The dolls were goin' on road trips ~ workshops to see, artists to commune with and transformations to emerge through.
They needed a voice; the Travel Logs became a means of communicating their daunting experiences.
The Formationeers, too, had moments to share and procedural information to pass along.

  Click on The Essence Doll and each rotation to read their travel logs.
Anya  2nd   3rd

Oma Granny  2nd   3rd

Anaj  2nd   3rd

Jett Setter  2nd  3rd

Nameless  2nd   3rd

Grandpa Joe  2nd  3rd
3rd rotation to Jeanette

July 1, 2005-Anya arrived!

I opened the package and….an immediate reaction/response…
..Harlequin!!! No question about it!

I looked up Webster's definition:
harlequin- a comic character in commedia dell'arte and the harlequinade, usually masked, dressed in multi-colored, diamond-patterned tights, and carrying a wooden sword or magic wand.
I just read Anya's diary. Incredible revelation!!! This is her third stop, and Steve and Jana have their experiences logged. I found it interesting that Steve was concerned that Anya's face looked rather masculine. When the Commedia dell'arte theatres were first begun in Italy, the harlequin female characters were actually played by men. As Anya evolved at Jana's hand there was no mention of theatre or performing arts. Yet the results of her efforts-- the white face (harlequin mask), the multi-colored, diamond patterned tights-- pointed unmistakably to one idea. By an intriguing matter of fate, Steve's and Jana's efforts both manifested the same theme…. harlequin!

I now have my direction….

As I thought about Anya's experience it seemed there was little doubt that what she needed next was an accessory for her outfit. What better item to add than her own, custom-made harlequin bat. The harlequin character is the pre-cursor to what we have come to know in the twentieth century as slap-stick comedy. The term slap-stick comes from the fact that, in the skits, the comic characters used as a prop two pieces of wood (bat) tied together that would slap together to make a loud noise when performing their crazy antics. Anya now has her own personality filled, colorful bat to cherish. If you look closely you'll even see a plethora of faces, each with its individual comic relief expression.

Those crazy harlequins!


Process: I first made a form for the bat from polymer clay. The form was then covered with silver PMC, embellished, fired, and finished. The color was added with wax colored pencils, then washed with turpentine to achieve a naturally aged look. I sprayed a satin finish coating over the entire piece to set and protect the color, which, in turn, also protects the silver. The bat has a leather cord to help Anya hold it. Or she can sling it over her shoulder to carry it with her in her travels.

Creatively yours



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