Doll Paintings

I have been painting on some of my Mum's stash of watercolour paper, which is a pleasure to paint on. I have been using my acrylic inks which I love, to paint portraits of some of my dolls. I started this a while ago and did the rabbit and the TLC picture, and a few small ones, and over the last couple of weeks I have been doing some more. Each one has been a challenge in its own way but part of what I like about making anything is the problem solving aspect, so a challenge is good. This doll came to light in recent sorting of stuff, and I had forgotten all about her. She has a squeak if you give her a little shake. Her right arm is permanently waving which must make it ache after a while. Getting the arm shadows right was the hardest thing with this painting, and I don't think I have, but in the end, after about four goes I gave up. The shadows on the face from where I have my lamp are very stark but they seem to work better than the arm. My favourite part to paint was the pattern on her dress.

Like fireworks, flowers and starry nights combined.

This doll came from the Cats' Protection League shop up the road. I was very happy to find her. She is made from a soft velvet fabric, like the Norah Wellings boy, and has lovely clothes. I especially like her hat. The chair was my Mum's and she used to sit Christmas characters in it, hence the bows. The chair was the hardest part and I only realised how complicated it was as I was painting. I loved doing the flowers on the floor. It is the plastic cloth that I have on my art desk. The desk is great. It was from an art school and lifts up to make an easel, as well as providing storage. The side has metal flowers that tighten to hold the easel up. It came with a stool from the art school too which I am sitting on at the moment. I got it from Greenwich market a long time ago.

She has drunk too much coffee. 

I think this one is my favourite so far. I love the colours. I went a bit dark on her clothes but they then sort of match the fish. The fish is an uncompleted model made from things from the foreshore. He has pipe stem fins and still needs a tail. She is sitting on some foreshore cleaned up nails. 

Her hair is such a beautiful colour.