MINI-CELLO FOR A TEDDY (Part 2)

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12711763/?claim=u5t4xj8vphd">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
I continue working on my mini-cello.  Yesterday and today I added a certain amount of paperclay to the boards and made them a bit curved like the real cello's boards are. 

The important point of working with paper clay is that, if you want to get an elaborate shape, you shouldn't make it all at once: you'd better make a little volume of the needed shape, then let it dry and add more paperclay after drying. For the better result you may take up sculpturing your item as many times as you need in order to make the desired shape. Of course, it makes the whole process longer, but a good news is that you will model just for 30-60 min per day.  It will allow you to work on many other things at the same time. 

So I put the cello body aside and started making its neck.  I found good pictures of the real cello to get the clear view of the its neck shape.  First I made a wire frame. I tried to bent it in the right way:

Then I plastered it with a small amount of paperclay - not the whole amont for the needed shape - but just a little bit which is enough to cover the wire:

This is how it looks together with the cello body:

Now the neck is air drying.  I will work on it tomorrow.  Bye-bye!

MINI-CELLO FOR A TEDDY (Part 1)

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12711763/?claim=u5t4xj8vphd">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
Hi there!

I view my blogging as a daily (or almost daily:))) artist journal. I will be taking notes and pictures of everything I create day by day. Sometimes I work on different items during the day, so I will be making separate blog posts for various jobs and use multiple labels.

Today I start my MINI-CELLO PROJECT.  One of my Facebook friends asked me to make a tiny cello of approximeately 16 cm/6.3" high for her cute teddy.  This funny "teddy cello player" will be gifted to a serious human cello player on his birthday.

The task is very interesting and quite challenging because I have already made some toy cellos of paperclay and papier-mache, but never did them that small. Below are the pictures of my previous "cellos experience":

As for the mini-cello I was ordered I will be making it from paperclay. 

The reason why I picked this material is that the unique texture of paperclay being covered by mordant makes the clay look very much like real wood.  And this is exactly what I need because my cello will be a realistic item. 

First of all I calculated the dimensions of my cello and made a paper pattern.

Then I cut two rough cello silhoettes of thick carton.  They are a bit smaller than the pattern.

I put them together and wrapped by foil.

I covered that "foil-carton" cello with a layer of paperclay.  The shape is not ideal, of course. I should let the paperclay to air-dry a bit before I work out the correct cello shape. So now it looks rather rough.

That's it for today.  I will continue my "cello" project in my further posts.  For the cello making process I will be using the following labels:

• tutorial
• musical instruments
• paperclay

Good Night!

My Blog Birthday!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12711763/?claim=u5t4xj8vphd">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
Hello, the world!  

Today on the 1st of August I am celebrating the birthday of my DREAM TRAIN OF DOLLS Blog.

My name is Olga Shevchenko. I am doll artist and I will be sharing with you the secrets of the doll making process, my sources of inspiration, my plans and, of course, my travel notes and photo shots of intersting moments of my life.

Why my blog is called DREAM TRAIN OF DOLLS? 

Good question. I have been always a travel amateur and find railway trips very romantic and adventurous. Several years ago I quitted the dull and boring job I was engaged in for the most part of my life and… opened a fantastic universe of art dolls. Suddenly I felt like I got on a fairy-tale train taking me towards my dream.  The train is full of human-like mysterious creatures who know all my cherished aspirations.  Now I view myself as a train driver leading the magical train to the desired land of reverie, while my dolls are passengers. They look out of the train windows and study people’s world with curiosity…