Guilherme Pires is a clay artist from Brazil who creates the cutest clown figures and other clever characters. Using homemade cold porcelain, wire, foam, simple tools and a lot of imagination, he comes up with some very unique art dolls he calls 'guibonecos'. Some have very sweet faces, some are funny and some are quite strange. LOL Visit his blog at http://guibonecos.blogspot.com/.
In the 3 videos below, he shares with us how it's done. Quite the production line he has going in these videos! *sigh* He accomplishes so much in one day!!
In the first video, he makes the clay and takes it into his modeling room where he creates a series of heads and models the arms, hands and big feet for his clowns.
In the second video, he assembles all the pieces with wire and foam and paints the adorable faces. The last video shows his creative costuming, wigging and finishing.
I thoroughly enjoyed these videos Kim thanks so much !!! I just wish he explained the part about washing the dolls? Also I know that cold porcelain doesn't keep details so how did he get such detail? Blessings,Flora
Hi Flora, I also wondered about the washing. I think he was wet-sanding for a smooth finish, but not sure. I also don't know his secret for getting such good detail. Guess I'll have to ask him! ;-) Mary
Great review, though clowns freak me out! How strong is Cold Porcelain? Does it bend or crack easily? I'm trying to find a really strong air-dry clay (I'm in the UK, so some of the clays that you write about in this blog aren't available to me), but one which - unlike Das - doesn't give off a strong smell. Any advice would be great, thanks!
Hi Maria, thanks for the compliments, I wash the dolls to take digital marks, blemishes, and excess hand cream, leaving the surface smooth and time to paint. for details, the secret is to model faster, use the mass in the right spot, let it dry properly, after all, are 20 years working with this dough, and would not to say everything here, my dough is pretty simple, I have not had time to make a video with the recipe, but I promise to soon. is worth remembering that not only do clowns. hugs and thanks to all. Guilherme Pires
Hi Val, Glad you enjoyed the videos. CP is quite strong and durable. Some people have had problems but reason is usually due to ingredients or not enough cooking, mixing or kneading...something like that. Which clay would be best for you depends on what you want to do with it. LaDoll is very durable and readily available in Europe. Lumina is strong AND flexible. DAS is not durable IMHO.
Hello G.P. Thanks for visiting and answering our questions. it is appreciated very much. I could not tell if you were sanding or just washing the dolls, so now I understand. Your 20 years experience making dolls is very evident in the speed with which you sculpt. I will try to work faster! ;-) Looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
Hi Mary, thanks for your reply to my comment, I'll have a look for the clays you mention. I was thinking mostly of doing small models (ie, scale miniatures) in clay, to sell. By the way, I used to use Das in the mid-1970's, for jewellery and still have some pieces that I made, and they are fine, no damage at all. Maybe the durability depends on how they are finished? I used to use watercolour paint and a strong varnish.... it might even have been clear nail varnish as in those days I didn't have the same problem with strong smells as I do now! :)
Thank you very much for taking the time to comment! ;-) Sorry I had to re-instate the 'word verification'...I'm getting far too much spam in the comment box.
I thoroughly enjoyed these videos Kim thanks so much !!! I just wish he explained the part about washing the dolls? Also I know that cold porcelain doesn't keep details so how did he get such detail?
ReplyDeleteBlessings,Flora
Hi Flora, I also wondered about the washing. I think he was wet-sanding for a smooth finish, but not sure. I also don't know his secret for getting such good detail. Guess I'll have to ask him! ;-)
ReplyDeleteMary
Great review, though clowns freak me out!
ReplyDeleteHow strong is Cold Porcelain? Does it bend or crack easily? I'm trying to find a really strong air-dry clay (I'm in the UK, so some of the clays that you write about in this blog aren't available to me), but one which - unlike Das - doesn't give off a strong smell. Any advice would be great, thanks!
Hi Maria, thanks for the compliments, I wash the dolls to take digital marks, blemishes, and excess hand cream, leaving the surface smooth and time to paint. for details, the secret is to model faster, use the mass in the right spot, let it dry properly, after all, are 20 years working with this dough, and would not to say everything here,
ReplyDeletemy dough is pretty simple, I have not had time to make a video with the recipe,
but I promise to soon. is worth remembering that not only do clowns.
hugs and thanks to all.
Guilherme Pires
Hi Val,
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the videos. CP is quite strong and durable. Some people have had problems but reason is usually due to ingredients or not enough cooking, mixing or kneading...something like that. Which clay would be best for you depends on what you want to do with it. LaDoll is very durable and readily available in Europe. Lumina is strong AND flexible. DAS is not durable IMHO.
Hello G.P. Thanks for visiting and answering our questions. it is appreciated very much. I could not tell if you were sanding or just washing the dolls, so now I understand. Your 20 years experience making dolls is very evident in the speed with which you sculpt. I will try to work faster! ;-) Looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, thanks for your reply to my comment, I'll have a look for the clays you mention. I was thinking mostly of doing small models (ie, scale miniatures) in clay, to sell. By the way, I used to use Das in the mid-1970's, for jewellery and still have some pieces that I made, and they are fine, no damage at all. Maybe the durability depends on how they are finished? I used to use watercolour paint and a strong varnish.... it might even have been clear nail varnish as in those days I didn't have the same problem with strong smells as I do now!
ReplyDelete:)
I really enjoyed this--- thanks!!!jmd of Tangled Art!!
ReplyDelete