Tiny Stares #8 Scarlett's Ascention As God is My Witness & 1:6 scale Vaslav Nijinsky

The first set of photos are select views of my recently completed Scarlett O'Hara in 1:12 scale a Doll Houses' scale Vivien Leigh inspired portrait.  I'm opening my commission book for next year.  If you're interested in a portrait you can contact me through Gmail my contact name is venusgaze.  I work in either 1:12 scale 1:6 scale or 1:4 scale, and prices very for example the Scarlett here is priced at $1100 for 1:12 scale, 1:6 scale is 1 & 3/4 of that amount so she would cost $1925 approximately 11", in 1:4 scale it would be the price of 1:12 scale x 3 so that would be $3300 approximately 23".  Prices vary according to size. here is Scarlett.  I don't accept any deposits ahead of a commission piece.  I quote the price ahead of time and accept full payment just before delivery.  

 Below are work in progress photos of the sculpt I"m completing for a one of a kind Vaslav Nijinsky doll.  He will be dressed in a costume inspired by the Ballet Le Dieu Bleu, The Blue God.

The inspiration for the costume, I am going to use metal accents in his costume, and tons of beads,
mostly antique venetian glass beads.

Introducting Tiny Stares #5 September Her Motto is "The End Is Mine To Right!"

This doll is a portrait of sorts, it's inspired by September, and her song "Cry For You".  The song is about living now, trying to squeeze the past into the now makes life appear to have flown by, the future is much the same, when we project our thoughts into the future, life seems all to short, because the past is reflected in its opposite.  The illusion is simple, you are feeling a fleeting moment, but reflecting memories of your past into it, the past has flown by in a pinch, and the future measured in that pinch feels much the same. The pinch of course is the present moment in this analogy.  The older you get the longer is the relative time span that is being pinched into the present, therefor you may feel as if you're moving through time faster, age has that affect on consciousness in time, but it's only an illusion.  Living in the Present is what I try to do to its fullest as Eleanor Roosevelt famously declared "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift; that's why they call it the present."
 There are valid reasons to examine the past, or seek refuge in the future, but in doing so I must remember not to die in the present.  The song Cry for You is a reminder to live in the present. Only in living fully in the present, could I craft a treasure embedding that message into a 1/12 scale figure, and here now share September Tiny Stares #5.

September is crafted in polymer clay, She began as individual sculptures of the upper torso including the head, arms, and legs; these where sculpted over wire, and brass tubing, cured at recommended temps, and painted with genesis heat set paints.  Once satisfied with the craftsmanship of sculpting, I assembled the costuming from various silks and embroideries, some of the elements used in September are antique or vintage including the ruffles, and lace.  When it comes to costuming I meticulously cater to details, using materials and tools that will generate a one of a kind heirloom, all the beading on the dress, and designing was based on hours researching the period represented which is the Rococo, Georgian era, stylistically made famous by Marie Antoinette.   I love this era of fashion and excess, and do plan on creating more Tiny Stares to reflect the era   Beauty past, present and future is a worthy pursuit, and that is why I established my business name as Venus Gaze Enterprises, I live and work according to LOVE, which to me means Living Outstanding Values Everyday.

living in the Present.

Tiny Stares #3 Penny & #4 Rhiannon My First 1/12 Scale Dolls

This is an introduction, to my Doll works in 1/12 scale.  This is a dream realized for me, and it's like my baby which I will unendingly nurture well into the Winter of my seasons, it is also where I will concentrate my efforts for the rest of my life, I plan on creating mostly dolls in this scale until I am too old to continue, and have to retire.   My biggest passion at the moment is creating in miniature 1/12 scale, no pun intended.   I do plan on making portraits and interpreting some painted and illustrated works of art in miniature scale.

For now I am just making one of a kinds directly sculpted in polymer clay.  I may in the future offer molds for casting in porcelain, having roots as a porcelain doll artist, and master slip casting mold maker.  Although on my porcelain dolls in 1/12 scale I'll paint the eyes, it's possible to apply eyelashes to porcelain using my method of doing it.


The two Tiny Stares are Penny who is a young Girl about 10, and Rhiannon an Irish Lassie.

The first is Penny  her motto is "I'm no Princess"  She's about 4 5/8" tall

 The second introduction here is Rhiannon Tiny Stares #4 her motto is "Goodbye & Hello, Bellwether Friends." She's waiving her hand, She is about 6 3/8" to the tip of her fingers, but She is 5 3/4" before hair the big hairdo adds about a half inch of height to her.  Rhiannon's dress is inspired by the Regency period in fashion, I had coordinated the colors based on an antique handkerchief that was embroidered by hand and used for her over skirt.  I used silk taffeta, and dupioni for the dress.  undergarments on all my dolls when required are Swiss batiste, and the laces are French and English, mostly, for the shoes on all my dolls I plan on using leather, unless another material is appropriate for the theme.  The last two photos in this blog show up close details.

Magic Born #2 Abby, #3 Alice Templeton, and #4 Wickey "Ascension of Wickey".

It's been more than two months since I've published a blog, here on Tiny Stares, the truth is I've been working on several miniature projects, and most of those will be finished this week, so I will be post several blogs this week, introducing my 1:12th scale Dolls. on to the Art.

First is Abby Magic Born #2, Abby is an extensive sculpt, modeled in Doll Fimo, she represents the Pillar of Life metaphorically as I see it.  The fabrics used here are beaded and sequenced throughout, and came together nicely, the tree is a fabric sculpture, and at the top is a globe, which I've made with paper clay and ribbon.

Second is Alice Templeton Magic Born #3.  She is a 14" Character doll, She is also sculpted in doll Fimo, mixed with Fimo Classic to gain a custom skintone.  She has nice English mohair wig, and vintage mouth blown German glass eyes.   She comes with a Teddy Clown which holds on to dearly.

Lastly for this blog post, is Wickey Magic Born #4 "Ascension of Wickey"  Wickey is fully sculpted, and made of Living Doll by Polyform.  Wickey comes with a crib inspired by the solar system, and which includes all the Planets hand sculpted with faces using Fimo & Premo polymer clays, the crib is also embellished with trims and fabric.  Wickey is inspired by  Mickey Mouse as Sorcerers Apprentice, and I pay tribute to Walt Disney having sculpted a young Walt with Mickey as Neptune on the crib.   All pieces are listed and available through Etsy

Tiny Stare #1 Bostion Terrier & #2 Boston Terrier's Twin 1:12 scale Dollhouse Miniature Pets

Just revising this entire blog post, keeping it short and sweet,  In this post I'm launching Tiny Stares, which is a term of endearment for my creations in 1/12 scale Tiny Stares #1 is Boston Terrier, and #2 is Boston Terrier's Twin.  As I've embarked on this new journey into the worlds of 1/12 scale.  I keep in mind a constant meditation "Order is heaven's first law."  that is a quote by Alexander Pope the way in which I work is evolving to the way I was in my early 20's when I had great enthusiasm for living, and I was really organized, everything I owned had a place, and my personal property was organized, and spotless, all that began to change when I started collecting things, and it was more things than I had any space for, but I've shed most of that, mostly to just to the materials and supplies, appropriate for my creative pursuits and organizing those materials so that they're easily accessible when creating. Of course that is a work in progress, and so I meditate on those five words (Order Is Heaven's First Law) daily as reminder to clean as I go.

 There is a degree of Joy, and there are challenges in creating, but the Joy comes from overcoming the challenges, whatever they are.   The art projects themselves are challenges, and there are plenty on my list, so I don't plan on accepting commissions until I've reached Tiny Stares number 30 or so, I will post on here once I'm ready to accept commission. These are the first animals I've created with fur, and 1/12 scale detailing.  I began Tiny Stares with a personal challenge, that was to create after  one of my favorites breeds of Dogs, which for me is a toss up between a French Bulldog, Boston Terrier, and Pug, someday I might have a real one around.

Tiny Stares #1 is Boston Terrier

 

 Tiny Stares #2 is Boston Terrier's Twin.

Ribbon Trim Embelishments with a Victorian Twist

I've always had a passion for beautiful trims, ribbons, appliques, embellishments, and textiles in general.  There are so many crafts which keep artisans' always on the look out, for more building blocks to personal creativity.  Perhaps some of my Victorian inspired ribbon passementeries will have the kind of appeal worthy of collecting.  I 'm sharing just a few here, with links to my ebay account where all the styles can be seen and purchased Here http://www.ebay.com/sch/tinystares/m.html?item my username on ebay is tinystares .

I call this style Cherry Cappuccino

I named this style is Electric Spring

I named this style Huntington Garden

 

Mr. Mickey & Miss Minnie Mousette

Early photo of the Heads prior to painting. 

May is flying by, and I've been busy finishing up projects that have been waiting for my attention and time, in this case for over a year.  These are pieces I made using a paper clay product called Half- Cilla which is imported from Japan.  It is a nice product with a smooth grain, and it's just as strong, or slightly stronger than Creative Paper Clay.   While I do enjoy working with and making things from Paper Clay, polymer clay is the medium which I enjoy working with the most.
These dolls are a personal project, they are obviously inspired by Mickey and Minnie Mouse, but I wanted to create them my own way.  They are highly stylized, but give a definite nod to the mice that started it all, and as you know the rest is history.  They stand about 16" tall and they are fully sculpted, painted with acrylics, and dressed with real fabrics.  I am adding Mickey to my collection, and the Minnie is a gift for someone.  Thanks for letting me share them with you on this blog.

Alan