She (known simply as Bohemian Woman) is a free spirit with a kind heart who welcomes anyone and everyone to her cottage on the river. She makes her clothing from scraps people give her and in exchange she feeds them tea and oranges. She loves to tell stories of wild gypsies and carnival barkers and circus performers she's met in her travels. She tells of sailing the skies in a hot air balloon and learning to read a crystal ball and dancing under a full moon with wolves. She can spin a yarn that captivates the listener so intently that before they know it night has fallen and they've been there all day. She can sing and play the guitar and loves to invite her guests to participate in creating lyrics for her latest music creation. She keeps all the words in a journal that she houses in a wooden box with elephants carved on it that a Rajah once gave her. Animals gravitate to her and wait by her cottage door for her to feed them and love them and give them a warm place to sleep in winter. Every now and then she will take canvas and paint down to the rivers edge to capture a blue sky day. She rarely keeps her completed works but rather prefers to give them as gifts for a guest to remember their stay. What she doesn't realize is that no one would ever forget their time with her as she leaves a lasting impression on their hearts.
If one day you happen by the river and see smoke from the chimney in a wee cottage follow the scent of lavender and oranges to her door. As you walk through her garden gate you will be struck with the wildflowers that bloom all around it and the wild haired bohemian who will greet you with a warm smile and open arms.
from behind
Her face, chest and hands are coated in a glaze which is why she appears shiny.
back of her dress
close up of the back
front of her dress
closeup of the front
Her tights, red shoes and blue knickers
closeup of the bodice
her favorite tea cup
one of her oranges
She is approx. 15" tall and completely handmade. She began life as a wire armature covered with foil tape and wrapped with quilt batting. From there she began to take some shape and tell me who she was to become. She has a an actual bum, tummy and breasts underneath to give her shape. Her face is sculpted from polymer clay and her neck, partial shoulders and chest are from paper clay. Her hands are paper clay. I used several fabrics to create her clothing and all were bright batiks which are my favorites. Underneath she has on the obligatory black and white striped stockings and red shoes. She is also wearing blue silk dupioni "knickers". Her wild bohemian hair represents dread locks. I did some very simple beading on the bodice. Her legs can be posed so she can either stand with a doll stand or sit on a bench/shelf. There are SO many hours involved in her creation and although my neck and shoulders get a bit stiff from looking down for so long.....she is worth it to me. If you look at my banner you will see she is a version of my original drawing just as Joy Ride is from the my bird in the banner.
Recently The Muse and Joy Ride flew in to meet the Bohemian woman, she of course, offered them tea.
The Muse marveled at how similar their taste was in fabrics and colors. They were both thrilled.
Joy Ride sitting on a bench as The Muse and The Bohemian chatted over tea
They saddled up in preparation to leave and were so happy and delighted they could all meet!
I hope you enjoyed my sharing all this. I just get so excited when I complete something, stand back and feel this sense of internal bliss I cannot describe. This is all like breathing for me, I HAVE to do it (and by IT I mean art in any form) to survive. There is already a new one (art doll) on the drawing board.
XOXOXO
Love,
Lisa
A Whimsical Bohemian
