Full Color Archives • Page 30 of 75 • Paper Thin Personas

The Sprites And Their Pulpy Fantasy Armor

September 25, 2017

{View Larger} {View the PDF} {View Black & White} {View the Black & White PDF}
{More Sprites Paper Dolls}

Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: I always blame these forays into pulpy absurd fantasy armor on Xena: Warrior Princess

Because working full time and going to school is hard, I have been trying to get a whole week’s of blog posts scheduled each weekend. As, I sat down to schedule this next week I was struck by the lack of content.

While I was worrying about how I was going to get through the next two weeks, I stumbled across today’s pulpy fantasy set for the Sprites paper dolls.

I don’t know why I had forgotten about it. It was all done, except for layout. Why I hadn’t done the layout, I don’t know. I drew and colored it at the same time I colored the Regency set and this fantasy set that I posted earlier.

Still, who I am to look a gift horse in the mouth. So, this Monday here’s a new Sprites set. I love pulpy fantasy sets. I blame this on having watched a lot of Xena: Warrior Princess at an impressionable age. I also feel like I draw enough practical paper doll armor, that I can get away with also drawing totally impractical paper doll armor.

As for the rest of the week, on Wednesday there will be a new addition to the Poppets 1920s collection. Friday, you can look forward to the September edition of the 2017 Paper Doll Collaboration.

Love the blog? Become a Patron. It really helps.

Looking for some Sprite paper dolls to wear these outfits? Pick out Sprite paper dolls here.

Marisole Monday’s Early Fall Shirts & Jeans

September 18, 2017

{View Larger} {View the PDF} {View Black & White} {View the Black & White PDF}
{More Marisole Monday & Friends Paper Dolls}

Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Fall Fashions

Growing up in Alaska, autumn came very quickly. As soon as there was fresh snow on the mountain, known as termination dust, it was time to pull out boots and give up on summer. In Alabama, autumn comes in more slowly. It’s a gradual shift from the humid tropical weather of summer to a damp crisp autumn. While I don’t think the weather will last into this week, last week really felt like fall. Mostly, because we got rain from Irma, just rain- nothing serious where I live, and it made everything cooler and grey.

Of course, for a paper doll drawer like myself, the change of seasons gets me thinking about clothing. So, today, I wanted to share some transitional pieces. I’m not sure tank tops are really autumnal, but since it was in the 80s yesterday, I think they could be.

The colors are more autumn than the paper doll clothing designs. In the fall, I think of wines, rich purples and dark teals. To counter balance, the rich colors, I did light washed jeans. Apparently, bleached denim is back, so I thought I would share some.

I hope everyone is having a great autumn. I’m settling into my routine with grad school and work. The students have returned to campus (yay!) and I am enjoying working with them. I don’t know what it is about college students, but I adore interacting with them.

Meanwhile, what’s your favorite thing about autumn? Food? Weather? Getting to finally wear boots again?

Need a Marisole Monday & Friends Lady Paper Doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick One Out Here.

A Floral Fantasy Princess Gown for the B&B Paper Doll Series

September 15, 2017

{View Larger} {View the PDF} {View Black & White} {View the Black & White PDF}
{More Bodacious and Buxom Paper Dolls}

Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:Renaissance Dresses & Princess Gowns

Confession time: I didn’t keep really good notes on this princess gown- I think of it as one even though there is no crown. I usually try to write down where an idea comes from or what images I look at as source material, but in this case, I really don’t have much of an answer. I know I wanted to do something renaissance inspired and fantasy gown, but with a very different aesthetic than the Sorceress Gowns Project.

I think of the Sorceress gowns as being all about layers and flow.

This gown, on the other hand, is very much a renaissance inspired gown, though it’s not historically accurate in anyway.

And I love, love, love the colors.

The colors were inspired by a sunset, but I really wanted to embrace the idea of rich yellows, oranges and greens. The cream blouse and socks are meant to counter the rich color scheme of the rest of the dress. The garters are orange, of course, to march the flowers. I trimmed everything in black to counter balance the bright yellow and orange.

Playing with color is such a fun part of creating paper doll fashions.

Need to get a Bodacious & Buxom paper doll to wear these fabulous clothes? Pick one out here.

A New 1920s Poppet Printable Paper Doll

September 8, 2017

{View Larger} {View the PDF} {View Black & White} {View the Black & White PDF}
{More Poppets Paper Dolls}

Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Children’s Fashions 1900-1950 As Pictured in Sears Catalogs
Today’s paper doll is a new addition to the 1920s Children’s Wardrobe Collection. My love of 1920s fashion is pretty well documented on the blog, just check out the 1920s tag.

So, for the last year, I’ve been drawing a lot of 1920s children’s clothing. The late 1920s to the early 1930s are perhaps my favorite era in the 20th century. None of the looks would look decent on me, but I adore them.

So far, I’ve drawn 5 dresses for the Poppet’s paper dolls 1920s Children’s Wardrobe Collection. It seemed high time that I added another new doll to the project. So, now my Louise Brooks clone paper doll has a friend.

Along with her shoes, today’s Poppet paper doll to print has a pair of combinations based on several different sets I’ve seen. I drew her so long ago, that I confess I’m not certain about my sources.

So, this may be a 1920s experience in feel, more than a precise act of historical research.

Anyway, I super hope you enjoy her and I really think she’d pretty cute. I’ve got a few more 1920s pieces drawn before I need to work on more. And there will be more.

Need a some clothing for today’s Poppet paper doll? Pick Out Some Clothing Here.

Vasilisa the Beautiful Paper Doll Costume for the Poppet’s Fairy Tale Series

August 30, 2017

{View Larger} {View the PDF} {View Black & White} {View the Black & White PDF}
{More Poppets Paper Dolls}

Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Vasilisa the Beautiful

If I had to pick a favorite fairy tale (and how could I ever do that?) than Vasilisa the Beautiful would be in the top two or three. I’ve always loved Russian folklore and this tale is a wonderful one. It has Baba Yaga and skulls with glowing eyes and a matryoshka doll that talks.

What more could a person ask for?

Actually, I think my love of the tale comes from the lavish illustrations of Ivan Biliban. As a child, my mother gave me a book of Russian folktales with his amazing illustrations. So, it was probably the pictures that first drew me to these stories, but there’s something really magical about his work.

Vasilisa the Beautiful is a tale I had mixed feelings about illustrating for the Poppets, as the heroine is a grown woman rather than a child, but since I did Rapunzel (and Rapunzel gets pregnant) I though it would be okay.

The paper doll costume for Vasilisa the Beautiful that I designed is based on traditional Russian clothing. She wears a sarafan over a blouse. Here’s a lavish version from The Met. The headscarf was inspired by matryoshka dolls who you often see wearing them.

She has, of course, her own matryoshka doll as an accessory. I didn’t draw more than one, because one seemed enough.

When I was a child, my mother had a handmade set of matryoshka doll’s that came from Russia when it was the Soviet Union. They were precious to her and I remember playing with them as a child. I’ve always wanted a set of my own to display.

Anyway, I hope everyone has been enjoying the Fairy Tale and Nursery Rhyme series for the Poppets.

A Fantasy Gown for Marisole Monday

August 28, 2017August 28, 2017

{View Larger} {View the PDF} {View Black & White} {View the Black & White PDF}
{More Marisole Monday & Friends Paper Dolls}

Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Marchesa Notte Spring 2018 Wedding Dresses Collection

Today’s Marisole Monday fantasy gown is sort of Ancient Greek inspired, but also a bit wedding dress inspired. A dear friend is getting married in November, so I guess wedding gowns have been on my mind. I’ve become particularly smitted with Marchesa Notte’s designs.

I’ve had as soft spot for Marchesa Notte’s work for a while. It’s so delicate and lavish, that I’ve never felt comfortable trying to reproduce it on paper. Her Resort 2018 collection and her Fall 2016 collections are pure eye candy.

(Actually, all her collections are, those are just two of my favorites.)

Boots took on the challenge and drew 2 plates of Marchesa Notte evening gowns (Plate 12 and Plate 14) for her Catwalk Couture Collection. They are glorious.

Anyway, for my fantasy version, I took off the lace (because I hate drawing lace) and added some additional sleeve details and jewelry. I wanted the gown to feel like the sort of thing you could walk on the beach wearing a perfume commercial. You know, the kind filmed with exotic music and soft focus lighting.

Accessory wise, she has a crown and a book, mostly because I love to draw books.

If you’re a patron, there’s a different color version of this gown up there to see. If you’re not a patron, consider joining. It really helps offset the blogs costs.

Need a Marisole Monday & Friends Lady Paper Doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick One Out Here.

The Sprites Get Some Leather Armor and Fantasy Clothing

May 19, 2020August 23, 2017

{View Larger} {View the PDF} {View Black & White} {View the Black & White PDF}
{More Sprites Paper Dolls}

Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Pinterest… This image and This image

My addiction to Pinterest is pretty well documented on this blog. Partly, I like it, because it is a storehouse of images I find inspiring. There’s a bit of a myth that inspiration sort of just “appears” and that artistic work can only happen when you are “inspired.”

This is patently false and rather dangerous way to think about things.

Inspiration, or motivation, isn’t some magical force that will come to you if you just wait. Rather, it’s something you seek out by being disciplines and driven about what you’re doing. It doesn’t matter if your goal is to write the a novel or draw paper dolls, waiting until some thing happens to make you want to do something, is pretty much a sure fire way to never do it.

I’m not suggesting torturing yourself through hobbies you don’t enjoy, but I find the most inspiring thing to do is to be doing the thing already. The best ideas come when I’m already drawing, not when I’m thinking about drawing.

So, Pinterest, fashion magazines, my ever growing collection of costume history books, my doddle sketchbook, these are all tools that I use to help me get ideas, but none of them involve sitting about hoping ideas will happen.

Today’s Sprite paper doll clothing set is the first set in a Month. The Sprites are always a little harder than my other sets, because I have to draw a guy outfit to go with my girl outfit. Today, I was inspired by this image of a fantasy dress for the lady Sprites and this image of some armor for the gentlemen Sprites. Both images come from my fantasy armor Pinterest board.

What do you think of today’s paper dolls? Do you use Pinterest? How do you find inspiration? Let me know in a comment.

Looking for some Sprite paper dolls to wear these outfits? Pick out Sprite paper dolls here.

A Bodacious & Buxom Adventuring Outfit

August 11, 2017

{View Larger} {View the PDF} {View Black & White} {View the Black & White PDF}
{More Bodacious and Buxom Paper Dolls}

Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:Pathfinder and Adventuring

I play a fair bit of Pathfinder. It’s a d20 based RPG which has so much in common with Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 that people joking refer to it as Dungeons and Dragons 3.75. I started playing when I moved to Alabama, because it was a way to meet new people.

Plus I like spending my evenings killing imaginary monsters (and also sometimes, there’s pie.)

When you start out as a first level character, you get an outfit of clothing. The book is pretty vague on what this clothing actually consists of, but I was thinking about it recently. I always try to decide how my characters dress, because clothing is a physical manifestation of their social and cultural values.

(If you want to see an amazing version of this on screen, watch Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. The costuming is fabulous. The show is super weird and wonderful.)

Today’s paper doll is my version of what a beginning adventurer might wear. This isn’t someone who can really afford a super nice set of armor yet and they’re still kinda just figuring things out. So, we’ve got a tunic with a vest over it, a bit of armor, leggings and boots. There’s no lavish decorations.

There’s also a sword.

I figure any good adventurer probably has some famous sword to carry around, so she’s got one too. Maybe it’s magical?

Anyway, I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday. Next week, there will be a whole week of Mini-Maiden paper dolls.

Need to get a Bodacious & Buxom paper doll to wear these fabulous clothes? Pick one out here.

A Fitted Dress from 1956 for the Ms. Mannequin Paper Dolls

August 9, 2017

{View Larger} {View the PDF} {View Black & White} {View the Black & White PDF}
{More Ms. Mannequin Paper Dolls}

Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Vogue 8972, A Sewing Pattern from 1956

I’ve written before that part of what I like about drawing from fashion magazines is the simplicity of it. You see a shirt. You draw the shirt.

Thanks to the Vintage Pattern Wiki, I can apply a similar feeling to drawing vintage historical paper doll clothing. There are hundreds of vintage pattern covers in the Vintage Pattern Wiki, so if I feel like drawing 20th century clothing than I find it doesn’t take a lot of energy to track down something I like and draw it. I just pick a decade and start looking.

I’ll openly grant that this isn’t exactly the best research practice, but it’s fun and I like picking out things to try to recreate.

Today’s dress from 1956 comes from Vogue 8972. The Vogue pattern company began as a feature in Vogue magazine. In 1909, Conte Nast bought Vogue magazine and the pattern company was formed in 1914. This was around the same time most of the other big name pattern companies were getting started as well.

It might be confirmation bias, but Vogue patterns, even today, seem to be more couture styled than others.

When I chose to draw Vogue 8972, I thought it was an afternoon or dinner dress, but the pattern isn’t specific. I chose to make my a grape purple, because I like purple.

I am a little concerned that I might have made the skirt a bit shorter than it should be, but fashion figures have such freakishly long legs it can be hard to tell where the skirt actually stops.

There’s a few other patterns from the mid-1950s with similar narrow skirted silhouette are McCall’s 3461, Vogue S-4627, Simplicity 1678, McCalls 4615 and Advance 8368. There are dozens of others, but those were a few I thought shared traits with today’s paper doll dress.

Well, what do you think of the 1950s? It is a favorite fashion period of yours? Let me know in a comment.

Need a paper doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick out a Ms. Mannequin Paper Doll Here

A Printable Paper Doll Princess Ball Gown for Marisole Monday & Friends

December 6, 2020August 7, 2017

{View Larger} {View the PDF} {View Black & White} {View the Black & White PDF}
{More Marisole Monday & Friends Paper Dolls}

Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Fantasy Gowns

Today’s Marisole Monday post is princess paper doll ball gown with a full skirt and double puffed sleeves. It’s pretty over the top, though not the most over the top thing I have ever drawn.

I love drawing what I think of a traditional princess paper doll ball gown. You know the type with big skirts and puffy sleeves. The kind of gowns you imagine being worn only in cartoon movies with musical numbers and never by actual people in the real world who need to get through doorways.

All paper dolls are about fantasy to some degree. After all, much of the armor I draw wouldn’t protect you very well and plenty of the gowns I draw would be hard to walk it or move in, but I still draw them. I do care about some levels of realism. I like the for my paper doll clothing to ‘make sense’ in so much as, I want them to actual be able to exist.

It matters to me that layers layer properly and such. Fabric looks like fabric. You know, those sorts of things.

But practicality belongs somewhere other than in the realm of paper dolls.

This dress went through three color schemes or so, before I decided I like this yellow, blue and orange option.

One of the other color schemes, is up on the Patreon page for my patrons. So, if you’re a patron hop over to see it and if you’re not, consider joining. It’s a fun time.

As always, I love to here what you all think in the comments.

Need a Marisole Monday & Friends Lady Paper Doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick One Out Here.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: