Dark Angels – No. 1 ‘The Seer’
A Charity Auction in Support of The Sophie Lancaster Foundation
At this time of year, our thoughts turn to giving gifts. Like most people, I love to see my kids’ faces light up on Christmas morning. However, I am painfully aware that for some families it is not a happy time of year. For this reason, every Christmas I make a very special doll to support one of the charities, which are close to my heart. This year, I am supporting The Sophie Lancaster Foundation. Sophie was a bright, beautiful young woman with everything to live for. Sadly, in 2007 she was brutally murdered by a gang of teenagers, simply because she was part of the Gothic community. Following her death, the Sophie Lancaster Foundation was launched with the aim of challenging prejudice against alternative subcultures, both through education, and lobbying for changes in legislation.
In order to raise as much money as possible for this very worthy cause, I am auctioning an original, one of a kind, Gothic angel art doll. The first of a new series entitled Dark Angels, ‘The Seer’ is a semi jointed, cloth art doll. Measuring approximately 11.5 inches from head to toe, she is lovingly hand crafted from white cotton and stuffed with polyester fibre. Her legs are made from black and white striped fabric. The Seer has a full head of yarn hair, which is needle felted in place. Her facial features are hand drawn in archival quality ink, including the ‘eye-liner’ detail, which accents her green button eyes. She wears a black satin and lace dress, with black lace panties. Clothing is not removable. As with all Strange Little Girls, this dark angel is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Strange Little Girls Gothic dolls are supplied with a name tag and signed certificate of authenticity, well packaged in a cardboard mailing box.
Click here to bid now!
Please do have a look at the auction. 100% of money raised will be donated to the foundation. Bidding starts at £49.99, which is well below the usual sale price for this type of doll. UK bidders can choose between 1st Class Recorded, or Royal Mail’s priority Next Day delivery service. I am also happy to ship worldwide.
If you are not able to bid at this time, please visit the Sophie Lancaster Foundation website and purchase a S.O.P.H.I.E wristband to show your support. Thank you!
Please note, this doll is a collectors’ item only and should be handled with care. She is not a toy and should not be given to a child under the age of 14 years.
Ebony by Jo Hards
OOAK Gothic art doll ‘Ebony’ now on eBay!
This little nine inch tall, cloth art doll is currently being auctioned on eBay. The listing ends at 14.54pm [GMT] on Monday 3rd December 2012.
Ebony is a one of a kind, Gothic style art doll. She is lovingly hand crafted from white cotton and stuffed with polyester fibre. Her legs are made from black and white striped fabric. Ebony has a full head of yarn hair, which is needle felted in place. Her facial features are hand drawn in archival quality ink, including the ‘eye-liner’ detail, which accents her black button eyes. She wears a black velvet and satin dress, trimmed with lace, and matching velvet shoes. Ebony’s outfit is complemented by a Tibetan silver cross pendant on a satin ribbon choker, and a beaded bracelet. Clothing is not removable. As with all Strange Little Girls, Ebony is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Strange Little Girls Gothic dolls are supplied with a name tag and signed certificate of authenticity, well packaged in a cardboard mailing box.
International bidders are welcome!
Please note, this doll is a collectors’ item only and should be handled with care. She is not a toy and should not be given to a child under the age of 14 years.
Doll stand not included.
Ariadne
A Gothic Lolita style art doll by Jo Hards
Ariadne’s deep green eyes see things that most people don’t see. She loves to spend time in the woods with the faeries. She thinks of them as her closest friends.
This Gothic Lolita inspired art doll measures approximately 11.5 inches (29cm) from head to toe. She is handmade from pure white cotton, stuffed with polyester fibre. Her facial features are hand drawn in archival quality ink. Ariadne’s yarn hair is needle felted in place and decorated with antique effect, metal roses. She is dressed in black velvet and satin, trimmed with white lace and jacquard ribbon. Her outfit is complimented by matching velvet shoes and black lace panties. Around her neck, she wears a beaded necklace with a Tibetan silver fairy pendant.
As with all Strange Little Girls, Ariadne contains no animal derived materials, so she is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. She is supplied with a certificate of authenticity.
At the time of writing, Ariadne is available to buy from the Strange Little Girls shop, priced at £70 including UK delivery. International shipping is still only £6.
Please note, this doll is a collectors’ item only and should be handled with care. Strange Little Girls dolls are not toys and should not be given to a child under the age of 14 years.
Strange Little Girls – November Events
Where can I buy Strange Little Girls dolls?
This is a question I’ve heard quite a lot in the last couple of weeks. Apologies if you are one of the people who have been trying to get their hands on a OOAK Gothic doll recently. They have been vanishing rather quickly leaving the virtual shelves looking bare. Don’t despair though, I have a couple of treats lined up for you in November.
Strange Little Girls £25 Event
To celebrate reaching 1500 likes on the Strange Little Girls Facebook page, I will be holding a ‘market’ event this weekend, beginning Saturday 3rd November 2012 at 11am [GMT]. A brand new collection of Gothic style OOAK art dolls will be going on sale to Facebook fans at the special low price of £25. The dolls will be snapped up by the first to comment ‘sold’ on their photos. Full details of the event and how to take part can be found here.
Odd One Out Alternative Showcase
On Sunday 11th November, Sugar Punks are holding their 1st birthday celebration showcase, featuring a wide range of artists and designers from all over the world. The Showcase opens at 9am [GMT] or 8pm [AEST]. Two OOAK dolls by Strange Little Girls will be available to buy. Pandora and Hope will go to the first customers to comment ‘sold’. You can already preview many of the entries, including Pandora and Hope here.
If you miss out on these events, don’t worry. I also plan add more Gothic dolls to the Strange Little Girls shop very soon, so there will be opportunity for you to grab that perfect gift before Christmas.
The Spooktacular Halloween Showcase
This weekend, two brand new OOAK Gothic dolls by Strange Little Girls will be going on sale, as part of a ‘Spooktacular’ Halloween Showcase. The showcase, hosted by SquishyBee, will be taking place on their Facebook page on Saturday 6th October at 5pm US-EST. SquishyBee offer a wide range of handmade toys, gifts and accessories for mums and little ones. A variety of artists and designers from all over the world will also be taking part in the event, with Halloween themed goodies for all ages.
Hedera
A one of a kind, Gothic vampire art doll
Hedera is one of Gothville’s most feared residents. The first record of her existence dates back to the 17th century and the story of this blood thirsty vampire has been whispered by torch light hundreds of times in this creepy old town. Yet Hedera is rarely seen … until it is far too late!
Gothic art doll ‘Hedera’ stands approximately 15 inches tall. This spooky vampire wears a black velvet bodice and silky, lace trimmed bloomers, both of which are fixed in place. Her tattered, burgundy and black, tulle skirt tapers to floor length at the back. Her outfit is trimmed with burgundy satin ribbon and complimented by matching velvet shoes. Around her neck, she wears a silver plated bat pendant on a satin ribbon choker. Hedera’s facial features and many other details are hand stitched. She has a full head of red and black yarn hair, which is needle felted by hand.
Salvia
A button eyed, OOAK vampire art doll
Salvia is often mistaken for an innocent young girl. People are drawn to her big brown eyes and infectious personality. They must wonder why she is out all alone late at night. Salvia lets them think whatever they like. She has learned to make use of her childlike features. After all, she has been doing this for more than two hundred years …
Gothic art doll ‘Salvia’ stands approximately 8 inches tall. This cute and creepy little vampire wears a black velvet bodice, with a black tulle skirt, over silky, lace trimmed bloomers. Her outfit is trimmed with black satin ribbon and complimented by matching velvet shoes. Around her neck, she wears a silver plated spider pendant on a satin ribbon choker. Salvia’s facial features and many other details are hand stitched. Like Hedera, she has a full head of black yarn hair, which is needle felted by hand and braided.
Hedera and Salvia will be sold to to the first customer to comment ‘SOLD’ on their photos after ‘Start Shopping’ is announced. As with all Strange Little Girls Gothic dolls, these OOAK vamps are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Both dolls are supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity, which includes the name and spooky character story. Please note, Hedera and Salvia are collectible art dolls only. They are not toys and should be handled with care.
Full details, terms and conditions can be found in the Showcase album.
ACEO Giveaway
Creating ACEO’s is a challenge, which requires a steady hand and an eye for fine detail, but they are also a lot of fun. Once you start collecting them, you just can’t stop! These miniature works of art can be collected in an album, displayed in a frame, or traded with friends.
Now, to celebrate gaining my first 100 ‘likes’ on the Jo Hards Facebook page I am giving one fantasy art fan the chance to start, or add to their own ACEO collection. On Saturday, 22nd September, I will give away an ACEO original, featuring a tattooed Gothic mermaid. This collectible art card, on 300 gsm, hot pressed watercolour paper, is entitled Violet Mermaid. For this piece, I used Inktense soluble ink pencils, blended with water and a fine brush. For the outline, a 0.05mm fine liner pen was used, to produce a high quality, fade resistant finish. The card is initialled in ink on the front, and titled, signed, and dated, in full on the back. As with all ACEO cards, Violet Mermaid measures exactly 2.5 x 3.5 inches, about the size of a baseball trading card. This is the original piece, which is one of a kind. It is not a print.
To win this ACEO original, all you have to do is answer one question:
What does the acronym ‘ACEO’ stand for?
Please send your entry, including your full name, to giveaway@johards.com . When your entry is accepted, you will receive an automatic confirmation by email. Entries will be accepted until 11am [gmt] on Saturday 22nd September. The winner will be chosen at random from the correct entries, and notified by email from 12pm the same day. The winner’s name will be publicised on the Jo Hards Facebook page.
Because I hate spam too, your contact information will not be used to send unsolicited mail and will not be shared with anyone else. This promotion is sponsored solely by johards.com
Upcoming Events
Strange Little Girls Gothic dolls will be taking part in a number of events over the next few months. News about showcases, exhibits, giveaways, etc. will be posted here on my blog as well as on the Strange Little Girls Facebook page as information becomes available.
Coming Soon:
Firstly, the Spooktacular Halloween Showcase hosted by SquishyBee will be taking place on 6th October 2012 at 5pm [US EST], on their Facebook page. Look out for a brand new, exclusive Gothic doll from Strange Little Girls, in addition to lots of spooky gifts and collectibles for all ages, by artists and designers all over the world!
Secondly, on 11th November 2012, Sugar Punkz will be holding their first birthday celebration on the Sugar Punkz Facebook page, featuring the ‘Odd One Out’ Alternative Showcase starting at 8pm [Australia EST]. Handmade dolls and other exclusive items from artists and designers all over the world will be available to purchase, including something very special from Strange Little Girls.
More details to follow soon!
Original Art For Sale on eBay
Your chance to bid on an original 5 x 7 inch acrylic painting from just £9.99
I don’t often list artwork on eBay, but this week I decided to put one of my paintings up for auction. Beauty & Cruelty is a 5 x 7 inch acrylic painting on 1/8th inch thick canvas board. The painting features a European Peacock Butterfly [Inachis io] caught in a deadly spider web. Although somewhat dark and Gothic in nature, this piece is a little different from my usual subject matter. It was created for the EBSQ Butterflies & Moths art exhibit in June this year (more about that here). Beauty & Cruelty is sold unframed. It will however, fit perfectly into a standard 5 x 7 inch frame of your choosing. The auction ends at 20:08 UK time [BST] on Thursday 6th September 2012.
Strange Little Girls – August Update
In the last week, as you may have noticed, a visit to hospital has meant I have had to temporarily close the shop. I plan to re-open by next week and will be back with some brand new dolls very soon. In the meantime, a couple of my Strange Little Girls are making appearances elsewhere around the web.
Gothic Cat Doll – Freyja
Currently appearing in the EBSQ Cats & Dogs art exhibit, Freyja is my first Gothic cat fantasy art doll. This cute, creepy, feline rag doll stands approximately 15.5 inches tall. She is hand crafted from white cotton, with black cotton cat ears, black and white striped legs, green button eyes and hand stitched features. She is partly machine sewn, with a full head of yarn hair and lots of hand stitched detail. Freyja is dressed in black cotton, trimmed with ribbon and lace, with lace collar and sleeves. Her outfit is complimented by a decorative silver tone brooch, and star shaped buttons on her shoes. You don’t have to be an EBSQ member to vote in the exhibit. Simply click the Facebook ‘like’ button next to the entry and your vote will be recorded.
Click here to vote in the EBSQ ‘Cats & Dogs’ Art Exhibit
The Ghost Bride of Devil Bridge
This original Gothic ghost rag doll is currently being auctioned on eBay. The Ghost Bride is an open edition collectible art doll from the ‘Legends of Gothville’ series. Made in January 2012, the doll being auctioned here is the original prototype, i.e. the first doll to be made in this design. This spooky cloth doll stands approximately 14 inches tall. She has smoky green button eyes and hand stitched features. Her extra long blonde yarn hair is hand stitched, braided, and adorned with a tattered veil of spiderweb lace. She is dressed in white crushed velvet and satin with ragged spiderweb lace overlay and white crushed velvet shoes. The auction will end on 4th September 2012, at 18:05 [BST].
Click here to place your bid now
If you would like to know as soon as the shop re-opens and be among the first to get the latest updates, including upcoming promotions and exhibitions, please make sure you ‘like’ the Strange Little Girls Facebook page and add me to your interest lists.
ACEO Cards
The fun, affordable way to begin collecting art
In the current economic climate, owning beautiful, original art can sometimes seem out of reach to many people. It can be difficult to justify spending your hard earned cash on a masterpiece, when you have school uniforms to buy and bills keep rising. However, art can be viewed as an investment, which will only appreciate in value over time, so how do you get a foot on the art collecting ladder when times are tough? One fun, inexpensive, way to begin is the ACEO card.
The idea of miniature art cards is not new. Examples of wallet sized works of art can be traced back to the sixteenth century. The late twentieth century saw the birth of the ATC (artist trading card) movement in Switzerland. Artists began trading baseball card sized art pieces, with the intention that they should never be sold, or exchanged for anything but other artists’ ATCs. However, in recent years, with increasing opportunities for artists and art collectors to trade over the internet, using websites such as eBay, collecting these tiny treasures has become a popular pursuit, no longer restricted to artists. Art cards, which are created to be sold rather than traded are known as ACEOs.
ACEO stands for Art Card Editions and Originals. To qualify as an ACEO, a piece of art must measure 2.5 x 3.5 inches. Other than the size, anything goes! ACEOs can be made from paper, card, canvas, or any other material you can think of. They can be rendered in acrylics, oils, watercolour, pencil, ink, collage, or even embroidered. They may be originals, or limited edition prints. Subjects and styles are as diverse as the materials used to create them. They can be matted and displayed in frames, or organised in albums. However, it seems that one is never enough. As any ACEO collector will tell you, once you start, you just can’t stop!
Brand New Etsy Shop
Gothic and Fantasy Art by Jo Hards on Etsy
Some of my fantasy artwork and Gothic art dolls can now be found in my brand new Etsy shop. Etsy is worldwide community of artists and artisans, much like a giant on-line shopping mall for art, handmade and vintage goods, and art and craft supplies. In my shop, you will find a selection of paintings, drawings and art dolls, including some exclusive, one of a kind items, which you won’t find anywhere else. You can even request custom dolls.
Eve – Fantasy fairy art in acrylics on 8 x 8 x 2 inch canvas View Listing
If you haven’t shopped on Etsy before, it’s easy. Just add an item to your shopping cart and pay with PayPal (You don’t even need a PayPal account). I will be adding new items to the shop regularly, so if you already have an Etsy account, please don’t forget to add me to your favourites, so you won’t miss a thing.
Gothic fairy cloth art doll ‘Aeshna’ View listing
OOAK Gothic Art Doll – Dolores
A Gothic Lolita Inspired Rag Doll by Jo Hards
For rather a long time, I’ve been fascinated by Gothic Lolita fashion. I’ve never been drawn to dress like a delicate porcelain doll myself, but I always thought the girls who wear the style well look amazing. My research for my latest doll lead me to some fascinating facts about the Lolita style. Lolita began in Harajuku, Tokyo in the 1980s. I knew the style originated in Japan, but never knew there were so many different subtypes. lolitafashion.org lists sixteen different styles that fall under the Lolita umbrella (if you pardon the pun!). What they all have in common is the classic, knee length, bell shaped skirt, ‘Mary Jane’ shoes, and a Victorianesque love of ribbons, bows and doll-like cuteness. The name is drawn from the child-like innocence and sweetness of the style, rather than any sexual connotations associated with the name ‘Lolita‘ in the West.
Now, I don’t profess to be an expert in Lolita fashion by any means, but I was eager to create a doll that captures some of the key elements of Gothic Lolita with a Strange Little Girls twist. The result of my experiment is Dolores.
This one of a kind cloth art doll stands approximately 15 inches tall. She has deep blue button eyes and decorative hand embroidered detail to her face. Dolores wears the classic Lolita shaped dress, with bell shaped skirt and puffed sleeves, trimmed with ribbon and lace. The front of her bodice is decorated with a large lace bow, which is hand stitched in place. The outfit is completed by frilled ribbon wrist cuffs, Mary Jane shoes with skull and cross bone print, and matching hair ribbons. Around her neck, she wears a ribbon choker with a silver plated skull and cross bones pendant. Although Dolores is partly machine sewn, a lot of hand stitching went into her outfit, making her rather time consuming, but I think she’s worth it. I love her and hope you will too.
Dolores is now available to buy from the Strange Little Girls online store priced at £75. UK delivery is included in the price.
Gothic Rag Doll Art
Original Artwork Featuring Gothic Rag Dolls
Sometimes when I’m painting, my Gothic rag dolls get a little jealous. They seem to think my time should be devoted to them. I’ve tried telling them that I still love to sew, but sometimes I need to do something else. However, they won’t take no for an answer. They creep into my art and take up residence in my paintings …
In one of my recent ACEO’s, titled First, Last & Always, a heartbroken young girl clings to her Gothic rag doll for comfort. This one of a kind original, in ink and Inktense pencils on 300gsm watercolour paper, measures 3.5 x 2.5 inches. The ACEO card is initialed on the front and signed dated and titled on the back. It would make a wonderful addition to any ACEO collector’s album. First, Last & Always is currently available in the online store, priced at £10.
My latest acrylic painting also features a Gothic doll. The 5 x 7 inch piece, on 1/8th inch thick canvas board, is titled ‘Lost Doll’. Somehow, this creepy, button eyed, rag doll has become separated from her owner and is looking rather lonely. This painting will fit a standard 5 x 7 inch frame, which is not included. Lost Doll will be added to the online store within the next few days. In the meantime, if you are interested in this piece, please don’t hesitate to contact me for details.
June Exhibit Entries
Wildflowers, Butterflies and the Art of Staying True to Yourself
I’ve always loved a challenge. As an artist, it’s easy to fall into the habit of drawing or painting the subjects you know you can do well and avoiding those that you feel more unsure of. The thing is, it is by entering that unknown territory and tackling the more tricky subjects that you grow and develop. You gain new skills and take what you have learned into your next project.
Here is where themed art shows come in. This month for the first time, I decided to create a couple of pieces for the EBSQ themed monthly exhibits. I felt it would be a great way to stretch myself a little, but then the thought occurred to me, how do I produce something that fits into a theme, which seems totally unrelated to my usual subject matter, whilst retaining my own individual style?
The first theme I chose to tackle was ‘Wildflowers’. I have painted flowers before, usually as an adornment in a faerie’s hair, or to add interest to the surrounding scenery, so wildflowers shouldn’t pose too much of a problem, right? Yes, I could paint a field full of poppies, or dandelions, but it doesn’t really say Gothic fantasy art, does it? I spent a morning drinking coffee (it’s a hard life) and leafing through gardening and wildlife books, looking for inspiration. That’s when I saw it, and I knew exactly what I was going to do.
Clover is a plant, which is often considered a troublesome weed, but holds many childhood memories for me. I remember lazily counting the tiny leaves on the school field, hoping to find the rare four leaved variety, and marveling at the intricate detail in those delicate purple flowers. With the right camouflage, a patch of clover would be the ideal place for a tiny faerie to hide. I remembered seeing a jade green moth, resting on a leaf in my garden. It’s wings blended perfectly with the surrounding foliage. It occurred to me, that if faeries were to live in urban gardens, they would need a similar form of defense.
The result was ‘Clover’, an 8 x 10 inch acrylic painting, which aims to capture the spirit and essence of the flower, but remains true to my own style. You can view the Wildflowers exhibit here. Anybody can vote for their favourite by clicking the Facebook ‘Like’ button next to the picture.
Pleased with my effort in the Wildflowers exhibit, I simply couldn’t resist entering the EBSQ ‘Butterflies and Moths‘ exhibit. Butterflies have always fascinated me. I have often taken elements from species found in nature and adapted them to create faerie wings, but I thought this exhibit would be a good opportunity to develop my skills, to really study a butterfly and paint it as it is. The European Peacock butterfly [Inachis io] is a frequent visitor to my garden in summer, and without a doubt, one of the UK’s most beautiful species. However, their delicate beauty is short lived and nature can be cruel. In the 5 x 7 inch painting ‘Beauty & Cruelty’, a tragic end to this butterfly’s short life means survival for the spider. I learned a lot from painting this one. Never before have I studied the detail in those colourful wings so closely. I am looking forward to taking the experience into my future work. I have a feeling that Peacock butterflies will be making further appearances in my paintings … though perhaps in faerie form!
Gothic Dolls Update
OOAK Gothic Art Dolls Available Now
~Elena / Eris~
Apologies for the lack of new art dolls recently. I’ve been a little busy getting things started on another venture of mine over at johards.com, where you can find Gothic fantasy art in various media. I do have a few Gothic dolls though, which are ready to ship right now.
~Ondine~
Elena/Eris is a reversible ‘Evil Twin’ doll, who has two sides to her personality. ‘Elena’ has a beautifully hand drawn face with big eyes and a cheeky smile that will melt your heart, but turn her around and flick back her hair and she becomes ‘Eris’, her evil alter ego. With her cruel black button eyes and stitched mouth, Eris will make your blood run cold. This unusual, one of a kind, Gothic art doll can be displayed facing either way depending on your mood – perfect for creeping out unwelcome guests! The Evil Twin doll is available to buy now from the Strange Little Girls store priced at £70.
In addition to the dolls on the Strange Little Girls website. I also have a OOAK Gothic mermaid doll up for auction on eBay. The auction for Ondine ends on Sunday 10th June at around 11am UK time, so if you haven’t already, please do drop in and have a look.
Fantasy art update
This week in my strange little world …
It’s been quite a busy week in my little art studio. Firstly, I was delighted to be asked to do an interview for the Facebook Artist of the Week feature over at EBSQ. In the article, which was published here yesterday, you can find out a little bit more about me and my views on running a Facebook artist page.
Secondly, a new faerie painting in acrylics was added to the online store this week. Eve is a colourful faerie fantasy portrait, measuring approximately eight inches square and almost 2 inches deep. The picture is continued over the sides of the canvas, so she can be hung straight on the wall with no frame required. The original is currently on sale here priced at £85. Priority UK delivery is included.
Thirdly, continuing the faerie theme, I have also been working on a brand new painting. The new piece entitled ‘Clover’ will be revealed very soon!
If you would like to get updates from my fantasy art studio as soon as they happen, please head over to the new Jo Hards Facebook page, click ‘Like’, then hover over the ‘Liked’ button and make sure ‘Show in Newsfeed’ is highlighted. I’d love to see you there!
Nyctophobia – ACEO
A cute, creepy, collectible art card by Jo Hards
Nyctophobia (fear of the dark) is something we have all suffered from at some point. When I was a child, I couldn’t sleep with the wardrobe door open, even just a crack, and the curtains had to be tightly closed, because as soon as the light went out, my imagination created all kinds of creepy apparitions. In my latest ACEO, it is clear that even Gothic rag dolls are sometimes afraid of the dark.
This cute, creepy miniature work of art measuring 2.5 x 3.5 inches, is now available in the fantasy art store, priced at £10. It is drawn in artist quality coloured pencil, on 300 gsm watercolour paper, and set with UV resistant fixative to give many years of enjoyment. The artist’s initials are on the front in the bottom right hand corner. The watermark is for online purposes only. It does not appear on the original. The piece is signed and dated on the back, along with the title and website address written in ink. Nyctophobia is supplied with an EBSQ Certificate of Authenticity. UK delivery is included in the price.
This highly collectible art card would make a wonderful addition to any collector’s album, or an unusual conversation piece displayed in an ACEO frame.
Buy fantasy art ACEO cards by Jo Hards
What’s new
A brand new fantasy art website
As many of you will have already noticed, there have been a few changes going on at Strange Little Girls. This is because as well as making cloth art dolls, I love to draw and paint. I recently began listing some of my fantasy artwork alongside the dolls in the online store at www.strange-little-girls.co.uk and on the Strange Little Girls Facebook page. My paintings and drawings got a really good reaction from those who saw them, but I couldn’t help feeling that this wasn’t the best place for them. Strange Little Girls is the perfect setting for my Gothic rag dolls, and maybe even for other types of art doll in the future, but I would love my fantasy artwork to speak for itself and find its own place in the online art community, rather than remain a side project.
I considered several forums for my artwork, but in the end, what works best for me is what I have at Strange Little Girls, a dedicated website and Facebook page. So, with steely determination and a slight sense of panic, I began the unenviable task of starting a new website from scratch. That was a week ago, and by this morning, I felt I had enough content to launch the new site, complete with a brand new online store.
My brand sparkly new fantasy art website can now be found at www.johards.com. I also have a new Facebook page for my fantasy art. The Strange Little Girls website and social networking pages will continue as before, with new OOAK dolls and old favourites. I plan to keep this blog running, as a kind of summary page, with updates from both websites. I may even give it a little revamp.
The future is looking rather busy and rather exciting, and I’m only just getting started!
Acrylic Paintings by Jo Hards
Acrylics Addicts Anonymous – The Story So Far
I’ve been a little busy lately, battling a new addiction. It all started during a visit to my parents’ house in Yorkshire. I was discussing art with my talented artist dad, when he made the seemingly innocent remark that would lead to my downfall.
“I think you should try painting in acrylics” he said. “Acrylics?” said I “no, I don’t think so”. My memories of painting were not good. I remembered grappling with cheap standard issue brushes and gaudily coloured tubes of gouache, back at art school, whilst the red faced, balding lecturer yelled “let your painting grow … let it take on a life of its own … let it speak to you!” The girl next to me leaned over and whispered “Is your painting speaking to you? Mine is, It’s telling me it’s rubbish”. Rubbish wasn’t the exact term she used, but you get the point.
Carmen by Jo Hards ~ SOLD
“No, I really can’t …” I protested. “Have a go” said my dad, “I think you’d be good at it”. Well, you can’t argue with that, can you? A week later, I had bought a selection of acrylic paints, a set of brushes, a big tub of gesso primer, some painting panels and a B&Q tool box. After many hours spent nervously Googling various painting techniques, I was ready to start. A simple portrait to start with … What about the background? … A sunset, perfect! I took a broad brush, loaded it with colour and tentatively drew it across the canvas. Wow, it actually didn’t look bad. Several hours later I was still there. I was hooked, building up layer upon layer, experimenting with strokes and colours. Within a few days I had completed my first acrylic painting ‘Carmen’.
Changes by Jo Hards
I couldn’t wait to get started on the next painting, another portrait, but a little different. I wanted to include a fantasy element … Of course, a mermaid! The result was ‘Changes’. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t tried this before! Carmen has already been sold, but Changes is available to buy now from the online store, priced at £65. I’m now working on my next acrylic painting. This time, a faerie. I have a feeling she won’t be the last. All paintings come with an EBSQ Certificate of Authenticity. To keep updated and see new paintings as soon as they are released, you can find me on Facebook or Twitter.
Buy Gothic Fantasy paintings by Jo Hards
Ragdoll Heart by Jo Hards
Gothic Fantasy Faerie Art
Original Drawing by Jo Hards
Ragdoll Heart by Jo Hards
Ragdoll Heart is the latest original drawing by goth/fantasy artist Jo Hards. Measuring approximately 16.5 x 11.7 inches (A3 size), Ragdoll heart features a mischievous dark faerie clutching a button eyed gothic rag doll, as she is watched over by menacing yellow eyes. The colours and detail in this lowbrow style fantasy piece must be seen in reality to be fully appreciated. The artwork is drawn in light-fast coloured pencil on quality paper, signed and dated by the artist, and set with acrylic fixative for many years of enjoyment. This is an original drawing, not a print! Please note, the watermark does not appear on the original. Ragdoll Heart is delivered, unframed, in a sturdy cardboard mailing tube, for you to frame as desired at home.
To give everybody a fair chance to own this stunning original drawing, Ragdoll Heart is currently being auctioned on Ebay with a starting price of just £4.99. The auction ends at 10pm (UK time) on Saturday 28th April 2012.
Bid Now
or
See more gothic fantasy art by Jo Hards
Little Sisters by Jo Hards – Crystal
A Tiny Gothic Doll with Big Ideas
Crystal by Jo Hards
When Crystal grows up, she wants to be a vampire … Vampires have all the fun!
Crystal is the latest gothic doll in the Little Sisters range. At just 8 inches tall, she’s the cutest thing in Gothville, but she’s anything but innocent. This blood thirsty preteen has read every vampire book she can lay her hands on, and she can’t wait to grow up and get bitten. Of course, Gothville has more than its fair share of vampires, so Crystal may just get her wish. She may also live to regret it … forever!
Crystal wants to be a vampire
Crystal is handmade from pure white cotton. She has deep blue button eyes, hand stitched features, and a full head of very long black hair. She is dressed in deep red crushed velvet and tulle, with black lace trim, deep red velvet shoes and a matching hair ribbon. She is available to buy now priced at £30, including free worldwide delivery. A ribbon choker with your choice of silver plated choker can be added for £2. Also look out for more colour options coming soon!
Please note, as every doll is made individually each one will be unique, meaning the doll you receive may vary slightly from the image shown. This doll is a decorative item only and not intended for children under the age of 14. Doll stand not included.
Shop now for gothic dolls
Farewell to Daylight by Jo Hards
Gothic Art – Original Drawing by Jo Hards
Farewell to Daylight by Jo Hards
Farewell to Daylight is my latest gothic/fantasy piece in coloured pencil. The subject, a dark haired girl in goth clothing, gazes wistfully at the setting sun one last time, before retreating through a gothic archway into the world of darkness where her future lies. The piece was inspired by the weathered, sandstone architecture of post industrial Yorkshire, as well as the vampire legends, which surround the Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby, a place I visited many times as a child.
The original drawing measures approximately 420 x 297 mm (A3 size) and is set with several coats of acrylic fixative to give many years of enjoyment. The depth of the colours cannot be fully appreciated on screen. They appear much richer in reality. For ease of delivery, the drawing is sold unframed, packaged in a sturdy cardboard tube, for you to frame as desired at home. Prints of this piece are not currently available.
Farewell to Daylight is currently listed in the online store, priced at £65. Free UK delivery is included in the price.
Buy original artwork by Jo Hards
Gothic art dolls – Amethyst and Adelpha
Your chance to bid on a OOAK set of gothic dolls
Amethyst and Adelpha are being auctioned on Ebay
I usually sell my handmade dolls and artwork through the online store at a fixed price, but this week, I thought it would be fun to hold an auction for one of my creations. As a result, this unique pair of creepy, collectible, gothic rag dolls is currently up for auction on Ebay. Each rag doll is made from pure white cotton, stuffed with polyester fibre fill. The larger doll ‘Amethyst’ measures approximately 15 inches. She has black and white striped legs and black button eyes. The smaller doll ‘Adelpha’ is approximately 8 inches tall and has deep blue button eyes. Both rag dolls have hand stitched hair and faces. They are dressed in purple crushed velvet and satin, with matching velvet shoes, tulle petticoats, and black cotton corsets. Lots of the detail in the clothes is hand stitched. Each doll wears a ribbon choker with silver plated skull and crossbones pendant. These dolls contain no animal derived materials, making them suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
This is a rare opportunity to bid on a set of collectible gothic dolls, which would usually retail at £70. The auction is open now until 15th April 2012. Bidding ends at 11.56am (UK time). Please note, these dolls are decorative items only and are not intended as toys. Doll stands are not included.
Place a bid now
Gothic and Fantasy Art by Jo Hards – Tansy’s Secret
An original faerie fantasy piece in coloured pencil
Tansy’s Secret by Jo Hards
Tansy’s Secret by Jo Hards
If you’ve read my previous blog posts, you’ll probably be aware of my slight obsession with mythical beings such as mermaids, vampires, and of course, faeries. I’ve discussed my faerie addiction here before, when I made gothic faerie doll Aeshna. However, Aeshna is not the only faerie in Gothville. One of the Gothville Girls, Tansy likes to spend her time deep in the heart of Gothville Woods. She knows those woods well and often sees things that others may miss. On one such occasion, Tansy caught sight of a tiny figure darting through the undergrowth. Worried that others may not see the importance of protecting these beautiful, mystical creatures, Tansy keeps this secret to herself.
‘Tansy’s Secret‘ is an original faerie fantasy piece in coloured pencil. This detailed drawing measures approximately 420 x 297mm (A3 size). The scene is composed of sumptuous hues of purple, blue and green. The richness of the colours cannot be conveyed on screen and must be seen in reality to be fully appreciated. The lightfast pigments are set with non yellowing fixative to ensure many years of enjoyment. However, as with all artwork, it is recommended that Tansy’s Secret is not placed in direct sunlight.
Tansy likes to spend her time deep in the heart of Gothville Woods
The original piece is available to purchase, at the time of writing, from the online store, priced at £65. Gothic and fantasy artwork is supplied, unframed, and well packaged in a sturdy cardboard mailing tube, for you to frame as desired at home. UK delivery is included in the price. Please note, the website URL does not appear on the original. Prints are not available at this time but may be introduced at some point in the future. Gothic rag doll ‘Tansy’ is also available to buy from the online store, priced at £48.
