[Mottles]

Hi Merle, thank you for such a nice compliment. I have two display events in May that I need carvings to show. So these will be going to one of them...no competition just show. Thank you for asking.
Kathy

[Banjo]

Kathy, those are very nicely done! Your use of color finishes them off perfectly! ~ Joy

[Mottles]

Hi and thank you, Joy. These Native American Kachina type dolls are very enjoyable to carve and paint as they are so colorful. Some carvers use color washes where as I like to paint full color. I do admire those who do the washes as some are really well done. The Native Americans would have used pigments of vegetable and mineral washes for their color work.
Thank you again, for looking and commenting on my 'Spirit Dolls.'
Kathy

[santagibbs]

Hi Kathy, I have always loved your dolls..There is something about them, that draws you into the carving and makes you want to be a part of them..to know more about the kachina doll..You do wonderful carvings of them.. These are precious too. Thanks for showing them to me..Charlotte

[Mottles]

Hi Charlotte, thank you so much. I try very hard to be respectful when carving katchina as they are very spiritual to the Native Americans who cherish and reveer them.
Kathy

[Joy]

I love the tall one with the natural wood showing.

I used some liquid sander on the piece I ruined by using gloss finish. But I can't say I am happy with the results.

[Eddy Smiles]

Kathy... I assume that you adhere to strict guidelines when carving and coloring your creations. Where do you get your ideas and gudielines at?

[Mottles]

Hi Joy, I enjoy the challenge of the free form spirit doll. There is something really rewarding to me when I work with Cottonwood limbs. Originally I had a cougar face on the doll, but it just didn't look that great. LOL
I did respray with a matt varnish and I like it better now.
Kathy

[Mottles]

Hi Eddy and yes I do try very hard to be respectful when creating these dolls. There are many books out there on the subject of Kachina Dolls of which I have several. Some to name a few 'Hopi Katsina Dolls' by McManis, 'Hopi Kachina Dolls with a key to their Identification' Colton, 'Hopi Kachinas' Wright, 'Kachina Doll Carving' Bromberg. We also have a wonderful collection of Kachina dolls at our local 'Smoki Museum' in Prescott, AZ. They allow non-flash photography of their Katsinas. As not all books show both front and back of the Kachina one does need to do a little research. Another book of which I don't own, but I have a good friend who does. She lets me borrow it when I'm researching another Kachina. It's called 'contemporary Hopi Kachina Dolls' Schiffer This book shows both front and back views--great reference book.
Boy didn't mean to ramble on---aren't you glad you ask? LOL
Kathy

[Eddy Smiles]

As a matter of fact... I am glad that I asked. I figured that there was a reason behind the coloring. Thanks for sharing.