Original Angel Cat Acrylic Folk Art Painting on Wood by Max Bailey

This is "Terence the Tomcat". With his roguish good looks and feline charm, he is surely an angel, even if, at times, he may be thinking less than angelic thoughts.

Terence looks out from a rich warm background of browns blending into black, which gives the effect of Terence having just emerged from the darkness. He is painted in acrylic on solid poplar wood. I coated the painting with clear gloss varnish to give it depth, and to protect and enhance the color.

Bleuette Folk Art Doll Original Painting on Poplar Wood by Max Bailey

I'm so excited about "Bleuette"! I just finished her and she is gorgeous! Her big blue eyes and sweet smile were inspired by the ever popular Bleuette antique dolls who were first introduced in France in 1905 in La Semaine de Suzette magazine. Little French girls learned to sew making the patterns the magazine offered for Bleuette's extensive wardrobe. The premiere Bleuette was a Jumeau style doll, and was offered for free with a one year subscription to the magazine. Little Bleuette was so popular that she was offered in many, many incarnations until 1960. Today, she is still incredibly popular, and both the original dolls and their reproductions are widely collected.

This is an original painting done in the American folk art portrait style, with Bleuette emerging from a warm dark brown background that blends into black at the edges. Here Bleuette is shown as an angel who watches over bluebirds, two of which rest calmly in her hands and on her shoulder. She wears an old-fashioned blue dress with lace trim, and an ecru apron with a burgundy stripe.

Patricia Angel of Pansies, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll by Max Bailey

I'm pleased to announce the arrival of Patricia...Angel of Pansies! Pansies are among the oldest known garden flowers, and I like to think that over the years, some garden angels have been at work to create such beautiful blooms.

Patricia is one of these angels. When she picks a pansy from the garden, two more will bloom in its place.

Patricia is a true one-of-a-kind original work of art, created from my own design and pattern. She is made from 100% cotton fabric, which is sewn, stuffed, and completely hand-painted with acrylic paints. She comes with her own oval wood stand, oak-stained and finished.

Update: Patricia has already been adopted.

New Max Bailey art dolls in the works

These are my drawings for two original folk art dolls I am working on. The one on the left will be a fairy. I am planning to give her a rose-tipped wand to help her tend her gardens.

The one the right is an angel holding a bouquet of pansies. With spring on the way, I am thinking about flowers and how happy I will be to see them make a return.

Gabriella, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Angel Ornament by Max Bailey

Gabriella is a lovely, blue-eyed angel with a golden halo, chestnut-colored hair with golden highlights, and long graceful wings. Her heavenly robe is a deep rose-red, with lighter rose highlights. The soft folds of the robe flow around her body, and I think she looks as though she might suddenly catch a breeze and lift upward in flight.

She represents my idea of what an angel watching over us must look like......serene, beautiful, and at peace. I painted her a brass horn with highlights to look heavenly, and gave her robe a gold band painted with precious pearls, rubies, and emeralds.

Her wings are attached separately and the details of the feathers are painted in shades of blue. She comes ready to hang by a pearl cotton cord. Including her wings, she is 10 inches long and 8 inches wide. Without her wings, she’s about 9 inches long and 6 inches wide.

Gabriella is signed and dated by me, Max Bailey. She is a true one-of-a-kind original work of art from the beginning idea of her, to her design, to her finishing touches. I painted her with acrylics and sealed her with matte varnish to protect her.

Update: Gabriella has already been adopted. Thank you!

Angelicat and Angelifish, Original One-of-a-kind Cat and Fish Folk Art Angel Dolls by Max Bailey

Everyone who has or ever had a cat knows that all cats are angels. With her innocent and angelic expression, this petite white cat is adorable.

She’s only 8 and 1/2 inches tall from ear to toe. She can sit on a chair (chair not included) or she can sit by herself. Her cute little curled tail will support her back in a sitting position, and her small size allows her to sit prettily in your favorite curio cabinet, or nestle in anywhere among your favorite collectibles. Sitting, she’s only 4 and 3/4 inches tall.

Her quilted wings have been attached separately and are painted with feathery blue detail.

She has sweet little high-button shoes with black soles, painted on.

Her faded blue apron sets off her lovely blue eyes. I painted a pattern of wavy water across the bottom of her apron just for her good friend Angelifish.

Angelifish is very colorfully painted and detailed in shades of blue and green, highlighted in yellow to give him that wet “fishy” look. He gazes up adoringly at Angelicat, and is suspended from her apron button with pearl cotton cord.

Angelifish is only 3 and 1/2 inches long. In addition to being Angelicat's best friend, he makes a wonderful ornament for a small Christmas tree.

Both Angelicat and Angelifish are signed and dated. From top to bottom and beginning to end, they are true one-of-a-kind original works of art.

I made my own patterns for Angelicat (and her apron) and sculpted Angelifish from paper clay without using a mold. I painted them both (my favorite part of the process) with acrylic paints, and sealed them with matte varnish to protect them.

Angelicat, with her friend Angelifish, are my first original art doll set.

Update: Angelicat and Angelifish have already been adopted. Thank you!

Art Doll Beginnings

I've completed my first set of original, one-of-a-kind art dolls, and these are some of the sketches I drew for them, before I turned them into patterns to sew. Above is "Serenity Starr", and below are "Cottontail Charlotte", and "April May". They all turned into angels, and have since flown off to their new homes.

Once I had an idea of how I wanted them to look, I experimented with making patterns for them, using 100% cotton sheeting. I used a sateen-finish sheeting, so I would get a nice smooth surface for painting. I learned that your initial doll shape changes a lot once your doll is stuffed, and so adjustments are necessary. Your pattern design usually needs to be a little wider than you think, and slightly taller.

Each angel got a set of hand-quilted wings, which were stuffed with 1/4 inch batting, and then hand sewn onto each doll body. I made wooden stands for my angels first, so I would be able to leave the right amount of space between the wings and the doll bodies. That way, I was able to slip the stands between the wings and the bodies.

Next up, I'm going to be trying some hand-painted, jointed art dolls, for a little more dimension.

These are some of my sketches for pattern prototypes. They'll be sewn, stuffed, and then redrawn until I like the results.

For instance, I'm going to redraw those feet, above, because they came out more pointed than I wanted them to be. Making patterns for doll bodies and doll clothing takes a lot of experimentation.

I'm going to be experimenting with Creative Paperclay, and Li-Qua-Ché pourable papier mâché, to add some sculpted parts and details to my fabric dolls, as well.

Robin, Original One-of-kind Folk Art Angel Doll by Elizabeth Ruffing

"Robin"

When the days start becoming long,
And the skies turn from gray to blue,
Robin sings her springtime song,
And life begins to start anew.
She calls her friends from whence they've flown,
And says it's time to fly back home.

Original Poem Copyright 2006 Elizabeth Ruffing

Robin is the fifth in my series of five original, one-of-a-kind angel art dolls. She cradles a robin in her arms, as she has the special ability to speak to birds. Her blond curls are encircled by a garland of pink springtime flowers.

Robin is entirely painted by hand, using acrylic paints. She is a work of art, meant for display only. She is varnished for protection and preservation.

She has her own oak-stained wooden stand, which was handmade just for her. It slips in between her hand-quilted wings, and her body so she can stand.

Update: Robin has already been adopted. Thank you!

April May, Original One-of-kind Folk Art Angel Doll by Elizabeth Ruffing

"April May"

April lets the flowers know
When it’s time to start to grow.
She wakes them from their winter beds,
And nudges them to raise their heads.
She whispers softly in their ears,
“The snow is gone and spring is near.”

Original Poem Copyright 2006 Elizabeth Ruffing

April May is my fourth angel, in my series of original, one-of-a-kind angel art dolls. April May holds a bouquet of spring flowers, and wears a white dress with peach-colored ribbons. She has red hair, and reddish-brown, antique-style shoes.

April May is completely hand painted with acrylic paint, and varnished for preservation and protection. Her oak-stained, handmade wooden stand slips between her hand-quilted wings and her body, to allow her to stand. April May is meant for display only.

Update: April May has already been adopted. Thank you!

Rosetta, Original One-of-kind Folk Art Angel Doll by Elizabeth Ruffing

Rosetta is my third angel, in my angel art doll series. Rosetta holds a bouquet of heart-tipped flowers. She also comes with her own poem...

"Rosetta"

Rosetta tends her fields with care,
For only seeds of love grow there.
She keeps them safe from wind and frost,
Protecting them at any cost.
She knows that love is pure and rare.
She knows it’s needed everywhere.

Original Poem Copyright 2006 Elizabeth Ruffing

Rosetta is an original, one-of-a-kind work of art, meant for display only. She has a handmade oak-stained doll stand, which slips in between her body and her hand-quilted wings. Rosetta is painted with acrylic paints, and is varnished for protection and preservation.

Update: Rosetta has already been adopted. Thank you!

Cottontail Charlotte, Original One-of-kind Folk Art Angel Doll by Elizabeth Ruffing

"Cottontail Charlotte" is my second angel in my series of original one-of-a-kind angel art dolls.

Charlotte has her own little cottontail rabbit, and her own poem:

"Cottontail Charlotte"

Charlotte sings a song that only rabbits hear.
When she lifts her voice, they always gather near.
The joy she brings makes them hop and dance,
Until they've all become entranced.
That's how she shares the things she knows,
Where the sun sets, and how the wind blows.
It’s only the rabbits who learn these things,
And they learn them all from the song she sings.

Original Poem Copyright 2005 Elizabeth Ruffing

Charlotte was sewn from my own design and pattern, and I painted her with acrylic paints. She is a one-of-a-kind work of art, meant for display only. She has an oak-stained wooden base, which I also made, and it slips in behind her wings so that she can stand.

Charlotte's wings were hand quilted, and then painted with acrylic paint as well. Charlotte is sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation.

Update: Cottontail Charlotte has already been adopted. Thank you!

Serenity Starr, Original One-of-kind Folk Art Angel Doll by Elizabeth Ruffing

"Serenity Starr" is my first art doll. She her own little poem...

"Serenity Starr”

Serenity Starr has traveled far
From here to there, through Heaven, and air
To bring to darkness a golden light
She soars alone, all through the night
No one knows why she’s sad and blue,
But maybe- she has too much to do!
And it’s true, Serenity flies alone
Until new friends do call her home.

Original Poem Copyright 2005 MIKO

Serenity was made from my own design and pattern, drawn and sewn on 100% cotton fabric, which was stuffed and then sewn with acrylic paints. She was varnished for protection and preservation, and signed on the back of her dress.

Her wings were quilted by hand. I made a wooden stand for her that slipped between her wings and her body, to allow her to stand.

Serenity Starr is a one-of-a-kind work of art, meant for display only.

Update: Serenity Starr has already been adopted. Thank you!