Face Forward

For the past few days I've been playing with faces.  So far, with all of my figure work I have used purchased faces - or cabochons - or buttons.  I thought it might be fun to try to work up some faces from scratch, using my own fingers and imagination to create the personality that a face can give.  My thought was to try several different types of face techniques, not trying to make the 'perfect' one the first time around, but to experiment with as many techniques as I could come up with.

How about a beaded face?  Having gotten the pattern and directions from Anne Hesse I decided to dive right in.  The figures I create are much smaller than her patterns so I've had to improvise - but then that's what its all about isn't it?  When I try something new I first concentrate on the skills.  It can take quite awhile or a short time, depending on what I'm doing, but once I've mastered (to my satisfaction) the 'how to do it' I can then let my spirit and imagination loose.  That's when the real fun begins. 

Another thought was to 'sculpt' the face. Once again I was challenged by the size of my figures -- whereas most 'patterns' are for faces at least 2-1/2" in diameter I have to downsize directions for sizes around 1-1/4".  Quite a difference in what a person can do in the smaller sizes.  My first 'tests' had only sculpted noses - and then I got the idea of painting the fabric.   Perhaps I could paint the fabric, then antique it or 'crackle' it and finally finish it off with a wax finish? 

Or how about an embroidered face.  How much embroidery detail can I put in these small spaces?  How can I create a face using the tiniest of stitches?  These are all questions that I ask myself as I stick needle into fabric.

What fun to have the time and inclination to try all of these new-to-me techniques and to not know where it will end up.  But if I'm successful with any of them I'm sure you'll eventually see one or two here...

"In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either". - Jiddu Krishnamurti