Cut Out + Keep

Mermaid Art Doll

Not your Average Little Mermaid

https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/mermaid-art-doll • Posted by Linakins

This mermaid was created as a swap piece for another site I no longer swap at. She was inspired by the work of Susana Tavares. To see her mermaid click here: http://ateliersusanatavares.blogspot.com/2012/09/mermaid-art-doll.html I loved the body style, but I cannot do her sort of strangely-whimsical art, so I went went something I can do, which is more carton like. She was created from paper mache clay and baked for several hours at a low temperature to harden her up. I painted her tail with sparkle acrylic paint and then handpainted on each of her scales. She was then sealed. Her hair is made from 100% wool felt roving so its very soft and has a beautiful flow to it. Her starfish is also made of paper mache clay and handpainted with sparkle and gold paint. To create her base, I cut a small piece of dowel and attached it to a wood base that I drilled a small hole into. I then stained it and sealed it. I attached the mermaid by drilling a hole in her carefully, and then glued her to the base. I suppose you can make the hole in the clay from the beginning, but since she was my first base set doll, I did not think to do this first. I know she's not your usual mermaid, but I think she's very neat and I love the more fish-like quality she has with no arms and giant, wide set eyes.

You will need

Project Budget
Reasonably Priced

Time

10 h 00

Difficulty

So-so
Medium 102947 2f2014 07 01 173253 img 20140514 200109 zps34f78a5e Medium 102947 2f2014 07 01 173302 img 20140514 200151 zpsdea1f591 Medium 102947 2f2014 07 01 173308 img 20140514 200219 zps00f40470 Medium 102947 2f2014 07 01 173315 img 20140514 200330 zpsb0445430

Description

This mermaid was created as a swap piece for another site I no longer swap at. She was inspired by the work of Susana Tavares. To see her mermaid click here: http://ateliersusanatavares.blogspot.com/2012/09/mermaid-art-doll.html I loved the body style, but I cannot do her sort of strangely-whimsical art, so I went went something I can do, which is more carton like. She was created from paper mache clay and baked for several hours at a low temperature to harden her up. I painted her tail with sparkle acrylic paint and then handpainted on each of her scales. She was then sealed. Her hair is made from 100% wool felt roving so its very soft and has a beautiful flow to it. Her starfish is also made of paper mache clay and handpainted with sparkle and gold paint. To create her base, I cut a small piece of dowel and attached it to a wood base that I drilled a small hole into. I then stained it and sealed it. I attached the mermaid by drilling a hole in her carefully, and then glued her to the base. I suppose you can make the hole in the clay from the beginning, but since she was my first base set doll, I did not think to do this first. I know she's not your usual mermaid, but I think she's very neat and I love the more fish-like quality she has with no arms and giant, wide set eyes.

Instructions