Imagining the Possibility. Part 3

The Bride vs The Bride of Christ 2024

                  The original bust.

 

I was so stunned by the beauty of this bust I felt compelled to recreate it. I could see how to do it with some mixed media art items. However art has a way of changing things as we crate, so we will see.

Let me remind you of what has already changed in this project. In the 1^st blog we basically work on the project head ready to begin work on it. I removed the hands, and the area they were attached to the frame of the bust. I called them elbow holes. I saturated her hair using school glue and when it was starting stiffen, I rolled the sides and braided the back of the hair.

In the 2^nd blog I created the dress and collar to her dress, using the IOD's Dainty Flourish Mould amd IOD's Air dry Clay, added eyelashes, stiffened them with glue and painted the clay and face of the project head. Frankly, I find it hard to believe how much this doll head has changes. She really did go from a cartoon caricature to looking more like a human. For more details please see the preserve blogs. These are the changes this doll head has gone though so far. 

                    

Original Project Head.     Project Head end of Blog 1.     Project Head end of Blog 2

For The Next Part:

As I looked over the photo of the bust I noted that the bust line was not even or smooth. I was unsure if it would show up through the veil in the photos or not. I used 220 grit sandpaper on my little hand held sander just to be on the safe side. The point on this sander came in very handy. Then I wiped down the bust line with a baby wipe to remove the sanding dust. 

As a side Note:I didn't realize just how fine dust would be so next time I will wear a mask to help protect my lungs.

    

  I gathered together the items I would need for adding the veil. The weather here was very cold so I didn't have an opportunity to try different products for stiffening the veil.  I decided to use Aleene's Clear Tacky Glue as the stiffener, because it is clear I want to be able to see through the veil.  And the school glue worked so well on the hair. The only thing that I thought could be a problem is that the tacky glue could look shining.

For the adding the veil:

I used Arlene's Clear Tacky Glue, blue tape, Straight pins, a piece of foam core board 2x3', wax paper,  scissors, a 10" dinner plate, a yardstick, Tulle for the veil, 6" embroidery hoop, 

I had need to add a number of things to the list of supplies over all 3 blogs because,  as I things progressed I found out I needed other supplies. (I will put together a list of all the things I used at the end of this blog.)

          

I went ahead and painted the  6" embroidery hoop white without taking it apart,  so that is the insides of the hoop is left unpainted and set it aside to dry.  Once dry, put the inside of the hoop on the head. The rolled sides of the hair works great to holding and balancing the hoop. I made sure that the veil would be long enough for the doll by laying it on top of the head.  It was just perfect size. I did notice that the braid could be seen very well and so I took my scissors and cut away some of the "wild hairs". I wasn't worried at all by the top of the head because I plan to layer tulle in that area like the bust has on its head. 

            

I covered the foam core board with wax paper putting it on top of the Lazy Susan and the doll head on top of it and put it off to the side.  Then  I cut a piece of doubled tulle that was 48x30". Leaving it doubled I laid it out on the table to cut rounded corners using a 10" dinner plate at all 4 corners. This will give the veil a more flowing look once it is dry. I folded it to a smaller size to fit in the bowl.  

           

 I poured the clear glue into a bowl add the veil and poured more glue on top. I did wear gloves to work the glue into the tulle, making sure that it was completely saturated. It did take a while to do work it in.

 Adding the Veil

               

My husband, Bruce took photos for me because it was too messy to do photos at the same time. I put some straight pins the lid to the bowl I used for the clear glue. Placed the veil tulle on top of the head with a part of the veil hanging down to the top of the foam-cord board

Next: I started working from the back of the head I arranged the veil in an overlapping to try and match the top of the Bride bust. When I was happy with the way the folds looked I began pinning the veil down on to the foamboard, to try and keep it from moving around. As the glue began to dry I had to remove my globes, it was just too sticky! Then I put the top of the embroidery hoop on top of the bottom ring and tightened it down. (Rather had Bruce tighten it down)

          

Top of original bust head

Once I had the headband in place the closing clamp in back. I didn't need any more glue. There was enough glue to hold the everything in place. I started to make the casting for the headband. I then cut about 14 inches of white wired ribbon (you could use fabric or unwired ribbon just as well) to make a simple bow like the one you would use for your shoe. I dipped it in the left over clear glue and rubbed it in well. I laid it out and shaped it how I wanted it to dry. 

            

I looked through all of my moulds I didn't know which ones to use for the flowers. But I saw someone post some photos on IOD Tribe Facebook page using the flowers from the Village Market Mould. I had forgotten all about them! I made up a pair and they fit perfect on the band. So I made 5 sets of the flowers. And I made 3 sets of leaves and rose buds from the IOD Juliette Mould for finishing.  I spread Rich and Thick glue on the back of the castings and smoothed it out with a paint brush. I allowed the glue to dry a bit. I know many people use blue tape to keep them from falling off. But if I allow the castings to become tacky they stay in place while drying. 

           

I Worked from back to front, one side at a time. I place the 1st casting over part of the closing clamp, with the flower at one end of the casting on top of the stem on the back of another casting. I followed the same pattern until I reached the front of the band. Then repeated the same steps on the other side as well. 

              

I added the rose leaves from the Juliette Mould to each side above the ears and then one set of leaves to the front of the head.  I was very pleased with the outcome. And I let the doll head dry overnight.

          

 These photo were taken while the stiffening glue was still wet, I'm thinking much too shiny for this stage of the bust. By the time they dried I could see that is was very shiny for what I wanted, So in -8 degrees I took her outside an sprayed her with a heavy coat of Clear Matt Finish. Then let her dry in the barn side of the shop overnight. Last thing I did was add on the bow, it was far to white so I painted over it with Ivory paint to tone it down some. it worked.

Final Photos and comments:

The reason I tried to do this project is because I needed a boost in creatively. My husband and I both had some health issues that drained me. This project took my mind out of my day to day stuff and help me to restart my creatively. So for me it's a win! Loved every moment of it. 

 I am very happy with the finale project. She is not as much like The Bride by Raffaelle Monti, but I had a lot of fun creating her out of a doll stylist head most of us could get a hold of. The weather played a big part in the how long it took to dry and there were many layers to work through.  The biggest problem was the blue glitter on the dress. Total I painted it 6 times and ended up covering the dress with clay. It worked out. 

 This photo is with 4 coats of white spray paint!

The veil was the most work it took about 2 hours to have it cut out and placed where I wanted it to be.  In the original Bride there are many folds of veil over the front of the face. I think he made those folds because he needed to get behind the veil with tiny tools to carve out the facial features. I attempted to put them on my bride but it hid her face, so I left it free form. 

 The original Bride.     My Bride 

The headband went very smoothly and I am happy with how it turned out. I new what I wanted to do but I just had a hard time finding small enough flowers for it, they were all too big. Hard to believe with the number of these mould I have. 

 

I added the rose leaves from the Juliette Mould to each side above the ears and then one set of leaves to the front of the head.  I was very pleased with the outcome. And I let the doll head dry overnight. Also the veil has some "scaley" patches. I found by rubbing them together the "scales" come off. Over the next few days I will rub the veil and then spray it with a Clear Matte Spray Paint to reseal it. 

It was quite a learning curve for me and well worth my time.  Thank you all for walking with me on the project. 

 

Let me know what you think about this project. Or if there is something you would like me to create something.