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Finally I have seen Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B7s01DpBTg
What a feast for the eye! These twins! Johnny Depp’s make up! And his costumes! This rabbit! Alice in her armor! I was there with two of my students and we had a great time.
You don’t want to know how this is made. You just want to enjoy the wonderful and weird world you see.
Although I am not at all interested in making a doll after someone else’s imagination I must say that this movie could be quite an inspiration. And I would like to see it a second time for sure and that is not normal for me.
One of my students, Erica van Noort, made her version of the Mad Hatter that is shown on this picture.
The fourth DABIDA day on April 11th was a huge success. I was partying all day with so many old friends and students that came by. I was happy to see my Scottish friend Stephanie Lightbown there, who brought me a book made about the Scottish Doll Project that I did with here students. What a nice surprise.
First place in the DABIDA Doll Award 2010 was won by Sandra Arteaga from Spain. She was so happy! Unfortunately it took her some time to get home again because of the vulcanic ashes from Iceland. She put her pictures on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandraarteagadolls/sets/72157623909081582/
Next year the DABIDA Day will be held on April 10th. The new theme for the Annual DABIDA Doll award 2011 is “Time” . This contest is open for everyone. Look on the DABIDA website for more details.
Yes, yes, yes! I finally received the pictures of how the dolls from “my” Scottish girls turned out. I am very proud of them. Because these girls had no doll making background the dolls all turned out very original and fresh and full of interesting details. Very personal and different.
I cannot even tell what my favourite is. I love them all.
You can see them on http://marlaineverhelst.com/kilmarnock.htm
Good job, girls!
Sometimes you see a commercial that is so funny or so well made that it gets classic. I don’t know if Heineken showed these outside the Netherlands that is why I decided to share. The first one was already very good but they managed to come up with a second one that is even funnier. I am very fond of drinking beer myself and Heineken is not my brand but they sure know how to make a commercial.
Don’t we all want a walk in closet (or a walk in fridge)?
The first one: Heineken walk in fridge
The second one: New Heineken walk in fridge comercial
Have fun!
My new Scottish friend Stephanie Lightbown invited me to take part in a doll project she was working on with her students of the Kilmarnock Academy near Glasgow. For their art examination the students chose a poem or a subject from literature as inspiration for a doll project. This is what they picked:
Rosie: Angel-Demon
Rachel: Neptune / Sea God
Stacey: Ribbon, Bows and Buttons
Ailie: Peacock
Abby: Icarus
Kittie: Alice in Wonderland
Lucy: Octopus, sea life
Sharmaine: The Cat and the Fiddle
Sophie: Cakes and sweets
Earlier this school year the girls, all 16 or 17 years old, started making amazing inspiration boards guided by their teacher Stephanie. They also made lots of trials and experiments on what techniques to use to finish their projects. I was only involved in the sculpting parts and the painting of these parts.
Sharmaine was the only one who did not sculpt a doll’s head. She sculpted a cat.
It was interesting and fun to be part of such a special project. I love all they did and I love them all. On the pictures you see Rosie’s piece in progress and the girls in the snow holding their sculpted parts. When I will have the pictures of the finished products I sure will show them on my website. I am very much looking forward to see how everything will turn out.
The last week of October I was in France for my yearly Doll Holiday and Workshop Week. It is hard to believe but the weather was that good that several days we even could work outside in the sun. Colliii – Doll Lovers Online wrote about it on:
http://www.colliii.com/en/story/marlaine-verhelst-doll-making-course
More on my Paris page:
http://marlaineverhelst.com/parijs-eng.htm
This year’s NIADA conference was a wonderful experience. The location, the weather, the people, the dolls, the classes, the food, the black bear, everything was perfect. I just didn’t see much of the programs because I had a very full schedule. But I met a lot of very nice people and had a lot of fun.
One of the highlights was the conference souvenir: The Book. We all waited a long time for this BEAUTIFUL NIADA Art Dolls book. It is made by Shelley Thornton and Chris Chomick, who both did a great job. It is a big heavy hard cover book full of the best pictures of the works of old and new NIADA artists. I am very happy with the way my pieces are included, and I am proud to be part of this great organization. More info about (ordering) this book on marlaineverhelst.com/bookniada.htm.
It makes a great gift for the Holiday Season.
Time flies and the NIADA conference 2009 is coming up. The conference will be held from September 8 through 13 in Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts near Knoxville, Tennesee. The conference is open for everyone, not only NIADA members, and I heard already from several of my Texas friends and many others that they will be there. Great!
The conference is set up a bit different than other years. September is so much more convenient for me than mid-summer. In summer I always had to choose between my family holiday and NIADA, and choosing for NIADA could lead to a divorce.
The setting is choosen because this will give us plenty of room and occasions to have contact. It will be so much more intimate than staying in a big hotel. During and around the conference there are several interesting workshops set up. You can also take these classes if you do not attend the conference. Also the Gallery Show on Sunday will be open to visit for everyone. Check the Niada website for all details. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you might have any further questions.
I will be there for sure together with Ankie Daanen. We already booked our flights. And we hope to see you there. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet so many wonderful NIADA artists, to see their beautiful work, to learn from them and to have a lot of fun.
Marcie Hart has sent me the Byrum Spiritual Art Award. This award means: “You make a difference…… I know, because you have for me! Thank you for being such a creative and wonderful person.”
I really feel honored. Now I may send the award to six other people. Hard to choose. There are a lot of artists I admire and am fond of but I decided to honor and thank all the students I have met in the “Meet the Dutch Touch” class and my other classes. I would like to thank them because they are so patient, grateful and enthusiastic. It is always a joy to teach them and to be with them. And also I would like to honor all our “Meet the Dutch Touch” hosts. I have met so many wonderful people, so sweet and hospitable. I love you all.
To honor all students and hosts I would like to pass the Byrum Spiritual Art Award to:
Janet Bodin, who introduced us to Houston
Jane Darin, who was our very first US host
Barbi Kantor-Goldenberg, who is an absolute darling
Rosie Rojas, who is my favorite student
Marlene Slobin, who is the sweetest and a wonderful organizer
Lynne and Gene Olson, who turned Seattle into heaven for us
Thank you very very much for your friendship.
You all make a difference…. I know, because you have for me!
Marlaine
After a very successful DABIDA Day last April we accepted two new DABIDA Artist members: Kamilla Meesters and Charles Stephan.
Kamilla Meesters is a very talented new young doll artist. She makes realistic portraits with a twist in Living Doll polymer clay.
Charles Stephan sent in his Lamb Elfin for the 2009 DABIDA Doll Award and won second place.
Both artists work in styles that were not yet represented within DABIDA. We are happy to welcome them and we look forward to meet them and their work on the next DABIDA DAY on April 11th 2010.
