First Santos Cage Doll w Jen Rizzo-Part 3

I said this post would be of the finished doll, but since I'm having trouble finding what I want for her cage skirt, I decided to go ahead and post pictures of where she is now. 

I had a terrible time attaching her arms to her shoulders (I forgot to punch holes in each for a wire), and couldn't get my glue to hold them on even long enough to wrap the clay around them, so I had to try to hold them together with one hand and wrap them in clay with the other.  I finally got them attached and left them to dry 2-3 days. Hopefully, they will stay put!

 I had sanded her and painted a first coat of acrylic paint over white gesso on her face and body before attaching the arms.

After her shoulders dried, I sanded the new clay, gessoed it, then painted the new part paynes gray to match the bottom, then mixed a lighter shade and painted over the body. I also mixed a lighter shade of flesh and painted the hair and skin parts, then a darker version of flesh for lips and cheeks. 

So this is where she is until I can get her a skirt put together, except for a couple of touchups to her face and hair. I didn't attempt to make individual fingers on this doll, as I had a hard enough time shaping the hands onto the arms. I did make some lines to indicate fingers. Maybe on the next doll, I attempt fingers!

Close up of the face showing that she has thin eyebrows atop the shadows, which made it look like thick eyebrows in picture above.

I would have liked for her to be smoother, but, maybe because my air dry clay was kind of old, or maybe because I'm not well practiced in working with clay, it's as smooth as I could get it. Maybe that adds character to her though! A lot of firsts on this doll and she taught me a lot. All in all, she's my created child and I love her!

So, I will post another photo when she has her skirt on. She will be around 18" tall when done.

I haven't been working on any other projects lately, and this doll was created from the start on a tray in my lap while sitting in my recliner over 3-4 weeks. Not easy to juggle! 

PS-----I touched up her face and hair a couple of days after I posted, giving her a softer more pleasant attitude. I made the hair darker, gave her bluish eyes, and adjusted her lips a bit. I like her much better! The wooden pieces for her skirt should be here tomorrow! 

And they came and I got them attached, so she now has a skirt! Now to find a crown and accessories! Sorry about the picture quality!

I finally found some papier mache torso forms on Amazon, and ordered two, along with some papier mache eggs for heads, so I plan on trying at least one more Santos doll, maybe with articulated arms. But first, I need to catch up on some house chores! I think...

As long as I can create a little bit every day, I consider it a good day, no matter what else I'm letting go. Days I can't create, I peruse Pinterest and FB group creative photos for inspiration, which invariably makes me want to try something new. 

Stay safe, well, and do something just for you! It's good for your soul!