![\"Sunflower](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debramaerz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Sunflower-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nI have been working on my art dolls and will hopefully complete one for the Hoffman challenge again.\u00a0 The challenge fabric is the Mandalay collection and this year I purchased the main challenge fabric and the accompanying fabrics.\u00a0 It is a rather busy print collection and I have finally decided how I am going to proceed, it took me awhile to come up with a vision for this doll.\u00a0 I have to admit it has been a bit of a\u00a0 struggle and I think it is because there is not one solid fabric choice and that made my head spin! Once I was able to find a solid fabric I began to visualize the costuming for the doll.\u00a0 I did spend a great deal of time painting the faces.\u00a0 I really do not like a seam going down the center of my doll faces and I guess I could\u00a0 “skin” them, but that is so frustrating for me.\u00a0 I instead like to use a clay over cloth technique and then finish the face by layering with gesso and sanding in between each coat of gesso, similar to the technique I learned in the Byzantine Icon class\u00a0\u00a0 This creates a very smooth and nearly flawless finish.\u00a0 Once the base is completed I paint the features.\u00a0 I use the same technique for the hands, which is really a challenge because they are so tiny.\u00a0 I have one more set of hands to complete, for the pink body and then I can really start to put these girls together.\u00a0 The costuming is the most fun.<\/p>\n