As promised, this post is about my latest obsession---drawings of the Russian nesting dolls. These lovely dolls usually come in sets of five or more, each doll gradually smaller than the one before, till you get down to the smallest, solid one. They all fit inside the larger one. Traditionally, these are usually a mother with her children, but also may include a father. They can, however, be anything else you can possibly think of, including sets of animals. Imagination is the only limitation and the shapes also vary somewhat. I've even seen plain eggs.
The painted exterior is normally hand done, though I'm certain there are some really cheaply done factory-mades, too. The designs tend to be brightly colored, using Russian traditional designs and flowers. For my drawings, I found that this shape lends itself to Zentangle type designs, and so I incorporated some of those, along with some flowers. I decided that, even when doing a drawing of a "set," my designs and faces could be all different, rather than smaller versions of the larger one. It's just so much more fun! So I have blondes, brunettes and even an Asian little girl in one set. I don't have to be traditional!
Here is my very first one:
The painted exterior is normally hand done, though I'm certain there are some really cheaply done factory-mades, too. The designs tend to be brightly colored, using Russian traditional designs and flowers. For my drawings, I found that this shape lends itself to Zentangle type designs, and so I incorporated some of those, along with some flowers. I decided that, even when doing a drawing of a "set," my designs and faces could be all different, rather than smaller versions of the larger one. It's just so much more fun! So I have blondes, brunettes and even an Asian little girl in one set. I don't have to be traditional!
Here is my very first one:
This little blonde is based an a girl I knew back in elementary school (the 1950's!) who had coloring and hair just like this! She was (as is my doll) rather sad and very, very shy. I don't know where she is today, but I still think of her when I see a little girl with blonde hair, freckles and those pale eyelashes you almost can't see.
The next one is a whole set, and I just let my imagination go crazy!
Not much to say about this one--young mother with baby "painted" in her arms.
Here I decided to just give a hint of what's inside the girl with the bump-out Zentangle designs alongside of her. I guess they are suggestions about her "potential children." I definitely think too much, LOL!