My Creative Space – sunshine
After a huge amount of rain (for Melbourne anyway) in the last 24 hours we now have lovely clear sunshine spilling in our windows. The studio is especially good on such mornings – lots of light and floorboards. I have already done some gocco printing and now have to wait patiently for my new supplies to arrive next week. This week I have also been painting more wooden dolls (I am especially happy with the little traditional shaped doll in her red stripes) and sewing the skirts on rabbits.
I have hit a bit of a roadblock with the wooden dolls. I have used water based inks to paint them which is crazy, I know, but I have had previous experience with these inks (Art Spectrum’s Artists’ Pigment Ink) and they have always dried with a kind of plasticky, water resistant finished. I expected the inks to dry similarly on the dolls so I could coat them in a varnish to seal them and finish them off… unfortunately when I started to paint on the varnish (Atelier’s Satin Medium and Varnish) the inks ran… I am hoping I can find some kind of spray on finish which will help waterproof and seal the dolls. Off to the art shop for advice!
Responses
23rd July 2009 at 11:42 am
Oh wow! How gorgeous are these dolls?! I so love them – I think long-neck girl is my favourite 
K
23rd July 2009 at 12:00 pm
Those dolls are super cute. I love the way they are looking around.
23rd July 2009 at 12:00 pm
oh my the dolls are FABULOUS I love them, I think the one with the long neck is my favourite too she is adorable, I hope you have success in finding a sealer, I have had similar problems with sealing mixed media works
23rd July 2009 at 12:16 pm
Love the sunlight. That’s my favorite thing in any room. And the dolls are sweet too.
23rd July 2009 at 12:17 pm
You might have to stick with oiling these dolls, adding any varnish or shellac with a water base or thinners is likley to cause the ink to run i’m afraid. You could try a 50/50 linseed oil & turpentine mix, I have used this for a nice soft gloss on natural timber and it brings out colour beautifully. It will take a few repeated coats, but the dolls are small and worth the attention. Alternately try swithching to an artisit acrylic paint, these tend to dry waterproof, are good on wood and I have succesfully shellaced over them before (think folk art. Good luck!
23rd July 2009 at 1:30 pm
Gorgeous sun light streaming in the window. I hope you find an answer for your dolls. They are very sweet.
23rd July 2009 at 1:48 pm
I love that little black-haired beauty with the elegantly long neck. Wonderful!
Side note, is the Klutz book that you illustrated still in print? Can’t quite remember the name…?!
23rd July 2009 at 2:05 pm
I love the dolls. So cute. I hope you figure out the paint because they are amazing!
23rd July 2009 at 2:36 pm
I hope you find a solution! I love your dolls, just gorgeous.
23rd July 2009 at 2:54 pm
I love how the one with blue stripes looks jealous at the one with red stripes that you like more than her. ohh, if looks could kill!!
23rd July 2009 at 3:45 pm
I adore the kokeshi dolls. Hope you find a solution to your problem!
23rd July 2009 at 4:36 pm
Lovely dolls and blog
23rd July 2009 at 5:00 pm
Oh wow! These dolls are really starting to come to life now.
23rd July 2009 at 5:12 pm
Those dolls are so delightful in all their wonderful colors, and I adore their little faces. I hope you find a varnish that wont smudge them.
23rd July 2009 at 5:51 pm
these are absolutely beautiful, your blog is a wonderland of creative bliss.
xx Courtney
23rd July 2009 at 6:58 pm
Hope you get the spray sorted out, they are just lovely. Very covetable!
23rd July 2009 at 7:25 pm
oh so so cute. they look a wee bit mischievous too. i like them! good luck finding something to seal them x
23rd July 2009 at 9:16 pm
Is that a gocco, i have only seen the ones they sold about 20 years ago, small with a big lamp thingy…yours looks very cool! Your dolls are very sweet.
24th July 2009 at 12:28 am
Very cute dolls. Reminds me of the old style bathing suits. 
24th July 2009 at 9:35 am
It’s nice to see a bit of sunshine around these parts lately, isn’t it. Your wee dolls are adorable – we did wooden dolls in our creative space this week too… but of the peg variety
24th July 2009 at 10:47 am
I love these! When will we be able to buy one?? I’ve got my eye on the red stripes 
24th July 2009 at 1:34 pm
These are lovely and so much in your style!
24th July 2009 at 8:33 pm
I love them! There is a Mr Super Clear people use for BJD doll face-ups which I assume would work????
24th July 2009 at 8:44 pm
you’re dolls are inspirational, I hope you get the varnish situation sorted out:)
25th July 2009 at 3:12 pm
The dolls are very, very cute. I do believe that a spray on varnish would work nicely; if it’s anything like what I have spray varnished, it would most likely gone on very evenly and dry with a smooth and shiny finish. Best of luck!
28th July 2009 at 10:50 pm
They almost look like the cuest game of bowling ever. I love the stripy shirts and the faces are so sweet. Hope the spray search went well.
26th August 2009 at 6:08 pm
http://www.craft-supplies.co.uk/cgi-bin/psProdSrch.cgi
Have just come across your blog. Love it!
Can you get Craft Lac melamine spray? (see link) It’s great for preventing runs. I use it on painted wood stools- I use acrylic paints.
13th September 2009 at 7:29 am
I love your dolls – they are painted so nicely!! Hope you find out how to seal them!!
I have just started painting wooden dolls and if you have any more contacts to buy blank wooden dolls that would be fabulous. Lots of luck with your dolls xx
23rd July 2009 at 11:08 am
Eeeek! Stunning…the sunshine & the kokeshi. Good luck with the spray hunt.