A Paper Doll Artist, technique for creating a Paper Doll

If anyone is curious about how I go about creating a Paper doll, here is an outline of my technique.
I can credit the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale with what I know about art supplies and I was able to experiment with a lot of different media, including pastel, airbrush, oils, and charcoal. My primary color media is watercolor combined with Prismacolor pencils. My paints are the very same Pelikan set that I used in art school, it's now over 20 years old, I just keep adding water! I have several sizes of sable brushes but there are synthetic ones that work just as well and are less costly. The main brushes I use are; #1, #4, and 3x0. Keeping the larger ones for washes over big areas like a skirt. The pencils are used for outlining and detailing, although I always use my tiniest brush on the PD's face, pencil just looks too grainy.

OLD PAINTS (Now in their 21st Year), From which all good things come!

I paint on Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colour Pad, which I buy in 12x16 pads and cut to whatever size I need. I use the same paper for black & white but I buy the hot press (smooth) version in 9x12 pads since I usually work that size and I do more B&W that I do color. I use two sizes of Rapiograph pens, #0 & 3x0 for B&W ink work, and I would be lost without my Pro-White, a wonderful corrective white paint to cover up my mistakes. I don't think I have a SINGLE ink drawing that doesn't have generous use of this on it, You can also draw over the white when it's dry and it is marvelous for cleaning up 'rough' edges.

Now for the actual creation of the Paper Doll; I sketch everything out on tracing paper first with a rough fit of the clothes on the doll. Then I transfer the doll to the board by tracing the outline on the flip side with a soft Ebony pencil. Using regular #2 pencil, I refine the drawing and ink it, or if color, I retrace the drawing with a brown Prismapencil and erase the original pencil lead. Because Prisma is wax based, it doesn't completely erase and leaves a 'ghost' outline that is easily painted over. It's best to totally finish the doll before you start on the clothes so you can be sure of fit. I transfer the clothes in the same manner as before, but double check on my light box as I go along, to make sure they will fit properly and tabs can be usefully placed.

[FANCY EPHEMERA LOGO 14K jpg]

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