Altered Torso - Dark Faerie

With no Design Team projects due this weekend and because I have wanted to do an altered torso for a long time I decided this weekend was the time to do it.  I started with one of the plain medium sized paper mache torsos from Spotlight.  Here is the finished project.

To begin I painted the torso with black gesso. I then used a zip that had a ring pull on it.  This went over the shoulders and down the middle of the torso I put mesh tape under the zipper around the neck and upper chest of the torso.  Over the sides of the zipper I put embossed aluminium tape that had small star shaped split pins added and I dry brushed with black paint and then gold. I then took a crocheted doily and arranged it beside the zipper and over the back of the torso.  I then painted the doily black then used red paint over the top.  For the sides I pinched out circles from embossed aluminium tape and used them to decorate the sides and back of the torso.  I then took some chipboard alphabets and put them down the front of the torso.  I painted them black then dry brushed them with red and gold. For the collar I used more aluminium tape and pop tabs glued together with red split pins added. I then used a small amount of ball chain to hang a spider charm and to close the collar.

 

The torso is attached to a small chrome candlestick holder that I got at a second hand shop.

I then got out my Paverpol to have a play and made the skirts, one black and one red from baby muslin.  The overskirt is a crocheted doily that I got from a second hand shop.  I dipped the cloth in the paverpol then I draped it over the torso.  While they were drying I made the wings. I made these using wire and tissue paper, which I then painted and embossed with clear. black and silver embossing powder in places. they have a lovely leathery feel and they moulded into a nice shape.

I added details to the back, a chain for a belt and the little owl which is actually an earring from the local $2.00 shop. 

All in all I am really happy with how this turned out and I think now I might look at doing a Light Faerie version.

I have entered this creation in the Left Of Center Creative Challenge for this week. The theme is Faeries. Check them out at http://leftofcenterchallenges.blogspot.co.nz/



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