Laurie Leigh Art

How to preserve paint on your palette.

2012-01-11T15:30:00.000-08:00

I am a doll artist. My canvas is only 1” by 1 ½”! Pretty small so you would be surprised at how much paint I go through. I use acrylic paint… everything from the super expensive to the very cheap. They all serve their purpose one way or another. But one thing I have noticed through the years is how fast they dry out on my palette. In a couple hours time my paint has become basically useless to me.

I don't put a lot of paint on my palette to begin with because I paint small. I have prepared my paint before and suddenly something has come up and I have to set my work aside. I don't want to waste the paint whether something has come up or I want to take a break.

So I developed a way to make my paint last for days… here it goes.

I start with a bowl of ice. I like to use my Corelle cereal sized bowl. It fits my metal palette perfectly.

Next I cover my metal palette with foil. This way when I want to clean my palette, all I have to do is pull the foil off and discard it. Easy clean up!

I don’t need a lot of paint for what I do but this can work for anyone who uses acrylic paint.

When I am taking a break for lunch I just cover my palette with another palette. This will keep the paint from bleeding into each other.

Then I cover the whole thing with more foil to seal it.

Lastly, I put my palette in the refrigerator. I have left paint in there for a week and it is still perfect when I take it out.

The real trick to start with is that bowl of ice under your palette. It keeps the paint fresh and moist while you are painting. I just pop my bowl in the freezer so I always have a bowl of ice.

In today's economy it is always good to know you can make things last and stretch them as far as they can go.

Happy painting! LL

How to detangle/restore doll's hair.

2012-01-09T08:05:00.000-08:00

Now here is a good trick for someone who wants to quickly restore their doll's hair whether it is for a child's play doll or your own collectable.

The first thing you need to know is that you can't save everyone. Sorry! I know this is a cruel reality but the truth is that sometimes the hair is just too far gone. However, I have a very difficult time giving up. I am committed that way.

So let's assess your doll. Most doll hair is made up of a plastic called saran. There are other types of doll hair but they are all generally a form of plastic. This will work on your child's baby doll, Barbie, your collectable dolls, etc... Even My Little Pony has plastic hair.

The first thing I do is shampoo the hair with regular dish washing liquid. This is a harsh detergent so it is going to get out anything that might be in the hair. Often the factory hair will have a form of hairspray or a sticky substance that holds the hair in place. You want to remove all of that and dish washing liquid will do the trick. I will wash the hair a couple of times just to make sure it is clean and free of residue. After that I condition it and comb it through. If the hair still feels like there is something in it try a little baking soda mixed with your dish washing liquid.

If the hair is too far gone, matted and really terrible you can always use a little oil in the hair to help comb it. If you do this you will need to re-shampoo and condition it after.

So depending on the condition of the hair your doll should now be restored. You can allow the hair to air dry or blow it dry with on a medium heat setting with a blow dryer. Blow dryers on hot will burn your doll hair. Melt it! So be careful with that blow dryer. If you don’t feel confident about it let it air dry. You can always set your doll in front of a fan.

If your doll’s hair still looks icky even though you can now comb through it then you need the boiling water method. This is after you have washed, conditioned and combed through it. I use a glass measuring cup to boil two cups of water, takes about 4 to 5 minutes in the microwave. Next you set your doll upright in the sink and pour the boiling hot water right over the top of the head. Immediately after comb the hair in place. Be very careful not to burn yourself. You can always hold your doll with a towel. The hot water will smooth out the plastic in most cases but remember I told you not every doll can be saved.

Never dip your doll’s head or hair in the boiling water. This will ruin it permanently. No saving that.
Your doll should be almost as good as new by now. You might have to trim it with scissors to clean up scraggly edges.

If you have a terrific doll and the hair is simply not fixable, the next step would be to reroot your doll with brand new hair. I have a DVD on both rerooting doll hair and restyling doll hair available on eBay or my website.

For more information you can contact me at beautifulfaces@cfl.rr.com or visit my website at www.laurieleighart.com .

Links on eBay for Rerooting and Hairstyling:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/beautifulfaces/m.html?_trksid=p4340.l2562

In any case I really hope I helped save a doll’s life today.

Happy doll collecting! LL

Quick note about commissions >>

2011-10-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

I am accepting commissions. When I get a commission sometimes I am quick about it and sometimes I am not so quick. It isn't because I am not giving your commission the full attention it deserves but rather I am working it out in my head. I have probably started it already and if I have run into a snag or I don't like the direction I am going I will shelf it for a bit so I can have a fresh perspective.

I want to give every doll the full attention it deserves. Sometimes the inspiration is so strong it comes together easily... other times (especially if I have painted several of the same doll) it will take a bit longer. It isn't because I don't care for the doll at all... I am always looking for ways to improve. I do a lot of research on celebrity dolls as well. I study pictures and watch videos on the subject looking for things I might have missed before.

Your turn around time could be two weeks or two months (sometimes a bit longer - depending on how many dolls I have in the house). I always deeply appreciate your patience. I do want your doll to be very special to you and something you will love for many years to come!

http://laurieleighart.com/commissions.htm

XOXO LL

A little advice on painting doll eyes....

2011-10-06T06:49:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked how I get the details in the eyes when I paint them and this was my response. I thought I would share with anyone who might be interested. : )

It is so hard to try and explain how to get details in the eyes... especially small ones. I don't want you to get caught up in that when the shading is actually more important. Try to look at the iris as shapes and colors rather than an eye. It is hard to separate, I know... it's an eye. But beyond that it is just color and shadow and light.

If I am painting a blue eye and I don't want any other color than blue (and I believe that is hard to make it real and not flat) I would start with the blue I planned on using...

Start with the basic iris shape/circle in black. Then clean that up with white until your black outline is very very thin. On the inside of that black line add your blue... I would use a strong pigmented darker blue and the line inside the line is barely there... practically on top of the black line. Then paint the entire eye in with a watered down wash of that blue. Find your pupil. Now you have the eye. It is plan and flat but there. I know this is a tiny space and I use reading glasses to see it better. Try that.

Now I look at a picture of an eye that is blue... a reference. I look for the light and place it in. First the light shine in the pupil and then I dot it in here and there depending on where the light is at in the picture. After that, if my white is too light, I will wash another color of blue over it and go back again after that and add more white. Look for the shine in the eye on pictures. Look where it is reflecting. It only takes a tiny dot. I generally don't love mixing white and blue together. I prefer layering washes of blue over white.

At the top of the eye under the lash line and around the pupil I mix a little black with my blue... just enough to darken it... and I paint it around that pupil and up under the eyelash line to shade it. It is really a lot of light and dark... don't be too literal. Paint creates an illusion... especially with something so tiny.

Hugs! Laurie

Last day of August!

2011-08-31T08:01:00.000-07:00

This can only mean one thing... summer's end in nearing. I admit I am far more productive in the winter months. I don't know why but it seems to be so true for me. Even though I live in Florida and I love it, I appreciate when the fall comes. It is just so nice here.

I have quite a few commissions I am working on. Lots and lots of characters and celebrities! I love creating those. I will be updating my galleries soon so I can feature some of my favorite new repaints. I seem to be loving all kinds of vampires lately as I have been working my way through Twilight and True Blood.

I will update those galleries later tonight. Must start painting now...

Have a safe and happy day! LL

Reflections

2011-07-16T07:39:00.000-07:00

Trying to decide what to do first this morning. I don't have a "plan" or a "to do list" so I will probably do that. I know there are a few things that must be done and the rest is for me to decide. Not even thinking about housework or that sort of thing. Only art related today.

I was on Facebook and one of my friends mentioned she was hitting Starbucks. Made me think about how much I have always wanted to live in a quaint little town. The kind where you can walk everywhere and you know everyone. I would have an art studio there and people could stop by and say hello.

Chances are that sounds nicer in the imagined world than in the real world. LOL

Thinking about my website. I am still using an old program. Poor thing is more a hodgepodge of over 10 years instead of a well oiled machine. Gotta look around for something new. I learned that old program, I can learn a new one.

So off to the races. I have a Mighty Mugg to finish, pictures to take, coffee to drink! Let's go!

Why I like fan art...

2011-07-14T10:24:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend sent me a link to a wonderful artist. I was looking at her work, admiring it and followed a link to her blog. There I found this wonderful quote! I don't know who it is by and pardon the "French" but I love it so here it is.

"Drawing is fun, but making fanart is the best. Because fanart gives people permission to like things. So much today, there’s this attitude that it’s not cool to like things, that you have to like things ironically or not at all, that you have to act restrained, unenthusiastic, bored, and that it’s better to scoff and keep your embarrassing pleasures to yourself. So I make fanart because fuck all that. I’m a nerd, and I like things, and I enjoy liking things. If I draw something, and it makes a person feel like an unabashed kid again, then that’s worth it. If I draw something, and it makes a person feel like they have an ally, like they’re allowed to smile, like they have someone to share their geek-out with, and they’re reminded that there was once a time when stories could capture their imaginations, then that’s good enough for me."

This quote was found here.... enjoy her work!

http://alicexz.tumblr.com/

La sigh....

2011-07-07T16:32:00.000-07:00

Okay - so I have worked a little since my extravagant three day holiday weekend. I did manage to create a doll I am so proud of and she will be up for auction tonight. I am also working on a little side project that I really must finish. I actually love this little project and can't wait to share.

First off... here is my newest doll. She was created out of a Birthday Bella and she happened to remind me of Scarlett Johansson as she appeared in Iron Man 2 as Black Widow. She is a favorite creation of mine and I hope you like her as well.

My other little project allows me to stretch my creativity. I found an artist through Facebook and followed his work. I put a link to his blog below. I just fell in love with his stuff and while looking through it I found these little doll like toys he paints. They are called Mighty Muggs. I loved what he was doing with them and thought it might be something I could enjoy putting my own twist on. So I looked them up and sure enough I was able to find them and picked up a few.

The first thing I decided on was Derek Jeter. I am currently watching a lot of Yankees baseball and discovered that Derek Jeter will, any day now, have 3000 hits. He will be the first Yankee to do this and one of only 20 or so baseball players in the history of the game to have 3000 hits. He is literally 3 hits away as I write this.

To commemorate this I have created a Derek Jeter. I will have 3000 hits on his back above his number and the date it happens below.

I love these little Mighty Muggs and am considering creating more in the likes of some of my favorite characters in pop culture including the Twilight saga and Star Wars.

So that is what I have been up to this week. Current commissions I am working on to look for are Legolas, Jasper (Twilight), a 12" Megan Fox, and several more just waiting for some creative love.

I can't believe it is Friday tomorrow already!

XOXO

The hazzards of working at home...

2011-07-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

I have been working at home for over 10 years now. The decision to do this based solely on one year of starting my own little business was pretty scary. I had been listening to some self help tapes (okay - Tony Robbins) and I was totally motivated. I was beating my income earnings at work and while I would be losing money, I felt I would have more time to work SO I would make more income eventually.

Wouldn't you know it... a few months after I started working exclusively on my art at home, the market on eBay got flooded with new artists. Wonderful! Other artists were aware of eBay and collectors were spreading the wealth. I got nervous.

Around the time I left my "day job" to work at home I learned about doll art. This, I felt, was something I could sink my teeth into. With a little trial and error I eventually found my perfect niche. It didn't take me long to recover and before I knew it I had a thriving business. To top it all of, I was doing something I absolutely loved. What could be better?

The flip side of all this is that I was working from home and I fell into every pitfall you can: I overbought supplies; I worked too much; I never left the house; I became stressed; my house got messy; I gained weight; and worst of all... I burned out.

When working at home you have to learn to overcome these things or get your butt back to your day job. I knew this was what I loved so I just kept plugging along.

1. The first thing you do is plan! When you have a "day job" you are on a schedule. You have a plan. If you schedule out your day and plan things, it is truly amazing what you can achieve.

2. Take your weekends off. I will often work until midnight on the week days if I need to just to have the weekend off. Generally people get a few days off... it doesn't have to be specifically Saturday and Sunday but you need at least a day or two to unwind. If you can get out of the house... even better. Remember, you are there all day long. You don't want to smell the burn out.

3. Plan your meals or buy healthy snacks. I literally get up in the morning, make coffee and come straight into my office to answer emails. I am already at work. This is freaking awesome because I can wear anything, however, it is hard to tell if you are gaining weight when your stretchy, comfy clothes keep stretching. I do not advocate wearing anything less than comfortable BUT I do recommend planning your meals and fitting in some exercise. Promise you will not regret it. If you don't have clothes that you have to fit into for work AND you don't have anyone really watching you, things could get out of hand. This is something I have failed at time and again because when you are busy you just grab whatever. But I have started walking in the mornings and this week I am planning those meals. Girl wants smaller comfy clothes!

4. I used to give myself a day to clean. I have since taken that away because I have a weird habit of needing to be alone to clean and currently my daughter and her family are living here. So, I don't do my typical cleaning day... I do what I can. When I have my days alone I like to have a day designated to cleaning. This can be one of your weekend days.

5. Have a designated working space. It is impossible to get anything done when you are constantly taking things out and having to put them away. Find a space in your house and set it up.

6. Watch out for wasting time (for instance, blogging when you need to be working). The internet is a time stealer. Especially Facebook! I watched a little video on procrastination that suggested you turn your sound off on your computer when working... otherwise you will be constantly checking your emails and Facebook messages, etc... Turn it off and turn on some music (or whatever you like to listen to).

7. Make sure you are doing something you love and always always challenge yourself.

8. Watch out for distractions! It is so easy to get distracted, especially when you aren't "feeling it" that day. Listen, everyone needs a mental health day here and there but be careful of those. Don't work to "just get by". That is a recipe for disaster. You can still be there for your family and friends in your designated free times but when at work stay on task.

9. Challenge yourself, yes... but stay focused on what you are good at. I love art... and often I will go off and start doing something that is not usual work. That means it is untried and if it is unsuccessful, well I just don't get paid that week. So do your work first and then experiment with new things.

10. Don't take on too many jobs and become overwhelmed. This can cause instant shutdown.

11. Make a budget. This is crucial.

12. Finally, (and I am sure I am forgetting a dozen other things) just have fun! Yes, work hard too!

P.S.

2011-06-21T06:51:00.001-07:00

Love this guy's work! So inspiring! XOXO

http://kenkeirns.blogspot.com/2011/06/monkey-in-middle-online-now.html

Sigh....

2011-06-21T06:49:00.001-07:00

Wrote an entire morning post and somehow lost the entire thing. All I basically said was I went for a nice walk this morning and this is what I created! Gotta go paint now. Life is good.

Follow your bliss!!!

Being human...

2011-05-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

After my last post I wondered if I didn't make a mistake in airing my dirty laundry. Could it effect how people really feel about me? Could it effect how people feel about my art? My business practices?

I was pondering all of this as I was painting today. And as I was enjoying the way the colors blended together and how my doll was coming to life I realized that I am able to create this and all of my art because of how deeply I feel. Writing that down truly freed me in ways I didn't realize until now.

I feel like a new person. I am off the Prilosec as of today and I feel great. I feel amazing actually. I am caught up on all of my shipping. I have only 8 commissions in the house. And I am feeling my way through a beautiful repaint that I will share later.

Having purged myself of those feelings in writing has me going through my old doll items and purging myself of those things too. I know I can let them go and allow new things to flow to me. I am thinking about what doll I want to paint next. I know that I am on the right track!

I had a long talk this morning with my sister and we came to a realization that we are very strong people. That we have risen above and overcome more obstacles that can be imagined. I mentioned before that I felt like I had failed on every level. I know a lot of people feel that way, especially in the situation of a broken marriage. I want to say that it is okay to feel this way. But it has to be released as well. We are so very hard on ourselves... we tend to look away from all the good that we have done and only focus on the bad.

Today just think about a couple of things that you have personally done that you are proud of. That is what I am going to do. I will not be controlled by things that were often out of my control anyway. And whatever was my "fault" is me just being human. I have made mistakes but I have done some wonderful things too. And so have you.

Love Love Love! LL

Creativity and stress.....

2011-05-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

When I was married I didn't worry about the money that came into the house, how the bills were paid or anything of the sort. Budgeting, balancing, etc... were not my concern. My husband took care of it all. He told me when I had money and when I couldn't spend much. This went on for our entire marriage (over 20 years).

At one point my husband didn't have a job and I was supporting the family. Things were a little tighter but he always managed to make sure we had enough. There was always plenty to pay our bills and buy food. I NEVER worried.

My husband and I separated approximately four years ago. We are now divorced. I am in a personal financial crisis that I don't like to think about. I never learned how to manage my money and I am still struggling with it. I have gone through so many changes over the past four years it is unreal. I had to file bankruptcy. I lost my car.

Of course, the timing couldn't be better with the economy tanking. The stress is like a noose around my neck, choking me, crippling me from doing what I love - creating art. I am even furious with myself that I am in this position. I feel stupid. I know I am not a stupid person. I know I am fully capable! Honestly, I can't believe a strong, capable person like myself is in this position at all.

I have feelings of shame. I have let myself and my daughter down. I have failed. And to top it off I discovered that my little pill that made my tummy not hurt, Prilosec, can cause depression among other serious side effects.

So here I sit this morning pushing back the fear. Trying to come to terms with what I have created. I know I can only do what I can do today. I am happy in my personal life. I have so much to be thankful for. Friends, loved ones, family... and I am still working at home despite it all.

How do I move forward and paint beautiful things when my mind is so muddled? How do I overcome this? I don't really have the answers yet. Day by day... even hour by hour. I am weaning myself from the Prilosec. It is a start. Meditation... a good night's sleep... praying.

I am writing this to basically get it out. I want to release this feeling and be free of it. Also to tell whoever is reading this, if you are in a situation where you don't pay attention to your money that you need to start today. Everyone should know how. Money is not an evil thing! It is a good thing that allows us so many other things. My mind is a creative mind. I don't like to be bogged down with this stuff (I am even resistant) but I am learning and I hope what happened to me is a message to someone else out there.

I am making a promise to myself today that I will let myself off the hook. My inner dialogue is very cruel. I wouldn't say the things I say to myself to another human being. I would never be so mean. I encourage anyone who is reading to stop whatever mean thoughts you have about yourself right now. I had a long talk with my sister about it last night. I am done with this self-loathing. I am very prideful I have been told. It isn't a bad thing but it can lock you up in your own scary little world. Pride is good but not when it stops you from asking for help or makes you lie to yourself about what is really going on.

Now the decision to post this. It is so easy to pretend your life is just perfect but I know I am not alone here. And maybe my ramblings will help someone else. Maybe I will hear back from some of you and the messages will be something I needed to hear.

This is not a story of despair but rather of hope. Hope that I will personally overcome this. That I will amaze myself. I am not an unhappy person. I have moments where I am freaking out but for the most part I very happy. I laugh every day. I do have some inner demons to overcome but the sun is always shining and my glass is forever half full. There is so much for me to be thankful about.

So on that note I feel better. I am off to get some promised dolls in the mail today and hopefully create a pretty little doll that will make someone very happy.

Hugs and love to all! LL

My Etsy Store

2011-05-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

I have some stuff in my little Etsy store as well as on eBay! AND on Zazzle... Come by and visit my Etsy store. I love ETSY!

http://www.etsy.com/people/LaurieLeighArt?ref=si_pr

I have four original works of art in there and a repainted doll as well as some prints.

XOXO LL

A little more information on Prilosec...

2011-05-04T06:18:00.000-07:00

or any proton pump inhibitors. Thought it would be helpful to those who have been taking it like me.
http://www.naturalnews.com/032194_antacids_magnesium.html

http://www.real-depression-help.com/magnesium-for-depression.html

These are both very interesting to read and a bit frightening too. I picked up a book on natural remedies in place of the PPI pills.I have read about half of it. Very hard to self diagnose. I could have a Candida Yeast overgrowth. I could have H. Pylori.... who knows. It effects thousands of us each year.

My magnesium arrived yesterday... I took that along with my other vitamins (B12, Vitamin D, Women's One a Day, and others....) and I felt SO much better. I had a lot of energy last night. I was running around my house cleaning and picking up before bed and I slept great. I have not stopped taking the Prilosec as of this day. When I get the natural remedies figured out I will see what happens there. Crossing my fingers. I can't believe I have been on the crap for 5 years!

Today I plan on getting everything shipped out so I am off to do that. XOXO LL

New Liv Tyler Repaint

2011-05-03T14:49:00.000-07:00

Of course she can be Liv Tyler to you or the beautiful Arwen from Lord of the Rings. She does have great elf ears under that hair. Either way this gorgeous doll has soft, pale vinyl to simulate her flawless skin and her sculpt is a perfect likeness of Liv Tyler. She would look great in anything! She will be up on eBay later this evening. You can visit my website at 9PM when her auction goes live. Unfortunately I do not have her beautiful costume. This lovely doll arrived nude... she does have a pair of flat feet and fashion feet that can be switched.

I really enjoyed creating her. Her factory face paint was carefully removed. I then painted her with the finest artist grade acrylics. They pigments are strong and the paint so matte it looks as if it is part of the vinyl. I finish it off with several coats of sealer in both matte and a satin to give her eyes and lips a soft sheen. Her nails on her fingers and toes are natural with a glossy sealer and her body and face are softly blushed.

Liv will come with a certificate of authenticity by me. Liv can be redressed over and over in beautiful current fashions or stunning costumes from The Lord of the Rings (or any other movie you loved her in).

Hugs! LL

Happy May!

2011-05-03T06:59:00.000-07:00

Hello hello hello! I am just sitting here getting ready to settle into painting a doll. Working on a Liv Tyler for eBay today. I have about 9 dolls I am in various stages of working on for commission and a few too many DVDs I need to get outta here. I also have some dolls that are ready to go home.

Life has been a bit crazy for me... on top of all of the huge changes in my life, I recently discovered that the Prilosec I have been taking for 5 years now actually does have long term side effects. Some of these have been making me not feel like myself. I am working now on finding natural remedies and taking vitamins and minerals to try to get to feeling like myself again. A major side effect is depression.

This has drastically effected my work. I was finding it hard to focus my attention on things for very long and painting dolls is very tedious and takes all of your focus and attention. I have always been able to do that but over the past few years it has taken me longer and longer to finish a doll, much less the other less interesting parts of my job. Knowing that it is something that can be corrected is like someone turned a light on in a dark room. It is such a relief.

If anyone out there is taking any kind of proton pump inhibitors please look into the serious side effects. Also, if someone knows of a solution to stomach problems that are natural I would love to hear from you. I am not yet off of the Prilosec because the book I am reading says I will need to carefully ween myself. I tried to stop them over the weekend by cutting the pills in half but it only made me sick. So until I can get my diet properly changed I am continuing on them. But please know that long term use of these pills is dangerous.

Better get myself to painting! Big hugs! LL

Tonight's doll is a timeless Tyler!

2011-01-25T15:23:00.000-08:00

My Zombie completed!

2011-01-25T15:20:00.000-08:00

NEXT OF KYM

Vicky Art Doll Keychains from Zazzle.com

2011-01-23T12:09:00.000-08:00

Vicky Art Doll Keychains from Zazzle.com

ZOMBIE IN PROGRESS

2011-01-19T12:00:00.000-08:00

Working on a zombie doll.... having SO much fun!

2011!!!

2011-01-19T09:32:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe it is already 2011... I couldn't wait for the new year to get here and I am already in full swing. I have a lot to prove to myself this year. I am living alone now... everything I do every day is up to me now. What I eat, what I watch, when I work, etc.... it is kinda crazy and I am totally embracing it.

I miss Rox a lot. She and I had a fun thing going here but life has to move forward. The best thing I can do for her is let her live her life and be there for her when she needs me. So I am now an empty nester. It came faster than I thought it would.

I find I don't watch as much TV as I did because there is no one to watch it with. I do occasionally watch something. I tend to paint when I have the TV on now. I have been working on a Zombie. She is coming along and I am enjoying to process.

I have some other projects and lots of commissions. Today I am working on a zombie doll. I can't find my box cutter though and it is making me crazy! So I am working on her hair right now and I will go back on the search for it after. I will post a progress picture when I get around to it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T07:35:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day so far. It is a day to give thanks for everything we have in our lives. Let us all remember that above everything else. Gratitude for our wonderful lives.

"Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude." E.P. Powell

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice." Eckhart Tolle

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” Marcel Proust

"There is one day that is ours. Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American." O. Henry

"Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all." William Faulkner

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." John Fitzgerald Kennedy

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”Albert Einstein

And finally my Inara Serra from the Firefly series.

2010-11-19T06:57:00.001-08:00

This is a commissioned Victoria repaint.

2010-11-19T06:56:00.000-08:00

Wanted to add a couple of pictures!

2010-11-19T06:53:00.000-08:00

Here are some new repaints I've done. A couple of commissions and a new eBay doll.

First is Lamia! I am so excited about her. She was originally a Supergirl doll from The Tonner Doll Company. I painted her a while ago and then recently started over. I just wasn't happy with how she had come out and deep down knew I could do better. Finally here she is! I am really happy with her now.

Trying to blog with a cat on your lap...

2010-11-10T05:42:00.000-08:00

And let me tell you - she will NOT be ignored! LOL Having three cats is really crazy though because once one is satisfied then another one needs some love. They are the sweetest kitties.

I am super excited but my doll this week. I have been wanting the Lilah - Jonah Hex doll from Tonner since I heard they were going to release her. I am so not disappointed. This doll is exquisite and a wonderful likeness of Megan Fox. I was so happy and thrilled when I finally got her. I was so inspired.

Here are a few pictures of her...

XOXO LL

New Repaint!

2010-11-05T14:20:00.000-07:00

I have a new repaint available... Nicole Kidman repainted from a Tonner Mrs. Coulter from the Golden Compass line. : ) I also completed a Keira Knightley repaint. She is sold.

I know I said I would finish up my repaint lesson this week but it might be over the weekend instead.

Look for a Sookie Stackhouse soon!

New Hair DVDs!!!

2010-11-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Come to my website and check out my new hair styling DVDs! They are available for pre-order and the first 100 people to pre-order the SET of three will be entered into a drawing to win a FREE commissioned repaint by me! Go to my website and check it out! www.laurieleighart.com

Vote today!

2010-11-02T06:35:00.001-07:00

Good morning! Well - I got up early intending that I would be painting early! However, I remembered it is November 2nd so I had to get ready and go vote instead. That is okay though! All done now and I am enjoying a nice cup of coffee and my American rights.

I won't dally here. Need to get busy. Lots of dolls need new faces.

I will write later... lots of hugs to all! LL

Let the holiday season begin!

2010-11-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

October is over... November means I better get my butt in gear for the holiday season! I have three new cats too - and they love new decorations. They had a blast with my Halloween displays. I am just cringing about my Christmas tree. Let's just say I will be spraying them with little air cans until they think it comes OUT of the tree. LOL

I will be painting all day into the wee hours. Roxy has a job now so she doesn't get home until 8PM so the house is pretty quiet. Oh wait - except for the blasting GLEE music I play or Taylor Swift. Depending on my mood that is. Could be Dr. Wayne Dyer or The Power by Rhonda Byrne.

I should have new dolls to show tomorrow. I have the rest of the repaint lesson to post as well and should have that finished up by the end of this week.

Happy November everyone and welcome in the holidays!

A couple of new dolls...

2010-10-28T18:16:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a couple of new repaints. First is an original Gene repaint named Joan. Second is a Veronique named Carol Ann who is available on eBay right now. Her link is on my website... www.laurieleighart.com.

I have repaint DVDs available...

2010-10-28T08:07:00.000-07:00

through my website or on eBay. Watch me paint dolls in real time as I explain the process. I also have a rerooting DVD too! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at beautifulfaces@cfl.rr.com.

http://laurieleighart.com/dvds.htm

or

http://shop.ebay.com/beautifulfaces/m.html

I will be offering more DVDs soon, including hairstyling.

Britney will be getting her hair done soon! Check back....

Repaint Lesson - Twenty-Two

2010-10-28T07:55:00.001-07:00

Next I added more shading in the iris with black and more color with burnt sienna over the feather-like highlights I had put in with Goose Feather. After that I added a little bit more shading on the eyelids above the crease using a mixture of Coffee Bean, Hot Pink, and Burgundy. After that I added the lashes in Black using my smallest, finest brush. Then I watered down the black even more and shaded the bottom of her eyebrows – but only slightly. I then added a tiny bit of Goose Feather to upper part of her eyebrows.

The repaint is done! Next to come will be hairstyling!

Repaint Lesson - Twenty-one

2010-10-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

Next I added the pupil using black and a tiny bit of Burnt Sienna in the iris.Taking the finest, smallest brush I have, I added tiny hair like strokes to the iris working from the pupil out. I then added three tiny white “shine” dots in white to the pupil. Her eyes are very dark so I want them to sparkle. I also worked a little under the eyes to even everything out. Using Coffee Bean I touched up the bottom line and using Goose Feather I touched up the inner eye line. I also added a few outside lashes to the outside corners of her eyes. While her eyes are finished underneath they still need more on the upper eyelid, lashes and more color and shading in the iris.

Repaint Lesson - Step Twenty

2010-10-28T07:46:00.000-07:00

Next I used the same pastel colors on the end of a Q-Tip to shade her face and blush her cheeks. A trick is to dampen the Q-Tip a tiny bit, add your pastel colors (I am talking chalk - not oil) and blush her on her cheeks, hallows of her cheeks, hairline, and jaw. I often use my thumb to blend the color into the vinyl.

Repaint Lesson - Step Nineteen

2010-10-28T07:37:00.000-07:00

Well I am much happier now and feeling like I am getting somewhere. Using a toothpick with cotton wrapped around the tip I blended together four pastel colors and shaded her nose. I darkened the nostrils with Burnt Umber and highlighted the tip of her nose and around her mouth with Goose Feather. She is starting to come alive.

Happy Tuesday!!!

2010-10-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

I will add more repaint lessons later in the day. I still have all of that shipping to do and I WILL be completing it today.

On Sunday night a friend and I headed over to Halloween Horror Nights. We had so much fun! We rode The Mummy and had some really good scares. Monday morning I was completely useless. My feet hurt, I had a scratchy voice... but it was fun!

Yesterday I finished up a Gene repaint and got a few other things done. I had dinner last night out and again, had a wonderful time. This morning I got up and made some Apple Walnut muffins. I have the recipe here... they were delicious!

Apple Walnut Muffin Recipe
Preheat oven to 350

5 Tablespoon Butter
3/4 Cup Sugar
2 Large Eggs
2 Cups Grated Apples
1 Cup All Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour (I like whole wheat pastry or white)
2 Teaspoons Baking Power
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts (I toasted mine in the oven)

Cream butter and sugar... add eggs and mix well then add the grated apples (grated apples will be juicy - that is okay). Let the apple mixture sit for about ten minutes. While that is sitting sift all dry ingredients (except walnuts) and set aside and toast the walnuts.

Slowly mix in the dry ingredients and blend well. Add toasted walnuts.

This makes around 18 to 21 muffins depending on how big you want them. I made 21 and baked them for 22 minutes until the test stick comes out clean.

Enjoy! XOXO LL

Blocked!

2010-10-23T07:52:00.000-07:00

This week has been so strange. I haven't accomplished much with my work. I read Halo's blog and she had a part about painter's block. Very interesting and super helpful - thank you Sam!

http://halorepaints.blogspot.com/

Check out Sam's blog... it is full of information.

My painter's block has turned into more than that... it is literally a worker's block. I sit down and stare at my things. I am behind on shipping in a serious way. I haven't put anything on eBay in several weeks. The only thing I am pretty caught up on are my commissions - however I haven't mailed them.

The problem is that this is my only source of income as it stands now so when I stop - well so does my money. I am not just sitting around. I have been cleaning and organizing, going out and having fun... so what is my deal with the shipping? Here is the dilemma. I wake up and come into my office. I spend way too much time on the computer. Then I have to decide between shipping and painting. That is like deciding between getting paid or not! I get myself in such a frenzy sometimes I end up doing nothing with my work at all!

Goodness... so what I tell myself is always the same... "tomorrow is another day." And so it is. Somehow over this weekend I plan on packing the million things I need to ship. I will also email everyone to let them know about the delay. That is so very important. Most people really just want to be kept up to date. Everyone I am behind on is overseas (that is why I haven't shipped because I can't just put it out for the mailman to pick up). On Monday all I have to do is head to the post office. I have a Gene repaint in the works that I can finish up on Monday as well. I also have things I have already photographed to sell. I will be fine, I always am.

Mostly I remind myself how happy I am with what I do. I forgive myself a LOT. I love that my house is cleaned up. My 18 year old daughter is very helpful and I can ask more of her. She is also driving now which is another plus. I am very blessed! I have been in far worse situations and the sun still came up the next day. I look at all of the good in my life.

Regardless if you work for yourself, are a homemaker, or work outside of the home there are always challenges.... I think the best way to stay focused is to be grateful for everything you do have in your life and not be too hard on yourself. There is so much to be happy for. Always look for that over the chaos.

Lots of hugs!!! LL

Happy Monday!

2010-10-18T06:26:00.000-07:00

So I have already posted a bunch of repaint lessons below. If you are following the lesson remember that you can click on the pictures to make them bigger. I hope the lesson is helpful!

Had a peaceful weekend. Caught up with Glee... cute show. Loved the Britney Spears episode. Really funny. I did a little keep up on the house but really had no major plans. On Thursday I went to Halloween Horror Nights but it was SO incredibly packed I only ended up going into one house. I still had fun though.

I have some deadlines I plan on making today! I am about ready to get busy with that. A little more coffee please! I have lots of pictures to take and post. Hopefully today - if not then definitely tomorrow.

I did my first 15 minute cleaning spree in my office and I took before and after pictures. I am going to save them for later but I was really shocked by how much I actually got done in only 15 minutes. Of course I have messed it up a bit since then - I better get 15 more minutes in this morning before I mess it up some more. It will only be my second 15 minute cleanup since Thursday. I was suppose to do it every day but hey - stuff happens.

So off I go to get lots of work done! Hope everyone has a wonderful Monday! I am leaving off with a beautiful rendition of Poker Face by Lea Michele and Idina Menzel performed on Glee. Gorgeous voices.

Repaint Lesson - Step Eighteen

2010-10-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

Using a combination of Folk Art Burgundy, Apple Barrel Hot Pink, White, Goose Feather and Burnt Sienna I worked on the highlights and lowlights of the lips. Working from the lip line I feather in the highlights - shaping the lips. Once I am happy I mix together Hot Pink and a tiny bit Burnt Sienna (to soften the intensity of the hot pink) and do a super thin layer over the lips to blend away the harsh lines and bring the colors together.

Repaint Lesson - Step Seventeen

2010-10-18T06:17:00.000-07:00

Right away I notice the lips are too dark. But they are coming along the way I want so I am going to add Burgundy because I want a pinker hue. Using Titanium White and Goose Feather I added more highlights to lighten the lips.

Repaint Lesson - Step Sixteen

2010-10-18T06:13:00.000-07:00

In this step I took the Burnt Sienna and Hot Pink in equal parts and created the outline. Next I am using Goose Feather with a combination of the other to colors to built highlights and shadows using the picture I have as a guide.

Repaint Lesson - Step Fifteen

2010-10-18T06:11:00.000-07:00

At the lip’s crease or where they part I mixed two parts Hot Pink to one part Burnt Sienna and started building the color from the lip crease out. I use a lot of water to keep the paint thin.

Repaint Lesson - Step Fourteen

2010-10-18T06:08:00.001-07:00

Using Burnt Umber I drew a line in for the lip crease. I want to measure the length of her lips with her irises but I am noticing that the irises might not be even now that I have built on makeup. So I am going to fix that before I move back to the lips.

To do that I will balance the iris using Titanium White and then I will draw them back in the same way with Black and Burnt Umber. I don’t paint over the irises and start over. I use Titanium White on the outside and then I go over the irises outside line again in Black and then I filled it in again with Burnt Umber. I was able to go back to the lip crease and lengthen it some more since I had something to measure it by. I feel like there is more balance with the eyes now.

Repaint Lesson - Step Thirteen

2010-10-18T06:02:00.000-07:00

I want to fill in the eyebrows a bit now. I feathered in wispy hairs using the Burnt Umber in Golden paint. I went over that with a light wash of Coffee Bean to soften the color. That is all I am going to do on the eyebrows for now. I will come back to them later.

Repaint Lesson - Step Twelve

2010-10-14T07:03:00.000-07:00

Next I painted in the upper eyeliner in Black and a little bit at the bottom corner of the lower lid. I also mixed Burnt Umber and Black and shaded more in the outer corners of the eyes and the eyelid for more depth and a smoky eye makeup effect.

Repaint Lesson - Step Eleven

2010-10-14T06:57:00.000-07:00

Next I went over the eye shadow again in the same pattern using Burnt Umber in Golden. My paint is getting darker as I go and closing the gap in that eyelid. I also mixed together Burnt Sienna in Golden with Hot Pink from Apple Barrel and painted the inside corners of the eyes and the line just under the iris. So far this looks sort of silly but it will work out in the end. Next I am blending my Coffee Bean with Hot Pink again and working on thin layers between the dark crease of her eyelid to her eyebrow. I am going to leave the highlighted part just beneath her eyebrow light using only Goose Feather for blending the darker and lighter shades together for good dimension.

Good Thursday morning!

2010-10-14T06:41:00.000-07:00

I have been fairly quiet the last couple of days. Just painting and creating. I can't wait to share some of my recent dolls too! I have an Ice Queen and a new AvantGuard repaint as well as a Wu Gene.

My office is a mess! This is very distracting and distressing for me. Creating is best done in an organized environment but I haven't taken the time to really clean in here. I am thinking about trying the method I learned off of flylady.com. She suggests setting your timer for 15 minutes and only cleaning for those minutes. Often we believe that when we clean we have to do everything at once, literally setting aside a day that we simple can't justify. That means that we keep putting a cleaning day off and the mess continues to grow and make us a little crazy. 15 minutes a day is time we can all spare and would really add up. I think I will do that experiment and get back with you. I will take a picture today and every day after 15 minutes of cleaning and see how I progress.

For now I am going to share a few more repainting lessons and get myself back to work.

Happy Thursday! LL

Repaint Lesson - Step Ten

2010-10-11T08:56:00.000-07:00

Next I added more Goose Feather Apple Barrel to the inner corners of the eyes and then I mixed Hot Pink in Apple Barrel with Coffee Bean in Folk Art in equal parts and went over the lids, a little big above them and under the eyes as well. I am starting to shade the outside corners of her eyes underneath to give her that puppy dog look.

Repaint Lesson - Step Nine

2010-10-11T08:54:00.000-07:00

Next I paint in the first layer of eye shadow using Coffee Bean in Folk Art. I paint it darker on the outside corners and lighter toward the middle having put no paint in the center of the eyelids. I already know this is going to be tricky because the doll has big eyelids and my muse today, Britney Spears, does not. I can work my eyelid line down with shading and build my eyeliner up.

It looks terrible - doesn't it! Just remember this when you are painting. Keep it as clean as possible and your layers very thin. There are many more layers coming. In the end, your doll will come alive.

Repaint Lesson - Step Eight

2010-10-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

After they are balanced I fill in the color with Burnt Umber in Golden Paint. Her eyes are going to be dark brown but for now this is all I am going to do with them. I am moving onto the eye makeup next.

Repaint Lesson - Step Seven

2010-10-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

Next I place my irises with Apple Barrel Black. They are uneven so I am going to use Titanium White to balance them and make them as even as possible.

Monday Monday...

2010-10-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

Soooo - I didn't have a really good night's sleep last night. One of my adorable babies, I won't name names, kept waking me up. To clarify, I didn't go to sleep until after 3AM. Roxy and I discovered Glee.... we are on the 10th episode of the first season. Couldn't stop watching! It is like a drug.

Little bit of a slow start this morning. COFFEE PLEASE!

I had a great weekend. Even though I work at home I treat my weekends no differently than anyone else. I do occasionally work over a weekend but mostly not, well other than laundry, house projects, etc...

When you work at home sometimes it is hard to get back to work on Monday since you don't have to wake up at a specific time and you don't have a particular "boss" to answer too. I would absolutely love to sit my ass in front of my TV and watch more Glee today. I could even justify it by saying I am tired because of last night and couldn't possibly be expected to create anything. So how do I motivate myself to come in here and get my butt in gear? Just like anyone else who has to get up and go to work. I know I have responsibilities. I know I have made promises. I love what I do. I remind myself that I am very lucky and should appreciate rather than begrudge. I also think about the people I will make happy. You don't know how many emails I get when people receive their dolls that say I have made their day.

So if you have ever considering starting your own 'at home business' but you are not sure if you have the discipline... just know that if you have the discipline to get up and go to work then you have it in you to do it for yourself. It isn't like you suddenly don't have the responsibilities you had before. They are still there. Sure, you have different worries and stresses. Following your dreams is very satisfying... I promise.

When I left my job to pursue being a full time artist I was petrified. First off, I didn't get the support at home. I did it anyway though. I really and truly believed in myself. I didn't start as a doll artist. I was painting watercolor fantasy art and selling it on eBay. I had been painting at night and working in the day. When my artwork was selling enough to match the salary I was making at my day job I decided I could quit my job. It had always been my plan. A goal I was working towards. It was met with much resistance. Basically I had been working two jobs. Roxy was about 7. I would pick her up from daycare after work and literally pass out on the couch I was so tired from staying up late at night painting. Of course I didn't do that every day. But I was afraid to quit my job. Afraid of the fight I would get. Afraid that I wouldn't be successful.

The first months at home were pretty good but soon more artists discovered eBay and before long I was painting more and more to make up for the sudden competition. I was aware of dolls when I left my job but it was felt that they were a waste of my time and I should focus on my painting. At first I resisted working on dolls because they took more time and I wasn't much of a seamstress. Later I discovered straight repainting. I knew deep down that dolls were my future. I was a cosmetologist as well as an artist. Faces are my favorite to paint. I love hairstyling. I love makeup. It was a match made in heaven.

More than ten years has passed since then and I couldn't be happier. I feel like I am ever growing and changing... evolving with the times. As an artist it is important to continue to explore what thrills you and trusting in yourself.

Today, think about what makes you happy. If you have a dream... write it down. If you see someone doing something you love, find out how they got there and literally follow their footsteps. Don't buy into your own self doubts. Don't let fear control your destiny. Believe in yourself. Know you are as deserving. Know that you are smart enough. I am not saying to start your own business because maybe that isn't what would make you happy. I am saying to follow your dreams. I am saying to trust yourself.

Have a wonderful Monday and remember that life is too short and too precious to spend a moment of it in a place you don't want to be. Follow your heart. Find your happiness. Live your dream.

XOXO LL

FRIDAY!

2010-10-08T07:33:00.000-07:00

I don't know how it was for everyone else but this week FLEW by for me. I really feel like I got a lot accomplished too. The house is neat! Listen - I still have problem areas. Does anyone have one of those rooms that is the catchall? I certainly do. My office is also a big old mess right now but I can close that door. : )

My cousin sent me a site ages ago - www.flylady.com. It helps you get your house in order one little step at a time. I think I will do this. You can find flylady on Facebook as well.

On Wednesday I went to breakfast with Shannon and after we ate we took a trip to Walmart where I bought flour sack towels to make my "un-paper napkins" with. Now Shannon said she likes her to be two-ply but I decided to try one-ply. I am completely happy with them that way. I got six little "un-paper towels" out of each flour sack towel. I seamed up the edges, washed them, and put them in a little basket on my counter. Basically I now how cloth napkins but I love them and the idea. If you want to use them when you repaint remember that acrylic paint will not wash out of cloth. You can use them over and over - but only for painting. : ) I will make myself a set just for that and eventually weed out any and all need for real paper towels. I believe Shannon said I would save about $300 a year and that is not too shabby.

I guess it is time for me to get busy. Have a little breakfast (I still have those muffins) and post a few more repaint lessons.

Have a safe and happy weekend! LL

Repaint Lesson - Step Six

2010-10-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

Using Burnt Umber in Golden Paint for the top lid and Coffee Bean in Folk Art for the bottom I outlined the eyes. I like to build my colors as I go. This is the first layer and starts to shape the eyes. Again – keep the paint very thin as you work. You can always add more to deepen the color.

Remember - you can click on the picture and make it big so you can better see the details.

Repaint Lesson - Step Five

2010-10-07T10:08:00.001-07:00

Using Goose Feather in Apple Barrel Paint or Titan Buff in Golden Fluid Matte Acrylic Paint, I water it down to a watercolor consistency and paint in the eyelids up to the eyebrow, around the eyes underneath, and the inner corners of the eyes to create highlight and a nice canvas to paint on. The paint adheres well if you do this first. I know it doesn’t look great now but remember you are going to be adding layers of paint over this. It is a very thin coat, like a light wash of paint.