Art Dolls by Du Buh Du Designs

Art Doll ~ Frida; Vida y Muerte

 

 

 "Frida", mixed media art doll~Image Mixed media Art Doll, 2009 .

Here my latest Frida art doll. She is making her way down to the Frida Show  in CA where she'll be joining my other doll already on display. I was asked if I would create another one for the show, similar to the first one but not exactly the same. Initially I had planned to make marionettes of Frida and Diego, but having el Dia de los Muertos on my mind I chose to create two Fridas as representing vida y muerte, life and death..

:  :  D o l l   D e s c r i p t i o n  :  :

This Frida doll is a hanging wall piece and is approx. 15" in length and 8" wide at the base of the dress. She is wearing a corset made of plaster with the words "Las lágrimas de la vida riego mi alma"( The tears of life water my soul) written across it. A green ribbon made of dupioni silk adorns her waist. Her skirt is made of green silk and black satin with sequins on it. The white cotton trim on the skirt is made from vintage fabric. Around her arms she wears a shawl in various hues of purples with black fringe on the ends. In her hair are silk and flocked paper flowers and her necklace is made of lapis. The banner across Frida's dress has printed on it  a passage from her diary ,in Spanish, that reads "We were born for the same thing, to discover and love what has been discovered. Hidden. With the grief  of always losing it".

The two marionettes are approx. 7" in length . They are holding banners that read mi arte (my art) ..mi diego.. mi hijos (my children) mi indentidad (my identity) mi amor (my love)  mi dignidad (my dignity) mi cuerpo (my body) mi vida (my life).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm quite relieved to see this month come to an end~it's been a busy and at times frustrating one, however I have it firmly set in my mind that October will be a productive and creative month, without (m)any setbacks, illnesses, etc. I wish the same for all of you!

 

 

 

Más Frida

 

 "Frida", mixed media art doll~Image Mixed media Art Doll, 2009

Here is the latest Frida Art Doll~she is a bit larger than most of my dolls and includes elements of my previous Fridas from earlier this year and last. This is a portrayal of Frida in her latter years, her face aged due to years of pain (physical and emotional) yet she still maintains her regal /proud stance while tears fall from her unflinching gaze. Her corset (made of plaster bandages)reads : "La Frida que exite adentro de mi es conocida solamente por mi" (The Frida that exists inside is known only to me).



The older Frida holds a marionette of her younger self as a way of expressing how she takes responsibility for the choices she has made in her life, no matter the circumstances she found herself in. Her bare chest is partially covered with gold flakes (a reminder of the trolley accident that nearly took her life at 17). She is holding a human heart, a ribbon wraps around it with the words " El corazon de Diego~ El que suministra todo amor y dolor" (Diego's heart~the one that supplies every love and pain).



From the heart an artery twists upward around her arm and penetrates through her corset, connecting to her own heart. In her other arm she holds a Frida dove, serene, eyes closed with a broken wing protected in her arms. A ribbon cascading from her hand reads a quote from her diary " Mi Diego~ Yo no estoy solo. ¿ Alas? Tú me acompañas. Tu me duermes y me a vivas." ( My Diego~I am no longer alone. Wings? You keep me company. You lull me to sleep and make me come alive). The bird represents her spirit~at times broken but on the mend and ready to rise above all that trys to bring her down.



I will include a doll description (materials used) later when she is for sale.
 In the meantime I must make another disappearing act as my parents just arrived in town last night and we're headed out for the day.  I'll be occupied with family stuff the next two weeks but will do my best to post some of the new Day of the dead dolls when they're ready. It was probably wishful thinking to assume I would get alot done in regards to my dolls this Summer but I have to remind myself that at least I did create a few and I think they are among my best work yet :)
Thank you so much for all of your emails ,birthday wishes and continued support and encouragement!
Have a great week!

 

 

Fly Frida Fly!

Frida's birdcage with silk ribbon that reads  ¡Vuelve Frida Mosca! ..Fly Frida Fly!

Hello! Here are two Frida dolls that will be part of the upcoming shop update. They aren't quite finished as I still need to re-do the necklaces on the birds. I will be re-shooting the dolls  as I couldnt find my photo supplies I normally use (grrr) and the lighting is a bit red to see details. So just consider these" pre-sneak peeks" :)

The tiny Frida birds are approx 1.5" and just like my lady bird ornament(s) the bottom half is coated in tiny glitter and the top/wings are painted a pearly white.  I added a patina look to the rusted metal birdcages..their doors are open and they represent Frida's broken body which she refused to let hinder her freedom to live, love or create.
More on these later~ I have class tonight and am lagging on my sewing practice, though I did use the machine on the dresses of these Frida's. Off to get some work done! Have a wonderul weekend:)







updated images 5/3 : just  a few changes to the birds necklaces):







"Red Frida" is approx. 12"(30 cm)tall. She is wearing a red cotton skirt with pleated stitching and white eyelet trim. Her red cotton top has a decorative white floral print on it and around her arms she wears a shawl in black lace. Her hair is painted hair black and is adorned with two white silk floral pieces with tiny green crystals in the center. She is wearing tiny gold earrings ,each with a red swarovski crystal and around her neck she wears a double stranded necklace of yellow/green agate. Frida's eyes are painted brown and her shoes and leggings are painted black.

Her Frida bird is approx. 1 3/4" in length (4 cm).The bird's body is painted a pearlescent ivory color with tiny glitter coating the bottom half. She wears a tiny black beaded necklace(glass).In her hair wears a small white silk flower with red crystal in the center. Both doll and bird are coated with a matte varnish for protection.

The metal birdcage is approx. 1.5" (3.5 cm)from top to bottom and is coated in a patina color. The door opens and a coffee stained silk ribbon reads "Vuele Frida Mosca!"(Fly, Frida, Fly). A metallic black string is attached to the cage for the doll to carry.






"Blue Frida" is approx. 12.25"(32.5 cm)tall. She is wearing a skirt made of black silk with a white lace trim. Her cotton top has a decorative floral print on it in black and white and around her she wears a teal blue silk sash with purple trim. Her hair is painted hair black and is adorned with two dark red silk floral piece. She is wearing tiny silver earrings,each with a teal blue swarovski crystal and around her neck she wears a double stranded necklace of red glass seed beads. Frida's eyes are painted brown and her shoes and leggings are painted black.

Her Frida bird is approx. 1 3/4" in length (4 cm).The bird's body is painted a pearlescent ivory color with tiny glitter coating the bottom half. She wears a tiny black beaded necklace(glass).Atop her head she wears a small red silk flower. Both doll and bird are coated with a matte varnish for protection.

The metal birdcage is approx. 1.5" (3.5 cm)from top to bottom and is coated in a patina color. The door opens and a coffee stained silk ribbon reads "Vuele Frida Mosca!"(Fly, Frida, Fly). A metallic black string is attached to the cage for the doll to carry.