Mrs. Art Doll Maker: Treasure Goddess: With heart in hand, she gives openly and freely like a blossoming flower

"Treasure Goddess"

17" x 9"

Art Doll and Photo by Glo von Gesslein

Every challenge and swap I participate in always teaches me something very meaningful...something I didn't realize before about myself or seeing the world in a different way...and through the eyes of other doll artists, which is always FUN in and of itself!

Some artists see the world as whimsical, some melancholy, some very spiritual, others very nature based and so on and so forth. They may not even realize it themselves but you get to see it in the pieces that come from their souls. They're all very innovative and resourceful with turning "nothings" into "treasures". Open hearts. Giving hearts.

"Treasure Goddess"

17" x 9"

Art Doll and Photo by Glo von Gesslein

Multi-Media

Full body view

Another great reason to participate in these projects is it gets the creative juices flowing that you wouldn't necessarily get by doing things yourself. When that happens, more and more ideas begin pouring through. (Have a sketchbook or notebook nearby to try to capture everything so you can remember later.)

A third reason to play with a group is it's a great way to banish creative blocks which we all have found ourselves in at one time or another.

"Treasure Goddess"

17" x 9"

Art Doll and Photo by Glo von Gesslein

Multi-Media

Detailed view of upper body

Treasure Goddess is a piece I created in one of my favorite doll clubs, The Goddess Dolls Yahoo Club. This group is so much fun and they come up with the best ideas.

This challenge was called The Same Ten Things Goddess Doll Challenge. Every player received the same 10 items to work with. We were curious to see what goddesses we came up with using the same materials.

(This is a spinoff of the last challenge we did from the Summer called The Ten Things Goddess Doll Challenge. You can see the results in the prior post: Khuhula-Akiki: A Creative Companion. In that one, we received 10 items to work with but each player had a different set of materials to use. No one received the same 10 items.)

In this latest challenge, The Same Ten Things Doll, everyone received the exact same 10 items. Purpose? We wanted to see what goddesses we came up with using the same materials. We all view the world differently and have different things going on internally. This became an expression of our journey to our souls. What would come out?

"Treasure Goddess"

17" x 9"

Art Doll and Photo by Glo von Gesslein

Multi-Media

Detailed view of inner veil

As you can see, I love layers upon layers upon layers. Complexity. Texture. Connections. Touch. Symbolism.

Deeply lost in the process, unaware of my surroundings and rumblings of my stomach, I kept thinking, "look at all this stuff", referring to some of the materials I was working with. Things we would normally just toss in the trash. And, here I was trying to figure out how to bring new life to something that society would deem as trash, no value.

We dismiss so much in life that can bring us happiness, joy, peace, wisdom, healing, fun, laughter, just everything great that life has to offer. We're a Get-Rid-Of-Society, always measuring one thing against something else. And if we think it doesn't have our definition of what's "worthy", we trash it.

But, if you take a second look and open ourselves up...just a bit, even just a little, you'll find beauty right where you are, with what you currently have.

Okay, it just may need a little "tweaking" perhaps.

Or maybe not.

In this case, some of the items I received did get a makeover to bring out their beauty. Others were paired with something else to enhance what was already there to be appreciated.

These items that normally would have been thrown in the trash, that this goddess is now collecting, are actually life's treasures.

These words became a mantra in my head over and over and over gain:

With heart in hand, she gives openly and freely like a blossoming flower