Stuffed Paper Doll Project inspired by Mirka Mora
art is free, but of course you have to be alert to catch it when it comes onto the canvas. I don’t choose the ideas they choose me. I don’t wait for them. They come without my permission!
- Mirka Mora
I am so thrilled to welcome the Amazing Shannon of Oh Creative Day to the blog! Shannon is a passionate educator, a literacy warrior, a wickedly-talented writer and maker, as well as mom to three littles. She has a dazzling gift for matching picture books with artful play experiences, whipping up a themed birthday cake like nobodies business and she is my favorite mixed tape DJ (okaaay they are playlists but let’s pretend she’s dropping see-through blue tinted cassettes in my inbox). Shannon also has a process art book for kids called The Little Artists’ Big Book of Activities. We feel very lucky that she joined us and her Mirka Mora project is delightful!
A small sampling of children’s art work from Shannon’s site Oh Creative Day
One word immediately comes to mind when I think of Mirka Mora. Trailblazer.
Cheeky is another word I see a lot when I read about Mirka. She is frequently described as being full of life and endless joy. Mirka drew and painted every day in her home studio and she was a strong advocate for making the time to daydream every day. What a woman. Mirka’s life was filled with amazing stories.
Madeleine ‘Mirka’ Zelik was born in Paris in 1928. At 14, Mirka was sent to a concentration camp at Pithiviers (south of Paris). She was scheduled to be deported to Auschwitz, but was miraculously released. Mirka’s Jewish family hid in small French villages and forests for the final three years of World War 2 and miraculously survived.
After the War, Mirka met Georges Mora, and together they emigrated with their young family to Melbourne. Mirka and Georges became iconic figures in the city’s emerging bohemian subculture. They opened some of Melbourne’s most vibrant and iconic cafes and restaurants. Food and art just goes together, right?
In the mid-1950s, Mirka combined working in the restaurants with raising her children whilst embarking on a career as a self-taught artist. Did somebody say ‘trailblazer?’ Mirka’s art showcased her rich imagination. She drew inspiration from childhood memories, mythology, fairy tales and folklore. Mirka was a prolific artist who continued creating right up until her death at 90.
“Oh you have to paint everyday. It’s not a disease but it’s a passion. Because what’s amazing is that I’m learning a lot of things. I can’t believe it. I thought I knew everything about painting. I don’t! I’m learning everyday.” – Mirka Mora at 87
MERMAID
stuffed paper doll project inspired by mirka mora
contributed by: oh creative day
Venture into the whimsical, fascinating and quirky world of Mirka Mora while creating your own Mora style doll creature!
Materials:
Butcher paper or newsprint
Templates (see the opt-in form below)
A WALKING FISH
Begin by brainstorming as many mythical creatures as you can. You might like to look at some images of the many dolls that Mirka made. What do you notice about her use of colour? What do you notice about the facial features Mirka gave them?
Mirka’s dolls were very diverse. Some were soft, some were plaster, many were decorated with sparkly or vintage embellishments. I wanted to make this project as accessible as possible, so I chose to design the doll on butcher’s paper. Newspaper sheets would work equally as well. If you’re willing to invest a few more dollars though, you could also do this project on calico.
Sketch your design out onto the paper. We had a bit of frustration at my place with the bodies of our creatures. So I created three basic forms that could be transformed into Mirka Mora-inspired paper dolls. Download those templates here. What features can you add onto these bodies to create a mythical creature?
Once you’re happy with your design, add colour. We discovered that watercolour discs worked best on the butcher’s paper. Be mindful though that butcher’s paper is thin. Too vigorous a painting action or too much water on your brush will create a hole in your paper.
‘It’s nice to have lots of materials, because you don’t know when you might need something.’ – Mirka Mora
When it came to materials, we embraced this quote from Mirka. We encourage you, and we suspect Mirka would to, to experiment with a variety of materials to add color to your paper dolls.
I was really tempted to encourage everybody to outline their dolls with Black Sharpie. But if you look at Mirka’s dolls, her lines are perfectly imperfect. So we outlined our shapes with paintbrushes dipped in black poster paints.
Mirka’s dolls generally have over-sized eyes and mouths so be sure to focus on those parts of your doll.
“My dolls are my drawings in three dimensions” - Mirka Mora
Once your creature is coloured, it is time to transform it into a doll. There are a few options here:
We created MANY drawings and paintings inspired by Mirka Mora. We didn’t turn all of them into dolls. You might feel the same way. You might like to just keep your work as a drawing and painting.
If you’d like to try your hand at sewing, go for it! Cut out your creature (save the scraps!) and lay it over the top of another piece of butcher’s paper. Sew your creature to the sheet underneath. Butcher’s paper is delicate so don’t pull your needle and thread through too hard! Before you completely sew your doll shut, gently stuff it with scrunched up pieces of scrap offcuts. Then sew your Mirka Mora-inspired doll shut.
If sewing is not your thing, or your creator is slightly younger, just use glue or a stapler! Paint some Mod Podge or craft glue around the edges of your doll and affix it to a piece of butcher’s paper, adding stuffing as you go. Glue it closed. Too easy!
SWEET CHAOS ANGEL
Alternatively, you could use a stapler. If you’re concerned about little fingers catching on the staples at the back of the doll, cover these with tape.
May we all channel a little bit of Mirka Mora into our daily lives- ever curious, always seeking joy with a good dash of cheekiness thrown in!
Shannon from Oh Creative Day is a mother of three who believes that reading and creating are as important as breathing. Whilst on maternity leave with her firstborn, Shannon started the blog Oh Creative Day where she celebrates her superpower of teaming picture books with creative projects. Kidspot have named Shannon “A Crafty Mum Worth a Follow on Instagram.” Brit + Co think that her Instagram account is one that Artsy Families Will Love. When she is not in the parenting trenches, cleaning paint off all household surfaces or at her laptop, Shannon is a practising primary school teacher with over a decade of experience across all ages and stages.
WALKING FISH
SWEET CHAOS ANGEL
