for my lack there of and go right back reporting items of interest.

AFIC staff all volunteer all happy to help

 Artistic Figures in Cloth was over the staff went home. Someone needed to clean up and finalize everything.  Mike and I had the job of finishing everything off.  Paying the last of the bills, packing up the props and supplies that would be used for Artistic Figures in Cloth & Clay 2013 and preparing the CD with the pictures from the convention.  This took most of the month of May to complete all of that and then some. The next thing we knew May was over and then came June.



Cyndy relaxing at the tea



    June would prove to be here and gone before I knew it. Mainly because of a decision I had made back in the winter of 2010. I planned a party for mid June. It seemed logical at the time.   I would have a Mad Hatter Tea Party in my back yard.  This would get me out in the yard to plant, mulch, weed, mow and do all those task that were not attended to because of the preparation of AFIC.  Otherwise I will just want to rest and putting of the these chores. All the while my yard would grow wild and the neighbors would grow angry.  

     The rain was crazy this year.  I had to work in the yard between down pours. The heat came in and it seemed more like August then June. The party was planned for the second week in June.  Working between the rain and the in the miserable heat I managed to get everything in order.The yard looked great the flowers were beautiful and the garden gleamed but I have to tell you.  All the while I was working I was thinking....It seemed like a good idea at the time.  To properly decorate this crazy party table I stopped at Thrift stores on the way home from work every night picking up miss matched china, tiers, and Mad Hatter type items to decorate the table and yard. The Party was so much fun.  We had finger foods, tea and jam, fruit and honey, scones and cupcakes.  There was a Cheshire cat in the tree and Kraft of potions with tags that said "drink me" and little cakes that said "eat me".  The only thing missing was the Queen of Hearts and the Crockett set....maybe next year.

   June was practically over by this time.  Next on my agenda was Kids Camp. Grandview Museum of Arts and Crafts runs a 6 week Kids Camp.  This runs from the last week of June through the first week of August.  I committed to prepare and teach 4 classes this year.  I love working with children and teaching any art and crafts to them is as much fun for me as it is for the kids.

  We made Troll huts for the trolls the kids made earlier in the week.  I partnered the kids up and using Stiffy, fabric and hair driers we created miss shaped huts. We added tea lights in a bundle of raffy making what looked like a camp fire in the center of the hut.  The class was loads of fun and everyone helped their partner during the drying process. They loved watching fabric turn into a stiff hut.

   The second class were puppets made from socks and felt. My favorite class was the paper clay classes.  Baby birds and turtles were made and painted all the same day.  To speed up the process we used Styrofoam balls in the center with a light covering of paper clay and dried them in the dehydrators.  The lizard class is the kids all time favorite.  They wrap toy lizards in ribbons and threads then they glue beads and jewels onto the wrappings. 



Hidden Treasures
adorn with ribbon works.



 Now August has arrived and the summer is almost over but not quite.  I have a class to teach in my guild. It is a class technique on ribbon works.  Not embroidery ribbons but manipulation of ribbon to be used on costumes, and art works.  I wanted to teach 4 very specific types and variations of working ribbon and have a project that was completed at the end of the class.  How to make something that did not look over ribbonated! Yes you can have too much of a good thing. So the idea of creating more than a doll to put them on came to mind.  Using paper Mache boxes I was able to create a space inside and outside the boxes to apply the ribbon techniques to.  Along with the decoration of the bust.  These are two of the samples.  I also have two more in the works, a Goth and a Halloween theme. 

  My class is ready to teach on the 27th of August but before that happens I am taking a vacation.  New York, NY for a bit of shopping, sight seeing , taking in a play and dinner.  I am driving into PA to visit my sister and then taking a train into the city to have a darn good time.  When I get back I will be as right as rain and ready to post!

Susie McMahon - No Words Needed Just Pictures

I can't express the artistry that Susie McMahon possesses.  Her uniqueness of expression and skill in figurative art is amazing.  Susie is what most Art Doll  and figurative artist aspire to.  Not only is her work creative, new and inspirational.  She easily swings from a progressive figurative art to traditional art dolls and then without a blink of an eye she is making something playful you might even classify it as cute. You will never be able to pigeon hole Susie but you can take one look at her work and you know it was created by a master artist. You can visit Susie's web site click here

Susie McMahon is packing her bags and checking them twice. Once she boards that plane there is no way she can have someone send her a little something she has forgotten? Susie is from Australia and she is one of two Australian artists coming to Artistic Figures in Cloth to teach and share the joy of art doll making with us.  I was so green with envy about her teaching at AFIC knowing that I would not be able to take a class with her.  So I traveled down to Kentucky this past fall and took a class from her while she was on tour in the United States.  Susie has been in recent years been flying the skies about once a year and teaching in the US for 3-4 months at a time.  This year her trip is very short.  She is only teaching two places and then back to Australia to see a new grand baby to be born.  So it is not a wonder her mind, hand and heart has been working non stop on these Sweet Tweets!

I was not a surprise when her class filled with in a little over a month.  In addition to AFIC Susie will also be teaching at Magic, Mischief and Mayhem in there new location Sanford, Florida. Dates for this class are April 15, 16, and 17. Class will take place in Annie Hesse’s studio. Click here to visit Magic Mischief and Mayhem web site.   

Susie will have a few dolls to sell at AFIC so be sure to save your pennies.  They are so hard to resist.

Fine Cloth Dolls by Leta Benedict

Let me introduce you to Leta Benedict as a artist and a teacher



Leta Benedict - First Flight

 I often say you can tell how good a teacher is by what their students produce. Leta has a special way about her that allows beginners and advanced students to feel not only comfortable but they thrive in her workshops. She is able to instruct all levels as a group then attend to each one of her student individually.  As a student you get the maximum benefit  no madder what your skill level is. Here is an example of what I am talking about. Above is the workshop Leta taught at Artistic Figures In Cloth in 2003 “First Flight”. I was fortune enough to get pictures of two of her student’s creations.
 

Vicki Lamer's First Flight AFIC 2003 became
Don't Drink and Fly



Liz Seibold First Flight AFIC 2003

Vicki Lamer was a advanced-beginner doll maker (this is a beginner doll maker with good sewing skills) at the time she took the class. Liz Seibold in was a Advanced doll maker. They were both in the same class, they both got the same instruction and they both received individual attention.  Yet each of them could indulge themselves in their own vision while creating a fabulous art figure. Beginner or advance, Leta had what it took to guide them through the process.  Her students do not get frustrated, or feel left out.  Advance students do not get bored or feel like they are miles ahead of the class.  Neither student had ever used Leta’s particular technique before, how could they so easily master the techniques?  It is simply, Leta is a teacher and a darn good one.  She holds nothing back, sharing her knowledge and skill.  You can see it in her work. You can see it in her students work. 
 

Memories - Leta Benedict



Bastet - Leta Benedict

Leta loves to make figures with delicate features. Her costuming is detailed, she pays attention to color and how the fabric flows on the dolls body. This adds to the doll by giving it movement and character. Do you like china doll faces? Does the seam line bother you?  Leta makes the most pristine faces out of cloth. No seam line.  Yes these dolls are all made out of cloth. As you can see from these different close ups of her dolls there are no seam lines down the front of the face.



Vivian's Masquerade - Leta Benedict



Leta had taken several years off from art dolls, and art to take care of her family.  She is now ready to jump back into pattern making, and teaching.  I was so happy when she answered the call to apply to AFIC 2011. Many people have been waiting for her to teach again.

 Her one day class for Bastet is full but Vivian’s Masquerade 2 day class still has a few openings.The figure is free standing, and has a lot of wonderful elements to it.   Leta would be happy to have doll makers and artist of all levels. Full view of this class can be found at AFIC Click Here

I could tell you about Fran Parrigan Meehan

 STOP DREAMING YOU CAN SOMEDAY MAKE ART DOLLS

START LIVING THE DREAM!

Fran Parrigan Meehan can show you the way

I could tell you that Fran has been published in magazines, Cloth Dolls & Animals, Doll Crafter, Doll Crafter & Costuming, and Dolls. I could tell you she was asked to send a doll to the museum: Janina Monkute-Marks museum in Lithuania.


I could tell you Fran has an Art Doll in Patti Medaris Culea fifth book Creative Cloth Explorations. I could tell you that she has taken college courses in fashion and pattern design.

I could tell you you lots of impressive facts about Fran, but nothing is more impressive than an artist work. Fran designs, creates dolls and other artsy in various art mediums. Experimenting with all kinds of products and new techniques, Fran has mastered the art and teaching of doll making in cloth, mixed mediums, collage, paper collage, wire, odds & ends stuff, clay and all other artsy mediums. The sky is truly the limit when it comes to creating artistic figures.

 I could tell you Fran submitted a large volume of work to be considered at AFIC. It is much easier to show you. I had to pick only two pieces from all the classes she offered. I am only showing the close up pictures of the faces here. I am sure you will recognize the attraction to her classes. Outstanding facial work! Are you a beginning doll maker? Are you a Doll Artist improving your detailing skills? Her workshops are geared for you. Fran’s AFIC workshops concentrate on sculpting, applied costuming and face painting with a critical eye for fine skill detailing that will make each one of there art works come alive.
I could tell you how Fran loves to manipulating ribbons, paper, wire mesh, beads, dried flowers, stems, feathers and anything else I can find. She has developed a way to preserve and use rose pedals on dolls. Yes I said delicate, thin rose pedals! How cool is that? Her class Flutter Rose is a study of face sculpting, painting and preservation of nature utilizing rose pedals. These pedals are a permanent feature on the body of the figure.


Flutter Rose AFIC Workshop



See the classes that were chosen for AFIC Click here

I could tell you what Fran told me about her classes.
"My classes would be good for the beginner and others. Especially if they want to learn how to draw and color the face, sew the body, attach the head, arms and legs to the body, use decorative fabric for arms & legs, make shoes and clothing, etc etc. Delphine Rose is a fun doll to make. She can have any costume the student wants her doll to have.  Flutter Rose would be good for the beginner also. Using my real rose technique for the body is really interesting and fun. Haven't seen it done before. I'll also show how to use other colors on the rose petal to make them various other colors."

 I could tell you you that there are many sides to Fran’s art, but seeing is believing. One of her passions is sculpting from clay. She sculpts a face or figure from the waist up from polymer clay. She then sends them off to a master mold maker, Jeff Goshon. Although Fran has taken mold making classes, she feels that her time is better spent on creating. Learning and mastering well made molds is an art of its own. I was so impressed with the quality of her molds I ask Fran if she would demonstrate her molds during the Ice Cream Social Saturday night. To my surprise she has just finished two brand new molds, Victoria and Le Pincushion Lady. She will also have many different face molds too. I was delighted that she chose AFIC to debut her new little darlings. Molds are easy to use. You can use clay, paper clay, pulp paper, air dry clay, bread dough clay

I could tell you you Fran has taken sculpting classes with Earlene Maple Bromer, Lewis Goldstien, Helidagrad Guzel, Sherry Goshon, Maryann Oldenburg, Marilynn Huston, Diane Keeler and Helidagrad Guzel

I could tell you so many things about Fran. But I believe she best says it best her self.   Quoting a phrase she coined in 1996

“Dolls Are My Canvas Within My Soul”

Visit Fran at AFIC or see her anytime at her blog:

Cris Cross

Beyond the Troll: Basic Face Felting

Don’t miss your chance to learn from one of the best felting teachers. Artistic Figures In Cloth only allows teachers to teach two years in a row. Then they must take a year off. This helps me to rotate teachers and keep the convention fresh. This is Esther Bechler second year teaching at AFIC; she will have to take 2013 off, and can not be invited back until 2015. Her classes are packed full of little details and unique tricks of the trade.

Esther specializes in felting and applied felting. The detail she puts into all her figures is amazing giving them a life of their own. She can not resist adding those special little touches that makes her dolls and critters take on movement. She is always adding special touches. Self taught she has had no fear in creating out side of the box. Esther is obsessed with felting and has developed interesting and different classes with the ideal workshops so anyone can learn. She could care less if you are a first time or advanced felter. Esther can teach you to felting great faces. Her class this year is devoted to taking you Beyond the Troll face and right into needle felted faces.

I could not resist showing some of her critters, She taught a bear workshop in 2009.  She gave her students the freedom to create any type of bear they wanted,  it was so much fun. As you can see humanizing fruit and vegetables is not out of her realm either. She can create just about anything using a felting needle and some wool.




Cris Cross
Felting  skills can be used many different ways and Esther's puppets are leading the way!

Felting on a commercial purse

The other workshop she is instructing, Fellowship of the Sleeve,  may just seem juvenile at first but take a closer look!  This class has all the fabulous felting techniques and you can learn them in just one day.  This technique can be used to cross over to applied felting, purses, table runners – uses in dry felting faces, eyes, ears and wet felting for bags, felting fabric techniques. You truly get to experiment with all aspects of felting ins one day not to mention the adorable little creatures you end up with. “Fellowship of the Felted Sleeve” was chosen for artist that want to add three basic techniques to there fiber skill set. I believe that all artist are in search for something they can add to their skill set. Mix and Match or Criss Cross, find it here and take it to a new place.   This is what makes an artist work unique.

Fellowship of the Felted Sleeve has all the elements you need. Esther uses many of the techniques in this class to create other items and add to her existing dolls and bags, sweaters.


Fellowship of the Sleeve
A Class that leads the way teaching Wet felting, Dry Felting and applique techniques all in one day.


  There was one other aspect to choosing this class. We have so many Special Teachers, Professional Art Therapist that could use these very puppets created in class to help them in their chosen field. We also have Child Care givers which includes you Grandma and Mom. How fun can it be to learn these techniques to use on future projects and also take a gift back from AFIC and share it with someone you love?
To learn more about Fellowship of the Sleeve and Beyond the Troll: Basic Needle Felted Faces Click Here