Yay, it's out!

For a couple of years now, renowned fairy artist David Adams has been working on a book titled "FairyArt: Painting Magical Fairies and Their Worlds". I was very honored to be asked to be used as a model for several of the portraits in the book (pictures below :)

*Fairy Art: Painting Magical Fairies and Their Worlds* is available for pre-order at Amazon.com and other sites throughout the world. David will also be promoting it on his website, and have his original paintings there for sale as well, after christmas, so please stop by and see his magical work:

www.davidadamsonline.com










FairyArt: Painting Magical Fairies and Their Worlds. Copyright © 2009 by David Adams. Published by IMPACT Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45236. (800) 289-0963. First Edition.

warmest wishes,
Jennifer
FaerySpell Creations
etsy shop: http://www.faeryspellcreations.etsy.com
website shop: http://www.allandeverything.biz
blog: http://www.myspace.com/faeryspellcreations

Hello,

I just wanted to share some pictures that a lovely customer of mine sent along--she had commissioned me last month to create some bride, groom and flower girl wings for her October 31st fairy wedding.

They were such fun to do, and even more fun to see them being worn. Lynnea, you make a beautiful fairy bride! :)















Wishing everyone a lovely evening!
Jennifer
FaerySpell Creations
etsy shop: http://www.faeryspellcreations.etsy.com
website shop: http://www.allandeverything.biz
blog: http://www.myspace.com/faeryspellcreations

I've always loved paper dolls, to me there's something very magical about them. I normally love working with clay and cloth, but recently became inspired by a pattern for an 18th century paper doll that I came across. I thought it would be fun to turn her into a fairy, and then make her interesting by making her part of a handbag, and also a piece of jewelry!



From her description in my shop:

"The Faerie Queene....

One of my most unique bags, and a paper doll brooch too!

Large drawstring fabric pouch is adorned with assorted ephemera, fabric flowers,leaves and costume jewels. The faerie queene herself is removeable--handcolored, felt backed, and sealed, she makes a lovely and dramatic brooch.

Faerie is approx. 6" tall. Pouch is approx. 8" tall by 8" wide, printed cotton with a drawstring closure. Use for that very special evening out, or display as a work of art in your home :) "









Sending warm wishes and this lovely cold winter day, and Happy Thanksgiving!!

smiles,
Jennifer
FaerySpell Creations
etsy shop: http://www.faeryspellcreations.etsy.com
website shop: http://www.allandeverything.biz
blog: http://www.myspace.com/faeryspellcreations

I've just started coming out of my usual three-month doll making hiatus. I've come to learn, over the last few years, that this is a regular thing with me, a sort of a rhythm that I have. It works like this--I make dolls like crazy for six or seven months, creativity flowing all over the place constantly, sometimes more than one a day. My house overflows with fairies and magical creatures and then, one day, I just stop. And I won't really feel like doing a doll for a month, or two, or even sometimes three.

Then something will happen that sparks an interest again--it could be a story I read, a movie or photograph I see, or just something that pops into my head while I'm out for my walk or sitting daydreaming, and boom! I'm off again!

(funny thing is, everytime I come out of one of these idle episodes, my dolls get better. I've always found this odd as I do nothing during these 'quiet times' to improve my technique.) It's as if the rest and distance from the work itself somehow gives me a boost. I've always found this interesting.

Anyway, what's recently inspired me to begin work again, is two books that I just finished reading (both un-related to dolls or sculpting) One was called "Walt In Wonderland", about the early silent films Disney created before he was world-famous, and a biography on Walt Disney.



Now, I know the many criticisms some people have now about Disney and the Disney company regarding commercialism, etc.--but I enjoyed these two books so much because they focused on the man, not the institution, when he was just beginning, and showed how much hard work and dreaming (and more hard work!) coupled with genius creativity, inspiration and perseverence led him to create the world inside his head, outside, for all of us to see and experience.

And, when I was a child, that world was very inspirational and magical to me. (My grandfather was an artist for Disney in the 50's and so Disney was always a big deal in our family and a fascinating part of my life, growing up.)

Walt Disney was a pioneer in not only the animation industry, but the film industry as well. And no one, before or since, has created a 3-D fantasy realm that everyone could participate in the way he did with Disneyland. At the time, there's was simply nothing like it. He created great beauty and magic.

As a doll artist, I too create my own world, and people it with my own creations. Friends tell me that walking into my doll studio is like entering an alternate reality, and I love that. And I think that's one of my great goals and inspirations--to bring that world that is inside of my head, out into this one, not only to share it with others but to more fully realize it myself (though I don't think I'll be creating any theme parks....but then, again, you never know ;)







I believe that's what all of us, as artists, do. We are driven in our various ways to bring our inside world to the outside. And what wonderful, quirky, whimsical worlds these are!

Other people that inspire me, besides Walt Disney, are Brian and Wendy Froud, Alan Lee, Peter Jackson--all creative geniuses that not only add beauty to this world, but through their individual visions, make it something more than it was before.





So, I've made a nice warm pot of tea, pulled out my fairy tales, and clay, and have begun sculpting as of this writing...I have an idea forming itself in my head, for mixing writing/storytelling with my new family of characters, and to make it an ongoing series, adding more characters and personalities as I go along. Perhaps even make some little films of these stories as well...who knows where this new inspiration will lead?! :)

Okay, my faeries are calling me so I must go--wishing all of you a beautiful and creative Thursday evening!

Jennifer
FaerySpell Creations
etsy shop: http://www.faeryspellcreations.etsy.com
Website/Store: http://www.allandeverything.biz
Blog: http://www.myspace.com/faeryspellcreations