Paper Doll Collaboration 2019: Pattern!

A paper doll coloring page featureing autumn themed dresses with fun patterns. Great as a fall activitiy for kids!

Black and White PDF | More of the Paper Doll Collaboration 2019

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
Melissa of Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls  and Julie of Paper Doll School have done such a better job of keeping up with this collaboration than I have. I confess I have several months drawn, but never finished.

My natural instinct is to feel guilty about this (I have an overdeveloped since of responsibility), but since in the last three months I have moved across the country, gotten a new job and moved in with my partner. I really don’t think I should feel the least bit guilty about any of it.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
The theme for September was pattern and I was super excited to explore that theme. I really love working with patterns, though I think some patterns are easier for me to draw than others. My fights with plaid are a thing that I wish I didn’t have quite so much. I also think some types of patterns render bettern in my style of pen and ink than others.

Anyway, since I knew the patterns were going to take center stage, I chose to do two very simple silhouettes for my paper doll outfits- a pair of a-line dresses. Neither of these pieces would be warm enough for Alaska in February without some serious tights. There was ice on my car last week! But they’re both fun and I can pretend warm weather is going to continue a little longer.

Specific Source Images: Well, I did look at some gourds, but… nothing I can point to today!

Learn/See More
On the Blog: The 2017 Collaborative Paper Doll Project, the 2018 Collaborative Paper Doll Project and this years 2019 Paper Doll Collaborative Project
Around the Internet: Julie of Paper Doll School, the lovely Melissa of Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls also have created some paper dolls, I know.

Last Thoughts
Be sure to go check out Paper Doll School, Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls both of whom I know have some really fun versions of this month’s theme.

Last, but not least, Happy New Year to anyone celebrating! May your New Year be very sweet.

May and June Collaboration: Beach & Mermaids

Black and White PDF | More of the Paper Doll Collaboration 2019

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
Confession, I have no idea who out of my usual crew- Julie of Paper Doll School, Melissa of Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls  and Boots of Popculture and Paper Dolls – have actually kept up with this collaboration. One of the rules from the beginning for me (a personal rule, not one I told anyone else) is that this project has always been about only one thing- having fun and I was never planning to enforce any sort of participation requirement on anyone.

So, I have no clue whose sharing something this month. I am entirely comfortable with that level of ignorance.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
Technically, I drew these mermaids for May, but I didn’t get them finished. And I didn’t get anything drawn in June, so I thought- June’s theme is Beach. Mermaids live in the Ocean. What is the ocean, if not, a beach under water?

Specific Source Images: Um…. Nothing really. It’s Mermaids.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: There’s the 2017 Collaborative Paper Doll Project and the 2018 Collaborative Paper Doll Project
Around the Internet: My usual buds in this strange endeavor are the delightful Julie of Paper Doll School, the lovely Melissa of Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls, and the remarkable Boots of Popculture and Paper Dolls, I have no idea if any of them are sharing creations this month.

Last Thoughts
I’ve been thinking a lot of lately about black and white vs color. I find I do draw differently if I am working on a piece that I know won’t be colored vs a piece I know will be colored. I think line work can be very powerful and I wish I had more time to experiment with it then I usually do.

As I said above Paper Doll School, Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls and Popculture and Paper Dolls might have their own versions of this months theme or they might not. It’s a surprise!

Paper Doll Collaboration for April! Cosplay & Fandom

Star Trek and Buffy coloring page with outfits from the two series to print, color and play with.

Black and White PDF | More of the Paper Doll Collaboration 2019

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
Every month, myself and some fantastic paper doll artists around the internet- Julie of Paper Doll School, Melissa of Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls  and Boots of Popculture and Paper Dolls all create an outfit for the same paper doll pose. That way, in theory anyway, the all the dolls can share all the clothing.

It’s a super fun way to share how different artists view the same subject matter. Plus it really makes me (I can’t speak for the others) stretch, because the themes are often things I wouldn’t normally create.

For example, I really don’t do cosplay and I rarely draw fanart. I have complex mixed feelings about the ethics of fanart in general (which I won’t get into here), but I also realize that in a lot of geek culture there’s a long history of fanart being accepted. So, I tend to come down on the side of it being okay, as long as I am not profiting from it directly. But I don’t imagine it will become a big part of what I tend to illustrate.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
If there are two shows that deeply defined my teenage life, they would be Buffy: The Vampire Slayer and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. My high school let out at 2:15 and I was home by 3 and that was when Buffy aired. I painstakingly recorded every episode and I remember carefully reading the TV listings to make sure I could catch on re-run ones I had missed. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was on from 9pm to 10pm. My bedtime was 9:30, so every night I set the VCR to record the episode, so I could watch it when I got home from school the next day.

Specific Source Images: The Star Trek Uniform was based on the uniforms from seasons 1 through 6. The Buffy outfit is based on what Buffy wears in the second season episode School Hard. I like Buffy’s girly looks, because I loved the contrast of a character in pastels kicking butt.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: There’s the 2017 Collaborative Paper Doll Project and the 2018 Collaborative Paper Doll Project
Around the Internet: My partners in crime- the lovely Julie of Paper Doll School, the remarkable Melissa of Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls, and the delightful Boots of Popculture and Paper Dolls

Last Thoughts

I spent a truly insane amount of time trying to find a decent shot of Buffy’s shoes to try to draw them. After a lot of re-watching scenes in slow motion, the best I can tell they are chunky heeled slingback loafers in white which might (or might not) have some sort of toe detail. I think, based on how much reflection they have, that they maybe patent leather or at least fake patent? Anyway, I did by best guessing based on the few images of them I could find.

Remember that Paper Doll School, Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls and Popculture and Paper Dolls all have their own versions of today’s theme. Go check them out!

Sweet Style for March 2019! Collaboration Paper Doll

A coloring page focused on food/sweet fashion clothing.

Black and White PDF | More of the Paper Doll Collaboration 2019

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
As my long time readers know, I’ve teamed up with some amazing paper doll artists around the internet Julie of Paper Doll School, Melissa of Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls  and Boots of Popculture and Paper Dolls to create a shared paper doll project every month.

Life was nuts last month, so I skipped it, but this month I was excited for the “sweet/food” clothing theme. I chose to keep things kinda simple by using food items as graphics on some contemporary clothing pieces.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
My two big inspirations were sprinkles and the things that sprinkles can go on- cupcakes and ice-cream cones.

Specific Source Images: Nothing really specific this time.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: There’s the 2017 Collaborative Paper Doll Project and the 2018 Collaborative Paper Doll Project
Around the Internet: My partners in crime- the lovely Julie of Paper Doll School, the remarkable Melissa of Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls, and the delightful Boots of Popculture and Paper Dolls

Last Thoughts

Be sure to check out the versions of this today’s theme from Paper Doll School, Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls and Popculture and Paper Dolls.

We all looked at it quite differently, which for me is my favorite part of this process. I love seeing how different people create for the same theme.

Trends of 2019 and The First of the Paper Doll Collaboration 2019

Black and White PDF of the Dolls | Black and White PDF of the Clothing | More of the Paper Doll Collaboration 2019

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
For the last few years, I have teamed up with some super talented other paper doll artists to create a shared paper doll project. This year, I designed the base doll and then everyone else got to draw clothing.

It has been a super fun project, as always, and I am looking forward to it.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
The dolls were all based on a sort of traditional paper doll pose. The theme for the clothing this month was Trends of 2019. I chose to illustrate what I think will remain popular in fashion on the left- sleeve detail and skinny ankle pants.

On the right, I chose to get a little more experimental. If there was one thing I noticed on the Spring 2019 runways, it was fullness. Huge skirts. Huge sleeves. High necks. So, I adapted those things into a cocktail dress.

Specific Source Images: Viktor & Rolf, Spring 2019 Collection, Valentino, Spring 2019 Collection, Giambattista Valli, Spring 2019 Collection, & Schiaparelli, Spring 2019 Collection
Learn/See More
On the Blog: There’s the 2017 Collaborative Paper Doll Project and the 2018 Collaborative Paper Doll Project
Around the Internet: My partners in crime- Julie of Paper Doll School, Melissa of Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls, Boots of Popculture and Paper Dolls and Cory of Paper Dolls by Cory

Last Thoughts
My 2 dollar and up patrons, are getting an extra set of dolls today! I had a lot of fun designing them and hope you all enjoy them.

Also, this wouldn’t be any fun at all without my fellow artist, so be sure to check out the versions of this today’s theme from Paper Doll School, Miss. Missy’s Paper Dolls, Popculture and Paper Dolls and Paper Dolls by Cory. Cory did let me know he might be a bit late. That’s okay though. This is a fun project, not like… it’s not meant to be too serious.

By the way, what trends do you think will be in for 2019?