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Tag Archives: blue
Marisole Monday: Coastal Princess in Coastal Colors
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So, my original idea was to make today’s paper doll a little bit latino looking with a darker skin tone than I’ve done with a Margot paper doll before, but I think she rather turned out just looking like she got a bit of a tan. So, next time I’ll rethink the color choice. Skin tones are hard, as I think I’ve mentioned many many times before. Personally, I really like the dark blue dress the best. I think it came out just like I wanted it to.
Stumbled across a new tumblr today, called Paper Doll Central. Beautiful work. Makes me wish I still was trying to keep up with my tumblr. Lots of nice paper dolls there worth checking out if you have a few minutes and want to indulge.
I mentioned last week I was inspired by the Mediterranean ocean when I colored this paper doll. I was also inspired by the idea of not using any pinks or reds, just clean clear cool colors. I imagine Margot walking on the beach, wind whipping through her skirts while she watches ships on the ocean. Then, possibly, being attacked by giant crabmen from the planet Neptune.
Maybe I should have drawn her a sword.
Posted in Full Color, Margot, Marisole Monday & Friends, Printable Paper Dolls
Tagged blue, fantasy, green, latino paper doll, medieval inspired, princess, teal
5 Comments
New Full Color Printable Paper Doll Named Madison
{A Full Set Printable PDF of the Madison Paper Dolls}{PNG file of Page One}{PNG files of Page Two}{PNG files of Page Three}
I don’t have very many Asian paper dolls, partly because it took a long time before I was comfortable drawing epicanthic folds, which are a characteristic of many East and Central Asian people, though are by no means exclusive to those groups. There is a huge variety the shape of the epicanthic fold and I never felt like it looked right until I got to grad school and ended up sitting across from a Chinese student for an entire semester. I don;t know what she did to stay awake, but what I did was user her as a model for my first Asian Pixie paper doll, named Zoe. Of course, she didn’t have blue hair or such a huge head, but I digress.
So, the Poll is over, since January is done and a child paper doll won to my own astonishment. So, I’ll get on that. In the mean time, enjoy Madison.
Posted in Full Color, Printable Paper Dolls, Short Run Dolls
Tagged asian paper doll, ballgown, blue, boots, contemporary, green, mix and match, pink, sandals, short hair
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Pixie and Puck: The Princes in Color… Mostly Blue, as it happens…
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So, the black and white version of today’s paper dolls went up last week and I, being a space cadet, sorta forgot to post the color version, though I finished it on Sunday. I hope a little belated paper doll posting will be forgiven.
Have I mentioned this week has been INSANE? Because it has been, and classes get into full swing next week, so things are not looking to be much more peaceful. Despite that, I’m enjoying it. As I know I’ve said before, I would far rather be busy then bored. I also seem to have a lot of stuff inked, but I’m having trouble getting it onto the blog, so I am going to put some more effort into getting it scanned this weekend, so that it can go up.
Posted in Full Color, Pixie & Puck, Printable Paper Dolls, Pucks (Guys)
Tagged blond, blue, braids, crown, fairy tale, fantasy, green, jacket, male, prince, suit, vest
2 Comments
Marisole Monday: In the Mid-1860s… Full Color
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Here we are today with the colored version of last Monday’s post. Color for historical garments is complicated, because colors are very much a matter of taste and a matter of time. Just as the avocado and burnt orange polyester shirts of the 1970′s seem dated to us today, the colors of the past are rarely how we imagine them to be. I always picture the Victorians in tones of sepia, not because that was what they wore, but because I always see sepia photographs. I once had a professor point out that the way we picture the past has little to do with how the past actually was, but I enjoy my fantasies of the past as much as the next person.
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For this set of paper dolls, I chose to use colors from reproduction quilting cottons as a basis for the garment. They turned out to be a little muddier than perhaps I would have chosen on my own, but I wanted something different than the oranges, blue, pink, and green combination of colors I find myself most often drawn too. The ballgown in pink and black is based on the fashion plate which I drew it from, though I made a slightly darker version of the original.
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I’ll confess openly that I’m not entirely pleased with how some of these came out in color. I went muted and I think that was the right call, but I’m not sure that I didn’t lose some of the lusciousness and the vibrancy of the era. They also came out less romantic than I had hoped they would be. I do think Margot is awfully cute with her freckles and red hair (yes, I do have a weird thing for redheads). In truth, I am pleased with both the dolls. I think Marisole is a warm brown this time and I like how Margot came out. All in all, though I had some second thoughts about drawing a new face for Marisole, I am pleased with Margot and I think she’ll show up a bit more around the blog.
On an unrelated note, child paper dolls have pulled into the lead in the polling… a fact which I am very much surprised by.
Posted in Full Color, Margot, Marisole, Marisole Monday & Friends, Printable Paper Dolls
Tagged 1860s, ballgown, black paper doll, blue, corset, cream, freckles, green, historical, pink, red head, swimsuit, underwear
6 Comments
Marisole Monday: Fruity Autumn in Color
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I’ve mentioned before my “skintones make shoes a pain” thing, and so I wanted to give this Marisole a skintone that was shared by another doll so that she could share shoes. I chose Candy Coated Couture, but I don’t think the skintones are actually the same. In fact, a quick check with photoshop’s eyedrop tool tells me they aren’t. This has something to do, I think, with how Photoshop saves things for the web.
So, I did a little internet research and found a lovely article
I am going to try a few other methods and see if they help. It’s a strange problem indeed.
Since it’s Christmas Eve, I wanted to wish a everyone a lovely Christmas. Be safe and be merry. I am back in Alaska with my family celebrating.
Posted in Full Color, Marisole, Marisole Monday & Friends, Printable Paper Dolls
Tagged black paper doll, blue, contemporary, curls, dress, jeans, jewelry, mix and match, orange, pink, yellow
3 Comments
Puck as a Super Hero… In Full Color
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I’ve never really gotten into superhero comics unless you count Deadpool or watching the Batman cartoon when I was a kid. When I do read comics, I stick to the compilations and some of my favorites have been Lucifer and Hellblazer, and of course, Sandman, but then, who doesn’t like Sandman?
So, for the coloring of my superheros, I decided to go with simple primary and secondary colors without a lot of complicated depth. I wanted to reproduce a little of the feel of the old fifties comics, before computer printing made a lot of depth possible. I think I will always think of comics as being bright flat color, even though I know there are some wonderful and skilled artists who bring so much more to the genre. I’m sensitive enough to color that badly colored or art I don’t like, can ruin a comic for me.
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Needless to say, I really enjoyed drawing this set and I hope I will get to draw more sets like it in the future.
After I finished it, I did a little digging looking for other paper dolls aimed at boys and I found this nice list of free paper dolls for boys. And though it’s not a paper doll, I think one of my favorites was this paper city of paris. As I have mentioned before, I am a sucker for unusual and interesting paper toys of all kinds, paper dolls are just my favorites.
Posted in Full Color, Pixie & Puck, Printable Paper Dolls, Pucks (Guys)
Tagged belt, black paper doll, blue, brunette, cape, gloves, green, jumpsuit, kid friendly, latino paper doll, male, orange, red, sci-fi, superhero, yellow
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Marisole Monday: Pattern & Grace- Full Color
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I’m a little ashamed of how long it took me to get this paper doll up and I have absolutely no excuse since the paper doll was colored weeks ago, but with family visits and a nasty cold, it took longer than it should have to be done. If you’ve forgotten, the black and white version contained a rant about how complicated the floral pattern was. I’d like to say it was easier to color than it was to draw, but that would be a lie.
Coloring that floral pattern was a pain in the neck.
Still, I’m quite pleased with how it came in and, while I am in a bit of a cold medication induced haze, I think the whole paper doll is fairly charming. I sort of regret not making her blond so that her hair net things would be more obvious, but that’s my only complaint.
By the way, lately Marisole’s face has been reminding me a little to much of an insect. If I redrew her head, would people be horridly upset? I’d make sure her clothing still fit. Let me know in comments.
Posted in Full Color, Marisole, Marisole Monday & Friends, Printable Paper Dolls
Tagged black paper doll, blue, boots, dress, empire waist, fantasy, green, knitting, pattern, pitcher, princess, red, renaissance inspired, sword, yellow
6 Comments
Marisole Monday: Roccoco Fantasy in Full Color
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Just for Boots, I didn’t make anything pink in this set. 
Originally, there was pink in it, but I do use a lot of pink… which is odd, because I don’t like pink that much in the real world… So, I decided to be anti-pink for a while. Plus I think these dresses are fro-froo enough without adding pink into the mix.
Not that I have anything against pink, mind you… just a thought, really.
And now for a question:
-
Julie asked: What advice would you give an aspiring paper doll artist? Are there Fashion Illustration books you recommend? How about Figure Drawing books?
To aspiring paper doll artists (and I’m not sure I’m not that far from ‘aspiring’ myself), I’d say the following:
Draw a lot
Look at paper dolls you like and try to figure out what you like about them
Don’t be afraid to copy a style you like- imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
Reference images are your friend
Draw what you like and what you love, not what you think is popular or other people will like
Have fun and stretch yourself… even though that’s scary a lot of the time
As for books, I would recommend… I think that’s worthy of it’s own blog post. So, I will work on putting together a list. If i had to name one, it would be Drawing the Head and Figure by Jack Hamm. It’s old, but it’s solid and I still use my copy when I need to draw a face in profile. (You might notice, I don’t do that much… cause I suck at it, but I use Hamm whenever I think I want to try again.)
Here’s a question for my readers, would you be interested in knowing what books I use and/or recommend about historical costume or figure drawing?
Posted in Full Color, Marisole, Marisole Monday & Friends, Printable Paper Dolls
Tagged 18th century, blue, dress, fantasy, flowers, green, hat, high heels, ribbons, short hair, stockings, wig
5 Comments
Marisole Monday: On the Board Walk in Color
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It is rare that I have the plan for a color scheme in mind before I start drawing, but I knew I wanted this set of paper dolls to be done in a red white and blue color scheme with a nautical twist.
I was playing around with my Photoshop settings on this one and I am not totally pleased with how the line-work came out on the color version. I shall have to look into what I did and think about it a bit more. I didn’t notice it as much on my smaller laptop screen, but working on it on a larger screen it has become very obvious.
So, I think it’s now question time…
Gillian asked: when did you start drawing paper dolls? and how did you learn to draw?
Well…. I started drawing paper dolls… I don’t even remember when I started drawing paper dolls. My mother used to draw dolls for me and my sister when we were kids. She’d draw the doll as a bribe to get us to clean our rooms or do the dishes and then we would have to draw the clothing. So, that’s when the paper doll thing got started.
I learned to draw mostly by doing a lot of it. I took art classes in high school and middle school, but mostly I am self taught. I’d love to have some time in the future to take some figure drawing classes. I don’t think I do a very good job on my figures. I nearly always draw from a reference image. I don’t really have the ability to draw well without one.
I hope that answers your question Gillian.
By the way, I was trying to do a darker, maybe Latino skin tone here, but I think she came out looking sickly. Too much yellow in the skin, perhaps.
Posted in Full Color, Marisole, Marisole Monday & Friends, Printable Paper Dolls
Tagged black paper doll, blue, boots, fantasy, hat, latino paper doll, mix and match, pleats, red, stockings, stripes, victorian inspired, white
9 Comments
Pixie & Puck: Jesse
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So when I asked people what they wanted to see on the blog, male paper dolls won out. I don’t really see the appeal myself- after a while, I think guys clothing gets boring, but I am trying to provide what people have asked for (also I have had this drawn for months and coloring it was fast), so here is Jesse- another Puck paper dolls. He joins the other Pucks which can be found with their female counter-parts the Pixies. In total, I’ve done six Pucks, I believe. I guess out of over 250 pages of paper dolls, six males isn’t much of a percentage, but it’s a lot higher than zero.
Today’s Puck paper doll fits in pretty well with Dillon having another fairly standard casual wardrobe. I confess I don’t know much about male clothing, but I do my best with the Pucks. I did just notice I do seem to have a lot of blond Pucks… which is rather odd. I’ll have to work on that.
Posted in Full Color, Pixie & Puck, Pucks (Guys)
Tagged blond, blue, boots, button down, contemporary, gloves, hat, male, scarf, sweater
5 Comments