In More Papier Mache News....:

In addition to the Papier Mache Vegetarian Boar's Head I just previously wrote about, there was also some recent mask-makery on my end.

Back in 2009, I was asked to create some special costuming elements for our local production of 'The Nutcracker Ballet"...:

2009 Stick Mask props for 'The Nutcracker', "Soldiers" vs "Rats"

Still in use today, in fact the ballet company's cast list has grown and they now needed an additional children's "Soldier" mask for this past Nutcracker season....:

Easy enough to whip up another

(especially with an old one to borrow as an example (because to be honest I kind of forgot how I went about it the first time 'round) )...:

"Soldier Stick Mask", in progress...:

The plain mask I was using to build off this time of wasn't quite the same as the one from 2009 (couldn't find that old style), so adjustments had to be made (which is fine, because really, who's going to notice some wee tiny differences from the house of a 1500+ seat theater? No one, that's who!).,,:

Lots of paper mache layers later, and it slowly comes together...:

A little necessary detail work...:

A little painting....and....voila!  A "Soldier Stick Mask" copied...!

Here's to another successful Nutcracker for the Ballet! 

Always fun keeping it local and working within the community....

More Fun Ballet Company Commissions....!

The Nutcracker Ballet's "Mother Ginger", as painted upon an 8+ tall plywood cut-out

So I'm finally getting around to posting about another project I was recently commissioned to create for our local ballet company (as mentioned in my previous post)....
 

 Our local ballet puts on a lavish production of The Nutcracker Ballet every year, which has become quite the December tradition in these parts.   A highlight of this family favorite, is the 'Mother Ginger' (AKA 'Marie Antoinette') vignette... whereby a person, shoe-horned into an impossibly enormous, hooped dress, comes out onstage  (so big she must be discretely wheeled out of the wings via a special platform), with an entire passel of wee child clowns escaping from underneath her skirts to cavort and dance, much to the delight of the audience.   Often the person portraying Mother Ginger is a man in drag, which can be quite hilarious, and on other occasions things go even a step further and a local personality of some sort agrees to portray her for a performance or two.    It's fun stuff! (You can see a pic of the real Mother Ginger here)....

At any rate, our ballet company recently hosted their big annual fundraising soiree/gala event, and I was requested to paint the Mother Ginger character as a prop for use as part of the festivity's decoration and entertainment.  The company provided me with the plywood cut-out (over 8 feet tall).  I asked if I was supposed to portray her as a guy in drag, like our Mother Ginger often is.  'No, not necessarily', I was told.  Instead they said they were looking for a 'sexy' Mother Ginger (all while remaining strictly PG of course!).
Well all righty then!

The following is what I came up with:

A 'sexy' painted 8+ foot tall Mother Ginger (AKA 'Mare Antoinette')

Is that 'sexy' enough for you, lol....?

Additionally, I was also asked to paint two other characters that are always featured in the show -- a young Maid and Footman...:

A painted Maid and Footman (a little over 5 feet-ish tall)

At over 8 feet tall, the Mother Ginger cut-out was especially far too large to get into my house, but thankfully I have a wide, old-fashioned veranda front porch, with a roof.  That's where she lived for a goodly chunk of my summer...:

Mother Ginger in progress on my porch (see the ladder for size reference)....

I did get lots of strange looks from the neighbors and passerby, for weeks....:

Nutcracker Maid and Footman in progress on my front porch

But in the end the projects were completed in time (thank goodness), and then I myself was able to attend the fancy shindig that all three figures were requested for (I managed to discretely snap pictures of them in use during the party)....:

Mother Ginger at the party

Maid and Footman, part of a fundraising game involving champagne glasses and fancy jewelry prizes!

I got a big chuckle at the event too, because they'd dug out my old papier mache Boar's Head (which I blogged about way back when), to use as party decoration.  That thing really only sees the light of day at Nutcracker time (used as a stage prop), so I was quite surprised to be "reunited", lol....!

My paper mache Boar's Head, used as party decoration

Doesn't he look grand up there on the pedestal....?  (Seems to be pimping some wine here)....

As for Mother Ginger, she even made the local newspaper afterwards
(note the striking young woman posing with her here is NOT me, but the ever lovely dancer, Erica J.  ...).

Mother Ginger makes the local society pages....

Day 10 of the '29 Faces' Challenge: "Young Dancer"

'Young Dancer' Original Painting,  7" x 9"

Another day, another Face.  For this, the 10th Day of the '29 Faces' Challenge, I completed and signed yet another painting that had been kicking around my studio for a while now (see my earlier post 'Unfinished Business').  As with my Day 3 face painting 'Red Dress', it's a support/canvas I built myself using a thin, vintage frame, which I have painted over and incorporated into the overall piece. 

The subject matter is a personal one.  As has been mentioned before in my blog here and there, my dear son is a dancer.  He began classical ballet lessons, that I'd signed him up for as sort of a lark really, at the tender age of 6.  Who knew he would take to it so naturally  -- so much so that all these dozen years later he would not only still be taking classes, but actually actively pursuing classical ballet as a professional career....?

Thus, given my family's high involvement in the dance world all these years (my daughter dancing throughout her childhood as well), I experienced a lot of exposure to, and as a result gained considerable appreciation of, the art and culture of classical ballet.  As the parent of a dancing son, I do admit my motherly attention often focuses on the males present in any given dance situation -- be it class, rehearsal or performance.  I know only too well all the effort, hours of time, sacrifice and sweat equity (and often all without a lot of appreciation or understanding from one's non-dancing peers) that is part and parcel of becoming a skilled and fluent dancer.   And yet, despite all the hard work there is still so much joy, passion and optimism involved.  As part of all this personal experience, though it may not be readily apparent otherwise beyond its title and the white shirt, the requisite standard uniform for any ballet boy (painted as part of the frame), my piece is a loving tribute to that rare individual, the young male ballet student.