Art Dolls by Du Buh Du Designs

Art Dolls and Photography; Combining Two Loves

Ever since I started offering mini (Nie) Prints last summer I have been asked if I would  consider offering prints of my dolls in my Etsy shop. At that time I didn't have the best camera and when I finally picked up a decent one, my printer was acting up, so I just put aside the idea of prints, until now. I recently received a top of the line printer as a birthday gift and will be offering limited edition prints of handmade doll portraits. As you might know I studied Photography in college and it was my creative outlet years before I started making dolls. Somehow, after switching to digital I pretty much used photography for functional reasons only, forgetting that I could use it to show off my dolls in a more artful way.  I am excited about combining the two loves of mine and eventually I'd like to show my dolls and doll photography (3D Illustrations) in a gallery setting~ together. 

 As someone who was use to spending all day in a darkroom with traditional paper and film negatives, it's taken me awhile to get use to the idea that a digital photo can look as beautiful as a traditional photo and after seeing the results from my printer and this paper I'm pretty excited about expanding on my ideas with regards to my handmade dolls:)

 

texture detail

I will be offering six images, each printed onto heavyweight 8.5" x 11", 100% cotton paper..  After testing out several papers out I settled on a beautiful museum quality paper with the texture of watercolor paper specifically made for digital photo fine art. The paper is slighty textured and comes in an off white color.

Image size ranges from 4"x6"~ 5"x 7" (I did not want to crop some of the photos so the sizes aren't exact). The paper is archival~lightfast with a life of at least 100 yrs. The ink  is waterproof and archival (110 +yrs) though it print as a matte finish due to the paper I'm using. While Images are printed at a very high resolution,  please keep in mind that I often use a shallow depth of field so there will be blurring and sharpness in many images, both are intentional :) Each comes signed, titled and numbered in an acid free cello sleeve and a sturdy, stay flat mailer. I have all six framed, ready to hang and I think they look beautiful ..she said modestly (I'm rethinking the frames though) :)

If you are interested in a certain photograph please let me know and I will consider printing it if I saved it at a high resolution.

(All images © 2009 Christine Alvarado, Du Buh Du Designs)

 

(Prints do not come framed or matted, nor will the Du Buh Du Designs watermark appear on the final image)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frida Show

above image by Shanon Jones

I am posting this information now, instead of next week as mentioned in my last post, as I was contacted by the gallery today of several inquires regarding my Frida doll...already. I have been asked if I would consider making another doll  for the show, so if you are interested in a Frida doll please contact Marisol . The Gallery is in charge of all sales~ all inquiries must be made through them.

I hope that some of you who are in the LA  area will get a chance to see the Frida Show featuring artists of all mediums honoring the great artist Frida Kahlo! The show will be up from Sept. 1st through Oct. 31st with an opening reception Sept. 5th (Frida and Diego attire welcome) and a closing reception on October 31st (in celebration of Dia de los Muertos).

¡Viva Frida!

Artistic Integrity and Wonderfully Random Things..

my fortune received in the mail yesterday :)

Greetings! Thanks for the kind words about my latest Frida doll! She was just accepted into a show down in Southern California. I will post details here about the gallery and contact info. this week .  I use to show my work years ago but this will be the first time one of my dolls has been shown and I am quite happy about that :)

You may be wondering about my title post today. I hadn't planned on writing about this but feel that's it important to mention an incident that happened recently, involving copying, as I know those of you artists out there may be able to relate or have some insight to provide.
Since I've started making and selling my dolls I have had several artists thank me for inspiring them to get into the art of dollmaking. I am always thrilled when this happens. It feels wonderful to have inspired someone to take up this art form just as I was inspired when I saw artist Dame Darcy several years back demonstrating how to make simple articulated clay dolls on a television show.  I remember contacting her and showing her my own doll and was sent back a very encouraging email. I have felt really good about developing my own style . When people have sent me pictures of their own dolls I am genuinely pleased for them and try to encourage them to continue, often giving advice on the supplies I use even the camera I takes my pictures with. I feel that I have been very open, generous and encouraging. As artists , especially as women, we should encourage each other and strive to create our own style, our own voice while respecting each others work.
Recently I discovered an acquaintance creating and selling new work that looked very similar to "Du Buh Du" dolls . Having never had this happen I sent a polite but straight forward letter explaning why this was hurtful and that it wasn't right to copy anothers work. Now I'm being made out to be the bad guy for trying to stifle this persons work (guess that's what happens when you stand up for something you believe in ). I feel that there is a need to speak up for artistic integrity these days with all of the copying that I've seen, and now experienced. I'm not talking about copying others ideas or themes, or using the same supplies, I'm talking about someones style, and selling it. We all learn by example, we borrow from other people but when it involves brazen copying, well, sadly I feel something needs to be said. It just seems like we live in a world now where it's not politically correct to stand up for what's right or wrong, that we are supposed to just look the other way and not say anything. Because everyone else is doing it that makes it somehow okay.

Anyhow, hopefully I'm making some sense here. My husband had the best advice by reminding me to focus on my own work and unique style. I am trying to keep that mind that I should continue making artwork that comes from that inner part of me that makes my work special (I say that in the least egotistical way possible!).
 I should direct you to Ulla's post from last year ~it is a far more eloquent and heartfelt commentary on dealing with this subject. Author Kelly Rae has also commented on the matter of copying and the post is definitely worth reading as I agree with her on this sticky topic.

On to the next thing as I don't want this to be a bummer of a post!


 During a visit to Some Pink Flowers' post for the Mad Tea Party this summer I commented on these quirky sheep images with Eiffel Towers on their heads and how they should be on the front of a card. Well , artist BBGardner not only wrote back to say she had done just that but sent me a lovely package full of these cards,postcards of her photography and a bag full of ribbons and things:)  I love the attention to detail she gave the package and each gift. Included was my fortune which is now hanging in my studio (image at beginning of my post). Thank you for being so generous Bonnie~I love the gifts!!


image above c. BB Gardner

 I am in the process of cleaning my studio and if you are like me you probably have a lot of extra supplies, specifically fabric, that you will probably never use. I came across Cathy's latest post and saw where a group of men serving in Iraq are collecting fabric to give to Iraqi women who don't have access to quilting supplies. I think this is a wonderful idea and if you want to help there is a link on Cathy's post that will take you directly to the info you need or you can click here. Please spread the word..

*added note: this project will end Sept. 7th~leave a message on Art's blog and he will send you the details including an APO address.

One last thing..you may have noticed that in the left hand column are two badges for the upcoming Dia de Bloglandia event and the next Shrine auction. If you are interested in participating in this joint online event click on the badges and sign up to participate! The auction will last two days and benefits the Street Children of Oaxaca Grassroots Organization. What a wonderful way to celebrate the Day of the Dead event~

Off to finish cleaning my studio this evening~We had a wonderful visit with my family and overall, a great summer 2009. It's back to work this week . I can't believe my little one is starting pre-school this week.. : O
Have a good one!

Más Frida

Art Doll~ Frida Kahlo

Frida is approx. 14" tall and is a hanging wall piece

Here is the latest Frida Art Doll~she is a bit larger than most of my dolls and includes elements of my previous Fridas from earlier this year and last. This is a portrayal of Frida in her latter years, her face aged due to years of pain (physical and emotional) yet she still maintains her regal /proud stance while tears fall from her unflinching gaze. Her corset (made of plaster bandages)reads : "La Frida que exite adentro de mi es conocida solamente por mi" (The Frida that exists inside is known only to me).



The older Frida holds a marionette of her younger self as a way of expressing how she takes responsibility for the choices she has made in her life, no matter the circumstances she found herself in. Her bare chest is partially covered with gold flakes (a reminder of the trolley accident that nearly took her life at 17). She is holding a human heart, a ribbon wraps around it with the words " El corazon de Diego~ El que suministra todo amor y dolor" (Diego's heart~the one that supplies every love and pain).



From the heart an artery twists upward around her arm and penetrates through her corset, connecting to her own heart. In her other arm she holds a Frida dove, serene, eyes closed with a broken wing protected in her arms. A ribbon cascading from her hand reads a quote from her diary " Mi Diego~ Yo no estoy solo. ¿ Alas? Tú me acompañas. Tu me duermes y me a vivas." ( My Diego~I am no longer alone. Wings? You keep me company. You lull me to sleep and make me come alive). The bird represents her spirit~at times broken but on the mend and ready to rise above all that trys to bring her down.



I will include a doll description (materials used) later when she is for sale.
 In the meantime I must make another disappearing act as my parents just arrived in town last night and we're headed out for the day.  I'll be occupied with family stuff the next two weeks but will do my best to post some of the new Day of the dead dolls when they're ready. It was probably wishful thinking to assume I would get alot done in regards to my dolls this Summer but I have to remind myself that at least I did create a few and I think they are among my best work yet :)
Thank you so much for all of your emails ,birthday wishes and continued support and encouragement!
Have a great week!

Dia De Bloglandia, Artful Blogging & Thirty nine

I called our local bookstore to see if they had latest Artful Blogging in stock (being out in the middle of Oregon we still receive things via the pony express it seems) and I was informed they didn't carry that title anymore. What?!  I headed on over there and was relieved to see that this was not the case. This happens to be my favorite Stampington publication and I am thrilled to have a few images of my dolls in this latest issue as part of the four page Q&A article  on the Dia de Bloglandia blog event with one of the event's host Stephanie Hilvitz. It's a very thoughful interview and I'm glad to see A.B. recognize Stephanie's efforts while giving her a place to talk about el Dia de los Muertos and what it meant to her and the other participants:)

Frida and Catrina dolls from my Dia de Bloglandia post last year

 

Stephanie and the fellow host Susanna have informed us that the upcoming Day of the Dead online event will be a little different this year. They are collaborating with the lovely Rebecca of Mi Corazon and participants will be creating a cigar box shrine to be auctioned off for the Street Children of Oaxaca organization ! I can't think of a more perfect collaboration ~more details to come next month and I'll post them here as I hear of them . Consider joining in and creating a shrine for the Day of the Dead online Event November 1st . That seems like a long ways away but it'll be here sooner than you know it!

 

"Frida and Diego" cigar box shrine from January

Speaking of which... I have vague memories of being a child and watching Bob Hope (or some other comedy show/special) and the host would ask an audience member how old they were to which the reply was usually " thirty-nine and holding" drawing a huge laugh from the audience members. As a kid I never found it funny...I couldn't comprehend why an adult would even want to admit to being that old at minimum :) Now that I'm 39 (today) it doesn't quite seem so old (!)..and there won't be any "holding" back for me.

I'm off to a birthday breakfast, Mimosas and all~ I'll be raising a toast to being thirty-nine and letting go :)