Frida Kahlo and her Importance to me as an Artist

The popularity of Frida Kahlo, Mexican Artist and Inspiration to many women, has grown leaps and bounds over the years. Her rich history, life as an artist, challenges with her health,zeal for life, and passionate yet stormy marriage to Diego Rivera, all lent to our fascination with her and her importance in the art world.

Each of us that admires her, more than likely has something in common that they can relate with in her.

For me, what is it that lends to my affection for her?

As an artist with a disability, I admire her for her endurance..her endurance to continue to live a full and rich life in spite of the challenges, to create what was in her heart, and her ability to use her voice in so many ways.

I think of Frida often when I am painting or sculpting, especially in those moments when I am living with great pain and feel empty..and I am soon revived in Spirit.

To me, Frida lights the candle in a darkened room.

Frida Kahlo Art Doll by Jeanne Fry


This weekend, I completed an art doll of Frida - a reminder to live a passionate life.

Frida Kahlo Art Doll by Jeanne Fry

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Naomi the Blue Ridge Mountain Gnome

Naomi the Blue Ridge Mountain Gnome

Naomi

I have always been enchanted by the Wee Ones...gnomes, faeries, elves, brownies...all the wee people that live in the forests. Their stories and their abilities have fascinated me since I was a child.

This is Naomi, who hails from the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Naomi has a very important job in her Gnome community. High up in the mountains of the Blue Ridge, she is a Botanical Gatherer.

Naomi ~ Blue Ridge Mountain Gnome

Early in the mornings you may spot her, walking delicately through the woods and gardens, gathering up dried flowers, herbs, fern sprigs, and twigs for the women's crafts.

If you notice that your gardens look manicured and tidy, it probably means that Naomi was present that morning.

While you are visitng our website, you will also find four other Wisdom Keeper Art Doll that are on sale at half price...So have a look, you may be enchanted. 

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Earth Meets Sky ~ Gourd Art Doll Exhibit

My latest collection of work revolves around the theme Earth Meets Sky: The Emergence of Woman. My goal was to show representations of women that are balanced and in tune with Nature and the Elements. Women that have emerged in their own full rite, as strong and compassionate women, who are confident and comfortable in their own skin.

"Sweetgrass Blessings to the Star People"

~ As  sweetgrass is burned in ceremony, blessings are sent to the heavens where the Star People reside~

(She is created from Gourd and Clay, with layers of acrylics to give her a rich look. She holds a bowl in her arms with Sweetgrass, which is used in blessing ceremonies. A sweetgrass braid also surrounds her base. Her hair is braided down the back and adorned with feathers.)

"Earth Meets Sky Kachina Gourd"

The Kachina Gourd was created to express the Spirit of the combination of Sky and Earth elements...using the symbolism of the sun designs and colors along with the symbolism of mountain ranges and earth colors.A balance of Unity.

Diana the Huntress of the Moon

I was inspired to create Diana to represent the woman who is known as a great huntress, adept at capturing what she is seeking. She is affiliated with the Moon, thereby tying in her symbolic representation of connection between and Earth and Sky.

She is created from Gourd and Clay and embellished with wooden bead necklace, beautiful alpaca fleece for hair which is tied back, and she holds her bow made of wood and sinew.

"Gaia"

The all-knowing representation of Mother Earth, who's tree limbs extend to touch the skies in a balance of completing the circle.

Gaia is created from Gourd and Clay, handpainted, and is embellished with leaves and fibers.

Zorya ~ The Three Attendants to the Sun

This piece was inspired from a Slavic legend of Zorya. The three attendants to the sun were known as the Morning Star, the Evening Star, and the Midnight Star. The Morning Star opened the gates to release the Sun Dog. The Evening Star ushered the Sun Dog back in and closed the gates. The Midnight Star held the dying Sun until the next morning when it would be released again.

Created from Gourd and Clay.

Medicine Woman of the Four Directions

She is known to honor the directions in all that she is and does. The symbolism of them is handpainted on the front of her. The East for new beginnings, the South for the Present, The West for Completion, and the North for the unformed.

Created from Gourd and Clay. She sits on a tapestry that matches her head wrap.

 "The Blossoming of New Beginnings"

I love all aspects of gardening and growing beautiful and plentiful things from the soils, and so the collection would not have been complete without a representation of a new blossom. She is created from a Gourd with clay petals. She emerges from the petals, peaking out at her new beginning, enchanted with the new world.
Gourd, Clay and Hand dyed Fleece

"Wings of Transformation"

After spending her time in the cocoon of lessons, she has emerged to greet her new self, and test her wings in flight.

Created from Gourd and Clay, she is clothed in in beautiful folk fabrics, butterfly wings held in her pockets, and two metal discs that read "Wander" and "Inspire", which will help her on her next journey of helping others in their transformation.

"Earth Tapestry"

A handpainted wood carving on base, representing the rich and complex Universe that we all live in.

Embellished with feathers and beaded base.

I loved creating this series, with so many of their stories dear to my heart.

 

These creations have all been SOLD, but you can visit my Etsy and Indiemade shops to see my current Art Dolls
https://www.etsy.com/shop/JeanneFryArt

or
http://jeannefryart.indiemade.com

Danu the Bellydancing Mermaid ~ OOAK Art Doll by Jeanne Fry

Being enchanted by Mermaids and their Lore, inspired my lastest creation of the Bellydancing Mermaid ~ Danu.

Danu is the first Bellydancer Mermaid..a crusader in the Seas. She is so attuned to the Rhthyms of the Ocean, the Beat of the Current, that she can not contain herself from the Dance. The flow of her movements

coincide with the movement of the currents, and her Dance delights all of her neighbor Ocean Dwellers.

Danu is approximately 11 inches tall. She is an OOAK, Original One of a Kind Art Doll. Her body is designed from Batik fabric that is hand stitched. Her face is sculpted of Prosculpt Clay and them handpainted with layers of Acrylics to give it depth. She is adorned with a Metal Bauble Waistlet, and she holds a Seahorse in one hand and a Shell in the other. A light Beaded and Metal Pendant necklace graces her neck. Her  shawl has small bells that jingle when she does her dance, with one attached to the tip of her tail as well. She is attached to a wooden base for display that is signed and dated by me, and has sea shells attached to it.

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The Divine Feminine and Creative Inspiration

Where do you go to when you are connecting with your Inspiration? When you need that fresh flow of ideas that results in a burning desire to put everything  else aside and grab your brush or put the clay on the table, what was your spark?

I can get those little energetic pulses from all of the usual places; nature, reading poetry, listening to music, but my main source that it always comes down to is the Divine Feminine. Those women that came before us, the ancestors and deities, that's what lies at the heart of most of the work I create.

(Statue from Brookgreen Gardens)

I connect with their stories, their history, their strength, and their passion. They are reminders to me of perseverance, creation, compassion, strength, and to embrace our own abilities to make a difference in the world.

(Statue from Brookgreen Gardens)

(Statue from Brookgreen Gardens)

Beyond the historical women, it breaks down in simplicity ~ The Divine Feminine. This is what creates the intricate fabric of our being, the complexities that make us complete, and the balance of strong yet gentle.

Different cultures and different religions, have a name for this presence ~ Gaia, Kuan Yin,  Our Lady of Guadeloupe, Diana the Huntress,Saraswati,  Mother Mary, Mother Earth, Venus of Willendorf, or Isis...the list is long.

(Statue from Brookgreen Gardens)



It is within this deep connection that I draw my inspiration and use that energy to help empower others through my artwork.

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(The Statues mentioned above are just a very very few of the beautiful statues at Brookgreen Gardens. To get more information about the Gardens you can visit their site )

http://www.brookgreen.org/

Silkie ~ Mother Rabbit of the Warren ~ Art Doll by Jeanne Fry

Silkie is the most loved and most compassionate of all Mother Rabbits that have ever resided over the Warren. She spends every minute of her days making sure that her Warren is protected while visitng with each and every baby and bringing their mothers flowers and vegetables from the gardens nearby. She has created a strong Sister bond in the Warren, nurturing and thriving.

Silkie stands approximately 10 inches tall.


She is and Original One of a Kind Art Doll, no molds used, and entirely hand-stitched.

Her head is sculpted of Prosculpt Clay. Her body and ears are cloth.She has beading and trim hand stitched on to her little dress.

In her arms she can eiter hold a bouquet of flowers or a wee miniature bunny from the Warren.

The miniature bunny is made of felt and has a clay face and is adorned with trim. He also has a little loop on his back so that he could be hung as an ornament.

Spring flowers and leaves are attached to the wooden base which is signed and dated on the bottom.

A story card accompanies Silkie.

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The Wisdom of Zella the Lizard Gypsy Goddess

Zella comes from a very traditional Gypsy Clan and spends most of her time

with her grandmother learning all the old ways. Even though she is fairly young, in her early twenties, she is wise beyond her years.



Everyone comes to her for advice, and she always gives it freely with the most tender eyes.When she was a wee one, about 5 or so, she befriended a little lizard on their journey. She scooped him up and put

him in her pocket and they told each other story after story as the Vardo traveled from town to town.

The lizard inspired her during her dreamtime, bringing her many messages as she

slept. They spent so much time together that as Zella grew older, she took on more and more Lizard characteristics.

Zella walks in both worlds, bringing the wisdom of the Roma Gypsy and of the Lizard Clan, making her a very wise and intuitive Gypsy.

Zella is approximately 10 inches tall. She is a

cloth based art doll with clay face.
Zella's face is handpainted with a lizard silhouette
on her forehead. She wears little brass earrings
with lizards on them. Her hair is Black Wave with
beading adornments throughout.
Zella's tail wraps around her on the base and
miniature tarot cards around her tail. She has a
metal tarot hand charm at her waist, and her left
hand holds a gold colored metal sun charm.
A gold wrap is around her shoulders and ties at
her waist. Her beading around her neck are seed
beads and a turquoise pendant.

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Mermaids from the Deep Sea ~ Lore

After exploring the deepest seas and swimming through the widest oceans, I returned with three very special friends; Shelltina, Calliope, and Penelope. They are some of the wisest Mermaids in all of the Water World.

Now Shelltina was the first Mermaid I met as I swam amidst the cold waters of Nova Scotia.

She is what some of you may call from the Steampunk era, but in her world she is known to hold the antiquities of the Deep Sea. She embraces the knowledge of the Water World history from the very beginning, the wisest of Sea Maidens. She has the ability to be in both worlds of Land and Sea, and understands the emotions that ebb and flow from both. Shelltina is one you would call on when seeking to understand matters of the Heart, and make the wisest decisions in Love and Friendship. She is an enlightened Mermaid.

Calliope is one of her closest friends.

She presents herself when situations of misunderstanding arise. She is extremely diplomatic and knows the perfect ways to create Peace between those that are in dispute. She is a resolution finder. Calliope has an extremely strenuous job.

And last but certainly not least is Penelope. Penelope is a friend to all of the small sea creatures. She protects them, and takes them to safety when larger aquatic animals are nearby. She swiftly sweeps them up and takes them to secret hiding places to keep them safe until they can emerge again.

Penelope is a member of the Sea Urchin Clan. Her best friend and navigator is her Seahorse, Herbert, who can always be found riding on her tail.

These girls have kept me awake for countless hours with their stories since we came home. 

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Wings of a Whisper ~ Butterfly Faerie Art Doll

Shhhh...her Wings are magical. They allow her to take an adventure, wherever and whenever she desires, with no one knowing when she comes and when she goes. She blends with the sunrise and when you feel as if something has just brushed your hair, it is her secretly floating by on her Wings of a Whisper.

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Amethyst Meadowskies ~ The Making of Memories

Amethyst Meadowskies only appears on those days when the skyline is the color I call "SkyBluePink". You know when she appears because all of a sudden, out of the blue, you start singing to yourself (usually songs from long ago) as a complete happiness washes over you. Old happy memories flood through your heart reminding of you of your happiest times. She brings the sweetest of memories and happy hearts.

Sitting she is approximately 6 inches tall. She is a cloth art doll with clay face. Her hair is fantastic dyed wool that is twisted like dreds. Small little seed beads adorn her hair. A hand crocheted scarf is wrapped around her shoulders or wool and angora. She holds purple silk flowers in her lap. Her necklace is created from an amethyst porcelain bead and smaller seed beads. She has two bracelets that go around her left wrist. A purple suede mini skirt goes perfectly with the fabric she is made from. She has little purple flowers on her feet, with purple braiding tied up her calves.

She is absolutely sweet as can be, my little hippie girl, Amethyst Meadowskies.

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