Art of the Flesh

Doll and Teddy Expo 2008

This is one of the Granny Fairies created by Carrie, who was there at the Expo. I love her Granny Fairies!

Above is three of my dolls. The African Cat sold to Diane's Doll Shop

The whole setup. 

The second doll over is my Bigfoot, right under one of the banners.

These photos were taken by some of the OOAKGUILD.com Members that participated at the expo. Over on the far right is the Australian Sea Dragon and the Baby Alien.

Cloud Nine

Well I finally got the word on how the doll expo went. Our group sold 6 dolls during the dealer's allowed buying time there. My African Cat was one of them. It made all the hard work and nerve damage (hahaha) worth it. My other 3 dolls will be returning home and of course, my mother has already claimed one of them. 

So now I feel a little more confident about the whole Scarefest situation and potentially loosing money there. I asked my father what I should do and he said "Go for it" and think of it as a little fun and vacation. One of my sister's is coming to help me and she's excited because she's been recently getting more interested in the paranormal. 

So, unless something tragic happens, I'm there !

What is Art

(From the Online Dictionary, edited)

Art refers to a diverse range of human activities, creations, and expressions that are appealing or attractive to the senses or have some significance to the mind of an individual. The word "art" may be used to cover all or any of the arts, including music, literature and other forms. It is most often used to refer specifically to the visual arts, including media such as painting, sculpture, and printmaking.

Traditionally the term art was used to refer to any skill or mastery. (Some people still believe this way)
Art is basically something created by a person. Made with the intention of stimulating the human senses (something of beauty most of the time). Producing emotions and/or ideas. Able to illustrate abstract thought and its expressions. Bringing out buried emotions in it's viewer.  Besides this, there is no general agreed-upon definition of art. 

It seems that art is not only something made from a master of a craft. A graduate of an art school. But anyone that has made something that causes reactions from others. It does seem the best reaction that makes art what it is, is it's ability to cause someone to purchase it.

Sometimes all that is necessary is the fact that an artist is HOT and everyone MUST own something by that person. Maybe the definition of Art is very simple then. Something someone created "as art" and it sells. I've noticed folks that arrogantly call themselves artists and go around making claims of doing better than others, are the ones that not only sell their work, but for higher prices. So now not only is Art something that sells, it is also judged on how much it brings in. Honestly, I've seen lots of great Art by elementary children that have done work far greater than some of those arrogant assholes. 

 Call me old fashioned, but I'm not impressed by what someone sells there pieces for. Not when I've seen equally good work out there by people that just did get the same "leg up" the other person may have gotten. There is a world of snobbery out there. I just wonder how many people see big price tags on art and all of a sudden become artists. But hey, it doesn't matter, because if their work sells,  in this day and age, it must be art.

The Scarefest in Lexington KY

(Edited since first posted) 

I probably will go to this thing, but I'm still waiting on a decision about selling. 

I'm trying to figure out if it would be worth it or not. The gas, the booth, the room and extra attraction tickets... add up. I doubt I'd make that money back. 

How many non-doll collectors would understand and appreciate the sort of dolls I make enough to fork out any money? Especially if there are cheap Halloween props around there for sale. 

Maybe I'll ask the Magic 8 Ball or flip a coin. 

Reborn for my Mother

A while back my mother bought two dolls that were very normal and plain. She called them "The Twins". It used to kill me to see her lugging those plain dolls around. I offered to reborn them for her but she would tell me she was afraid I'd do something scary to them. Turn them into little demons or some kind of horror doll. That would have been more fun. After finishing one of them, I thought I'd post this photo showing the big difference in a plain mass produced doll and one that has been reborn/altered or whatever. If you've never seen a reborn doll, go to Ebay and just type that in the search.

Evilpotpourri

Click here for the ebay auction.

I'm In KY now and I'm beat....

I'm here in KY now and I'm beat. All this moving and now yard work, ugh. I'm working a little in my new dungeon. Finishing up a birthday doll and two others for my mom who's been bugging me to death. I guess she thinks I've had spare time.
I've got a larger collection of dolls and things than I had realized. I've got a few up on ebay. Trying to decide if I want or need to sell anymore.
Well, I gotta run for now. Having a little trouble with a cat who's too good to use the pet door.
Soon as I find my little camera I'll YouTube something. Just another joy of moving.

I had this blog shut down for a bit until I could work out my anger issues I was having with a recent surgery. I'm doing good now so the blog is back online.

Counting Down Until the Move

Being allowed 6 dolls to go to this Washington DC Doll & Bear Show, I've managed to struggle through 4. I didn't realize how much nerves and stress can mess up your groove. I finally got the first two on the web site and have already began to have second thoughts. I almost decided today that I'd just NOT send the dolls and not sink anymore money into this.

My mood lately is just horrible. I think it's got a lot of impact on my confidence and wanting to actually follow through with this thing. I hate this funk, sometimes it's hard to shake it off and function. I'm sore, I'm tired and I can't seem to get enough sleep. Lately, I just hate everything and have been avoiding people that bother me the least little bit. Hopefully this new house in KY is gonna rock my world and I'll start doing a little better than I'm doing now with everything. Oh, and I really hate moving. I hate it with a passion. I can't count how many times I've moved in my life. It sucks, it sucks, it sucks...

A Gift, No Pity Involved

I just wanna talk about pity and selling dolls. Someone used to brow beat me for even mentioning I had breast cancer. She thought it somehow gave me an unfair advantage? The Pity sale? Yeah right, I don't think anyone buys out of pity unless it happens to be something they like and it might give them an excuse to go ahead and spend the money on themselves. If anyone is really using pity as a selling tool, that's kinda low. I've seen plenty of whining and hard times people have right before listing on Ebay. It kinda sucked because after a while you can't tell who's telling the truth and who's not. I've seen the pity sale fall on it's face and NOT work. Those accusing me of pity sales need to look at themselves and what they've posted about in public. Pretty pitiful stuff.
Besides, I never made myself out to be pitiful by advocating awareness of DYING from breast cancer and my distaste for some doctors. PITY! That is the biggest joke. People with breast cancer don't get any special treatment. Their husbands leave them. They lose their jobs and no one else will hire them. They get treated just like the next dick head. The list goes on and on.

After a recent surgery, I got an email from my favorite doll artist, Missy Prozac. She said she had a surprise for me. I suspected the worst...pity. I called her and gave her the 3rd degree. Then I just said it, "I had surgery, did you know?" She didn't know. She only knew that I had asked her for a doll some time ago and she just hadn't been in the mood. She felt bad and decided to do one as a gift. I like to think we have become good friends and it's nothing to do with pity. When she felt comfortable enough to call me one day to unload about her daughter, I felt worthy. I told her one day that I hoped she didn't mind all my questions, but I was really interested in her daughter's condition. I really enjoy talking with her and hopefully she feels the same. Friendship takes two and I really hope I'm being as good a friend to her and she's been to me. I wish she'd realize her talent and get back to work. But, I know it's so hard to enjoy any of it when there's so much crap to deal with in order to do a damn thing. The gift was an Alien baby!!!! See the photo!!! I've got a few of Missy's dolls and they are my very favorite!

Just a few little tips for Ebay doll Bidders, Sellers too

(edited & updated 8/08)
I'm sure some of this may be true apply to some auctions on ebay, but some of this is what I've observed over the last 2yrs (just buying & selling dolls) and thought I'd pass them along. If you're a new doll seller, you especially want to arm yourself against some of the accusations that will be coming your way. Because everyone that makes a decent amount of money is accused of Shilling, plain and simple. OR, it just makes the best gossip to spread in order to try and ruin someone. Run them off.

First, I believe that Ebay's auctions are kinda like gambling for some people. I did speak with one woman who did prefer to bid rather than do "buy it now". She said it was the "thrill of the hunt". This woman also suffers severe depression and is house bound. I'm thankful for her sake, she doesn't have a credit card. Having not much extra money, she depended a great deal on sellers who offered her the lay a way option. She bid and won a large amount of my dolls. Then she was accused of shilling for me by trolls and suffered severe mental abuse. Crazy competition out there will try anything.

Second, there is that special auction. Just for YOU. You wanted it and guess what, the seller produced it. Just for you. It's a special auction and you must win your item. It's yours and you can't loose it to someone else. So you find yourself bidding bidding bidding like a crazy maniac for something you wanted. Something that should have just been made custom?

Third, the returning bidder might get bid up. I found this info via Google about some sellers documenting what bidders will bid and bid them up to that amount or try for a little more each time. Watch out returning bidders.

Fourth, remember, the more a seller makes, the more ebay makes. Try to use common sense. Don't ask anybody if so and so is a shiller. Nobody knows. If you ask the troll out there, then they'll tell you everyone does. Except they're buddies. Hell, certain doll people know so damn much about other seller's business it would take an act of God for someone to shill and get away with it. So, it's kinda a good thing so many of them care so much.  

Fifth,
I've told many a bidder not to do this while bidding on an auction. Do not tell the seller you are willing to go to a certain figure with the auction. Don't tell the seller you're gonna bid until you win. Don't tell the seller anything, just bid and try to remain calm, lol.

Pricing is still difficult for sellers. They try to please the public so they can make a sale. They don't want to undersell their things so they might be tempted to attempt the shill (gasp). I remember selling many a doll for less than I put into it. I'm still underpaid if I was to factor in the hours spent. It doesn't matter how long it might take me versus another seller. You still have to take many different things into consideration when selling. Sellers will most likely loose money in the beginning. Then after a while, a seller should be able to get a decent price, but nothing wonderful on ebay. It's the greedy people that just are never happy. They want to make big killer money and that's all they focus on. To hell with everyone in their path.

So, now you know a little something you might not have ever considered before. I know there's a book out there too on this sort of thing. A friend of mine bought it after I kept schooling her on "what not to do" when bidding.

Good luck and there are plenty of good decent sellers out there. A lot of people are so disgusted with how ebay has been doing with the private auctions they've gone to Buy it Now only auctions.

Today, once again, Ebay has changed their seller policies. The way things are going...they're gonna ask us to start giving away our items and pay them a hefty fee for it.

P.S.
You can't be shilled if you bid what you want to and that's that.
Also, if anyone related to you wants something you're selling- change your auction to Buy-it-Now...

Etsy Oddollsdotnet

6 Foot Tall and Wicked !!! You gotta see this.

oddollsdotnet's shop

Pricing your Work Links

I got these links from a forum. This is always the hardest thing for any artist to do. These links do help you at least come up with a plan if you just have no idea. If you can, take your work to a show to sell. Ebay is a sad indicator of the real value of your work. There are people (dealers) that know that and will buy up your things and resale in a shop or elsewhere. There's even a few that'll buy someone else's work, change it (or not) and resell it with their name on it in order to take the credit.
I personally don't mind a dealer buying anything of mine, so long as they sell it AS IS with my name still on it.

Pricing1

Pricing2

Pricing3

Pricing4

Etsy Art Doll Catagory Petition Link

There is a Petition to get Etsy to add an Art Doll Category on their browsing page. Here is the link if you are interested: Please Sign !!!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/add-a-dolls-category-on-Etsy

Etsy's Dark Side Team

Etsy Buy Handmade EtsyDarkTeam

Paranormalbabies in a Giant Hulk Collection

The Hulk in the middle is part of a friend of mine's Collection. I created that doll from a wrestling figure using polymer clay, genesis paints and mohair. *See Paranormalbabies.com for more interesting dolls.

Click here for the article