Joy Murray
I finished The Survivor. She is 14″ tall on a 10″ x 7″ bass wood base. The fabric is hand-stitched pearlized cotton. Her hair is 100% wool. Glass beads, wire armatures and acrylic paint. Scroll down past the slide show if you want to look at the details. She’s a little hard to photograph, but I think you can see most of the detail.
She follows the mystery of her own life.
After making a very complex posed doll, it was fun to make this Sassy Heart. She’s 22″ long, 12 1/2 of that is her skinny legs. She’s 9″ at the widest part of her hair. The hair is made of a super soft Italian viscose, nylon, and poly blend. It has silver metallic threads amid the soft chenille. Her face is a hand-painted, needle-sculpted cotton print with metallic gold highlights. The body and legs are made out of a pink cotton ombre.
I read a book years ago by Gloria Steinem that said that in the earliest cave paintings valentine shape represented female power. I’ve always liked hearts and was glad to hear there was a least a rumor that it had some symbolic power besides the obvious. I’ll always see it as the power and whimsy of love. My friend Sara told me that a collection of heart dolls is a good idea because the heart has many seasons. Isn’t that so true?
I finished The Reader’s Shoes and Book. Now I just have to decide whether to put her on a wooden stand, or let her sit on her own. I’m not sure if I’m going to permanently attach the book yet either. It’s just a little hand made thing with quotes from The Light Princess by George MacDonald.
joy murray art~stories~life 