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.