Sleeping Beauty - Available at Strychnin Gallery!

This doll will be in the 10th Anniversary exhibition at Strychnin Gallery in Berlin, on August 16th! She is already on route there and I'll be out of town until Aug 5th, so please send your inquiries about her price and availability to Elizabetta at Strychnin Gallery.

I was inspired by the Renaissance oil painting traditions in creating this brand new face sculpt. It has characteristically small and puffy lips, delicate chin, gently arching brows, heavy eyelids and golden hair. Sleeping Beauty is nude porcelain doll in a 14k gold-plated bronze crown, set set with 11 faceted Amethyst gemstones and 9 fresh-water Pearls. Her removable magnetic wig is made of mohair as soft and as delicate as a spider web, while her translucent features and complexions are painted with china paint. Joints are lined with leather. She comes with my signature carbon steel stand with a flexible armpit hold and a custom tin box for safe-keeping.

New Doll for sale in upcoming show!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm thrilled to announce that I'll have a piece for sale at the 10th Year Anniversary show at Strychnin Gallery in Berlin, called 'All (My) Starts', opening the 16th of August 2013. This is a very special event that celebrates a very special gallery, and though I'm booked up to the gills, I couldn't turn down the request to participate. I even made a brand new head mold to unveil at this exhibition. Sleeping Beauty! This is She! (in progress)Gold crown set with Pearls and Amethysts. (in progress)And my new little home studio all set up for work! (also, in progress). You see, this doll celebrates not just one, but two special events, because she is the first doll to be completed here, in my new work space and my new home. She symbolizes beginnings of things.

"All my starts". August 16th. Strychnin Gallery. More pictures and info coming tomorrow. 

The end of the Baby Tattoo Books road show...

...With amazing artists Ragnar (left), Coop (front middle), Gris Grimly (right) and Bob Self - the Master of Ceremonies (back)!Or, here is Gris' version of how the trip went down. Yup, pretty accurate. I guess that's me on top, waving an American flag. Love this poster! It's a limited edition, and you can still get it from the Baby Tattoo Books, signed by all of us, of course. A few limited edition Enchanted Doll prints are left over too. I think you would like them, because they are beautiful.

Thanks for being nice to me, guys, I had a great time driving around America with you. Look forward to doing it again! And thanks for all the fans who came out to see us on the road. It was a blast!

America is beautiful! And huge. Here are my interstate highway impressions of each state we drove through. I loved them all. Even Wyoming, a little bit.

Wow, Los Angeles is...sprawl-y, and huge, but not very tall.

South California...after a few hours of this landscape, I began to think I was on Mars.

Nevada. Yup, must still be on Mars...with some space weeds.

Utah. Definitely Mars.

Wyoming. All...this...stark...emptiness....whoa...

Colorado. We circled all the mountains and the rest of it was like this. With the storm coming.

Kansas. Holly shit, we're driving straight into the first tornado that ravaged Oklahoma on May 19th. It crossed the highway just ahead of us. We didn't see it, but we felt its presence in the distance as our van shook with the force of wind and rain. We pulled over on the shoulder, not knowing what to do. There was nowhere to go but forward, into darkness. It crossed all of our minds that we could die. I've never seen anything like this before...and I was terrified.

Oklahoma. I've never seen a lightning storm like this before either. It happened in the wake of a tornado. The massive cloud above us seemed to have been filled with fireworks that went off every second or two, setting the whole sky alight. We drove under it for an hour. It was scary-beautiful. Awe-inspiring.

Texas. We raced out of Edmond, a suburb of Oklahoma-City the next morning with more tornado warnings on the way, and faced the placid skies of Texas, while it raged behind us. I couldn't believe what was happening just hours away as I stood in this field and stared out into the hazy-hot horizon of blue and brown. All I could think about, selfishly so, was what if the tornado had struck a bit earlier, back there...while we slept...

New Mexico. And we're back on Mars.

Arizona. In Sedona, I discovered a whole different kind of beauty to the lush, rainforest-covered mountains of the cool British Columbia. Much like that thunderstorm a day earlier, it was awe-striking. I tried a Rattlesnake for lunch (which tasted a bit like chicken), and couldn't stop smiling at the red rocky formations.

I must return there.

And we're back in California. What a trip. Loved every minute of it. Now I must draw a map.

Thank you, Baby Tattoo, for taking us there!    

The Road Show - The Las Vegas event

Hey folks! We're one stop down on our roadshow, and five more to go. Tonight's event at the Trifecta Gallery in Las Vegas was so much fun, that I hadn't even noticed the time fly by. Upon arriving to the gallery, I was incredibly surprised to learn that someone had sent me two dozen roses. That just made my day. Thank you, B!!! Only a few dolls were shown at this venue. I'll be showing a different variety at each event. All of them will be shown together at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live in Kansas City (May 17-19)

We'll be spending the night in Nevada, but first thing tomorrow morning we'll be on our way again to the next venue at Night Flight Comics in Salt Lake City from 7-9pm. 

Dolls on the road!

You guys, you guys! I love road trips and I love dolls. This year I decided to combine the two and take my dolls on a road trip, stopping and showing them along the way at various art venues. I'm so excited! Other amazing artists Coop, Ragnar and Gris Grimly will be joining me on this road show, so our tour bus will be jam packed with talent.

This morning the dolls and I and Chad, left the soggy and chilly Vancouver for the sunny and hot Los Angeles, where I'll be joining the Baby Tattoo Books road show to promote my upcoming new book (to be released this summer)! Instead of a book, I brought my traveling Porcelain Collection with me.

These are the cities where we will be stopping. Come and see us!

Monday, May 13 (7:00-9:00PM)

Las Vegas

Trifecta Gallery

http://www.trifectagallery.com
(Coop will not be appearing in Las Vegas)
Free

Tuesday, May 14 (7:00-9:00PM)

Salt Lake City

Night Flight Comics

http://www.night-flight.com
Free

Wednesday, May 15 (7:00-9:00PM)

Denver

INDYINK

http://www.indyink.com
Free

Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19 (see website for show hours)

Kansas City

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live

http://www.spectrumfantasticartlive.com

Convention Admission Required

Monday, May 20 (7:00-9:00PM)

Albuquerque

Stranger Factory

http://www.strangerfactory.com
Free

Tuesday, May 21

Phoenix

Lulubell Toy Bodega

http://www.lulubelltoys.com
Free

New Doll for Sale - The Princess and the Frog.

Available at Strychnin Gallery in the Kingdoms of Twilight and Magic exhibition!

Please allow me to introduce my brand new piece: The Princess and the Frog!

A spoiled princess Arabelle learns a lesson in keeping promises and finding true love after meeting and reluctantly befriending a Poison Dart frog, who challenges her self-centered world views and becomes her handsome prince. And she becomes a better person.

Based on the Grimm Brothers fairy tale "The Frog Prince".

Materials and construction:

A porcelain doll with a one of a kind engraving and a limited edition head ornament customized with one of a kind accents.

Conical headdress carved in wax, cast in bronze, plated with 24k gold, enameled and set with 15 faceted blue Topazes and 5 pearls. Pendant is a blue Topaz in 18k gold setting with a 24k gold plated chain. Tattoo of a Poison Dart frog is a combination of engraving on porcelain and china-painting. Veil is soft bridal chiffon, set with 300 Austrian crystals. Doll is ball-jointed, china-painted porcelain, lined with leather and strung with 11 steel springs. Wig is removable, magnetic mohair fiber, permanently-styled into 15 braids.

After months in construction, I'm crazy about how it had turned out!

Inquire at Strychnin Gallery for details. 

US Book Tour!

Friends! I've got some great news for you!

News number One: The 4th edition of the Enchanted Doll book is being released this summer! It's being published by Baby Tattoo Books, in Los Angeles!

News number Two: I will be promoting the upcoming book in person and showing my traveling doll collection with the Baby Tattoo Books roadshow May 13-21st in 6 US cities; Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver, Kansas City, Albuquerque and Phoenix!

Wow, I'm so excited! These are the dates for each city. Exact times, venues and other details will be announced soon. There will be other amazing artists too. Come and see us. On the Baby Tattoo Books roadshow!

Monday, May 13 - Las Vegas ( 7-9 pm at Trifecta Gallery)

Tuesday, May 14 - Salt Lake City (7:00 - 9:00 pm at Night Flight Comics)

Wednesday, May 15 - Denver

Friday-Sunday, May 17-19 - Kansas City (Spectrum Live)

Monday, May 20 - Albuquerque

Tuesday, May 21 - Phoenix

New Doll for an upcoming show at Strychnin Gallery!

This is a concept drawing for a new doll I'm currently working on. It's been in the works for almost 4 months and I'm very excited about it. This piece is for an upcoming show 'Kingdoms of Twilight and Magic', which opens at Strychnin Gallery in Berlin on May 10th. In just about a month from now.

And this is a partial 3D model of the cone headdress. It's still being programmed into the CNC machine for carving, and I'm a little apprehensive about how it will turn out. The reason I had decided to use a CNC carver for this, instead of hand carving it myself, was the amount of minute scrolling details, which I did not think I could carve very well.

Next week this cone will (hopefully) be ready for the moulding stage, then casting...and then I can show you the whole doll. Quickly cross your fingers for me, and will this cone to come out ok. Thank you.  

Tallinn - I'm coming! (with the dolls)

Over the last 9 days I've been making my way North to Estonia from the sunny Italy, stopping over in Croatia, Hungary, Poland and Finland on the way. Tomorrow I will finally arrive in Tallinn to take part in the Shocking Art of Dolls exhibition at the Estonian Doll Art house. It is a month long show, but Enchanted Doll is making a special appearance there only for the 1st opening week, and then we're heading home.

I will be there in person from the preview opening on Nov 9th, also 10th, 11th and evenings on the 12th and 13th. While there, I will be signing 100 copies of the Russian language Enchanted Doll book. So, if you are in Tallinn, come and see me, pick up a copy and get a personalized signature.

See you there!

Piceno fashion doll convention

Wow... what a show! The Piceno fashion doll convention had wrapped last night, and I can honestly say that I've never  been to an event like this before - I thought it was a bit atypical for a doll convention, as it was jam packed full of entertainment, dinners, performances and celebrations every night. We even had a private audience with the mayor of the city, who welcomed us in the ancient town hall, and fireworks at the end of the show. It was simply fantastic to see people from different parts of the world and life, all united by Dolls.

And Italians seem like such warm and jolly people! At one point during lunch at a large table, full of laughing, talking and gesturing people, who passed plates full of food to one another, I had a very surreal feeling that I was in a movie. It was lovely and I shall never forget it. Italy, you were so good to me!

A big, huge thanks to all the organizers of this event, especially to Rosalie, Nikis, Pamela and Martina.

Finished Doll

I'm having a really fantastic time at the Pieceno Fashion doll convention and will post some pictures when I have more time. In he meantime here is a picture of the most recent completed doll. You might recognize her face. I made the nude for a Vogue photo shoot this August, but I have just finished the head dress I've been working on for a while. It's another incarnation of my Light series. This one is cast in bronze and plated with Rose gold. I'll tell you more about her later. Now I've got to go.

More Enchanted Resin dolls

I painted some more dolls. Experimenting with different tones and styles of painting. Finding my own style.

We're in Rome for a few more hours and then we're heading to the coast with these beauties. I'll see you there.

Enchanted Doll in Italy and Estonia

Hey guys! Remember this doll when it was still unfinished? She is coming as a part of my traveling porcelain collection to my upcoming shows in Italy and Estonia this fall. Oh, and by the way, I have a show in Tallinn, Estonia one week after Italy. Surprise! Totally forgot to tell you, but it's going to be awesome. It's called Shocking Art of Dolls, and it will take place at Estonian Doll Art house, in the oldest building in Tallinn! I'll post more info about it soon.

If I have any resin dolls left over from Italy, then they will be made available to buy at the Shocking Art of Dolls in Tallinn. Also, I've been putting the resin wait list together going back to 2010. Those of you who are on it, will be getting an email within 24 hours to inquire if you wish to remain or get taken off. This wait list will go in effect in December and production will begin in January 2013.My production capacity is very small, only about 10-20 resin dolls a month max. I want to avoid mass-production and keep the quality and rarity of these dolls. At this point I have plans to produce resin for 1 year, and then either stop or keep going for another year or two, or many, depending on how I feel. I will evaluate the situation every 6 months.

Unfortunately, the rainy season in Vancouver had started this week and prevented me from completing as many resin dolls as I originally wanted to bring to the Pieceno Fashion doll convention. It's new and strange for me to have to rely on external factors, such as good weather, to be able to make dolls. There is no such a thing with the porcelain doll-making process. Vancouver is a pretty rainy city, so, I don't know how many more resin dolls I'll be able to make this winter. I'll have to paint then and put them away until sunny breaks, or something. I'm sure I will figure something out.

Stay tuned for pictures of the new resin dolls.

Enchanted Doll in Moscow, Russia.

Hey guys! Just a little update from Russia, while I have a spare minute during breakfast.

I'm in Moscow right now, promoting my book and the new resin line of dolls, with Chad and my dad helping me at the show.

So, for the last three days I've been doing a lot of book signing, taking pictures with doll fans and chatting to them about my new resin line, giving TV and paper interviews and networking with other artists and event organizers. I finally met the Popovy sisters, and even bought my first artist teddy (who is actually an elephant)! With so much going on, I hardly had any time to breathe.

It's been really busy and exciting, and I want to thank the organizer Svetlana Pchelnikova for putting on this event, and of course everyone who came to the show. And a big, huge thanks for all the flowers, you guys! It means more to me than you know.

Resin Enchanted Dolls-Launch!

I am so happy to finally be able to present to you, the long-awaited line of Resin Enchanted Doll! The official launch is in Moscow, Russia on Oct 4-7th at the 8th annual Doll Salon exhibition, along with the launch of the Russian language edition of Enchanted Doll book! This is so exciting!

Also, a big Thanks for all your naming suggestions! So many pretty names. I chose Serafina. I couldn't pick just one though, so I made a short list of my favorites and gave them to the 15 of the first resin dolls going to Russia tomorrow.

---

Being new at painting resin dolls, I was learning a lot. To experiment with different painting techniques and features, I painted each doll face a little bit differently; tweaking eyebrows, changing eye shapes and playing with boundaries of lips to find the essence of Enchanted Dolls in resin. These dolls are all prototypes from which I will be painting in the future.

After the shows in Russia and Italy, Resin line wait list will go in effect, and those of you who've been on it, will be given priority to order a resin doll.

So, what do you guys think? Any favorites?

Autumn 2012 Events Announcement

Dear Friends, autumn is always a busy time for me. Art shows, fashion shows and doll shows tend to take place around this time and that's when I usually take Enchanted Doll on the road too. Right now I'm preparing for three events in three countries and have some really exciting news for you! Here is the scoop in a nutshell.

Speaking at the Emily Carry University of Art and Design, Vancouver BC, September 28th 2012

Using a compact and dynamic presentation format called Pecha-Kucha (chit-chat), I'll be giving a short (5 min) talk accompanied by 10 slides, along with 9 other Emily Carr alumni about my life and times as an artist since graduation. Anyone can attend this lecture, but you have to register here to reserve a spot. There will be some mingling and drinking afterwards. Come and see me and 9 others of my kind talk about ourselves!

International Doll Salon in Moscow, Russia, October 4-7th 2012

I've got two awesome things prepared for this event. First, I will be there in person to launch the first Russian-language edition of the Enchanted Doll art book! Awesome. Second, I will also be premiering a limited and experimental line of Resin Enchanted Dolls! Awesome, awesome. Only 20 resin dolls will be available at this convention. Also for the first time along with the dolls, I'll be bringing my collection of Enchanted Doll jewelery, such as lanterns, hand and face pendants etc, with me as well. Come and see me and my new projects! More info coming soon.

Pieceno Fashion Doll Convention in San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy, October 26-28th 2012

I feel very honored to have been invited as special guest to show my traveling porcelain collection at the new Pieceno fashion doll convention in Italy! And as a special treat to my Italian collectors, I will be premiering twenty Resin dolls there too! Alongside with Enchanted Doll jewelery and souvenirs. Come and see me and my dolls there!

Although it's going to be a jam-packed autumn, I am very excited about being a part of these events, as they represent a fulfillment of long time goals, dreams and projects.

Stand by for more info.

Tight Security at Enchanted Doll shows

No Casualties this time. ;)

Enchanted Doll in 'Flawless' exhibition in Berlin

res_flyer-1

Hey, just a reminder you all, that my first rubenesque doll "Muse of Art Nouveau" will be in the exhibition at Strychnin gallery in Berlin. The show opens on May 11th, but the preview begins today for those who may be interested in this special doll (contact Strychnin for more info).

Also, the gallery has one signed and numbered copy #268 of the sold out, 1st edition Enchanted Doll book available for sale.