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"Art, Like Cookies for the Soul" ~ Nancy Lee |
Mischa
Painted August 2009
A Commission from Paris
New Web Page 10/30/09
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Only for happiness, repainted dolls . . . a new kind of "canvas"
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Where to find Nancy Lee's dolls . . . 402.274.3040 phone or nancylee@nancyleemoran.com
Mia (1997 ballerina doll) by Helen Kish
Transformed into a Unique Doll
Costume and Photos of Doll are Copyrighted to Chiditta (Cecilia), who kindly agreed to work with me on this complex commission.
Here is a link to Chiditta on eBay
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At 12-inches (30 cm), Mischa is the same size as the French Bleuette doll.
When my patron emailed to me some photos of the child who played the role of three-year-old Mischa in the film, I thought about this Kish doll sculpt, one I had painted before. Its age was accurate, as a toddler or preschool child, with sturdy legs and full cheeks. The facial proportions and serious expression suited Mischa's character. On each of the four dolls (I have painted of this sculpt), the stringing has been a little bit tight, so that her chin often lowers on its own, making her look even more serious!
Here are links to the web pages of my other repaintings of this sculpt. Two of the dolls also have new wigs and clothing.
Here is link to Liesel's page.
Here is link to Bess's page. Bess models dresses for Hankie Couture.
Here is link to Abby's page, Goldilocks with her beloved baby bear.
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Mischa is a character in the
2007 film Hannibal Rising.
Such a dear child, such a sad story. |
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My client Katixa was helpful to send photos to me of Mischa and her clothing. Sometimes I forgot that English was not her native language, since she was so fluent. Her English was better than my French, which I studied during high school.
In 1994, Katixa discovered Dr. Lecter in the film The Silence of the Lambs , soon becoming a fan (Lecterphile, Hannibalisme) and collecting mementos of the film and book saga. The art and music loving Lecter has many fans, it seems.
In my research, I discovered a YouTube video (by anime2006freak411) in which childhood scenes of Mischa and Hannibal were set to the song "No Air" by Jordin Sparks. The video gave me insight into the children. Here is a link to the YouTube video, which will open in a new window.
A dark film, Hannibal Rising captures the sense of its 1944 time period. I have only seen about fifteen minutes of the film, since thriller-horror films are too grisly and bleak for me. As I watched the beginning scenes, which were beautifully filmed, I perceived how my client may have come to feel protective and attached to the child Mischa. Mischa's brother, Hannibal, loves his sister and does all he can to keep her safe. Her murder so damages his soul that he grows up to become the serial killer Hannibal Lecter. I have seen only one of the films about Hannibal, the 1991 Silence of the Lambs with Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. Five films have been based upon the novels of Thomas Harris.
For the interested reader, here are more notes about the film . . .
Aaron Thomas played young Hannibal (age eight), while Gaspard Ulliel, a famous French actor, took the adult role. Helena Lia Tachovska is Mischa Lecter. Gong Li (as Lady Murasaki Shikibu) has an important role in trying to heal Hannibal's soul from hate and revenge.
Anna Sheppard, the costume designer for Hannibal Rising, has won many awards and created the costumes for Schindler's List (1993), Oliver Twist (2005), and Dragonheart (1996).
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Here is a photo borrowed from the internet, showing Mischa and Hannibal at play on a dock near Lecter Castle in 1944 Lithuanian, before World War II invaded their lives.
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Our own little Mischa,
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as if also at the dock.
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In the film plot, Mischa's bear is important.
For me (Nancy), the daunting part of the commission was finding things.
(1) A bear to resemble the one in the film in the right size for the doll (Steiff Mini-Teddy Cinnamon from the Toy Shoppe).
(2) A natural mohair wig of the correct color and size (Kemper wig Giselle size 6/7 from Jasmine's Cottage).
(3) Shoes! Since this darling doll has a similar foot size to Bethany Kish (Boneka size 45N), I imagined it would be easy. Not so! Bethany (not Bitty) and the Mia sculpt have not been produced since 2003, making brown Mary Jane shoes (of any color!) scarce. I finally found a red pair of Boneka leather shoes at Let's Play Dolls (www.letsplaydolls.com), then painted them brown!
Now finally, I proceeded to doll painting. After watching some parts of the film, I enhanced the sculpt a bit, then painted it in delicate layers. I created less blush and eye-sparkle than I usually do, since Mischa was usually sad, frightened and hungry in the film.
Then, on to one more "finding" challenge . . . that of a talented doll clothes designer who was willing to accept this challenge!
How grateful I felt when Cecilia agreed to dress Mischa. I knew the project was in capable hands, as Cecilia has had thirty years of experience with heirloom sewing (smocking and embroidery) and often knits doll sweaters. Off to Canada the doll went by airmail, for her fittings in Cecilia's studio. Cecilia also took wonderful photos and even trimmed Mischa's hair.
Cecilia knit Mischa's sweater from French cotton yarn in a motif similar to the one Misha wore, in dark red and champagne colors. The suspender skirt is made of cashmere wool, while the blouse of cotton pique has been hand-embroidered in steel blue. Mischa's stockings are in a champagne cotton knit. All this sewing detail, for a doll only 12-inches (30 cm) tall!
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Katixa's Collection of Movie Memorabilia is below.
The four photos are copyrighted to Katixa.
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Two photos of Mischa,
borrowed from the internet |
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Original Mia Doll
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Bare Sculpt
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Repaint almost finished
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About this doll . . .
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VINYL BODY She has five (5) points of articulation (joints), at her neck, shoulders, and hips. She can stand by herself. She can sit, too.
BOX, Certificate, Doll Company:
She has her certificate and box. I hope you won't store your dolls in the original cardboard boxes. Cardboard is an inexpensive paper product that is acidic. If you do store your dolls in original boxes, wrap each doll first in a clean white cotton pillowcase to protect it. Mia was designed by Helen Kish, produced in 1997 by Kish & Company, and is RETIRED.
KISH MARKS: There is an impressed mark on the back of her head near the neck: 1997 Kish and Company 97F. Base of skull also has an impressed mark of: 974TC = same as on Kish Goldilocks doll and others mentioned above. I signed my name there, too. The torso, each arm and leg have the following mark: Kish & Co. 1997
COLOR & PAINTING: Some computer screens may modify the color of the art. Some may make the image lighter or darker than it is. The doll will have finer detail and more subtle coloring than a computer-jpeg-photo shows.
I am using artist-grade alkyd-oil paints (in thin translucent glazes) with the addition of alkyd resin to make the paint surface become as flexible as the doll’s vinyl skin and to make it adhere well.
I painted the lips gently, using a wet-into-wet technique of varied colors to suggest natural childhood rosiness.
None of my oil pigments use lead or cadmium. Though I painted this doll for adult collectors, I wanted the paint to be safe around toddlers and babies.
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The artisan painting creates a lovely doll to the specifications of Helen Kish. In my painting, I aim only for less doll-like and more life-like, to see how much illusion of life I can achieve. Some painting work I do is of such delicacy, in transparent layers, with such time involved, that it would probably be cost-prohibitive to do it within a doll factory setting.
Nancy Lee Moran's POLICY TO SHOW RESPECT for HELEN KISH & other doll creators is as follows:
The dolls I use were factory painted. I would never repaint a doll that the artist (Helen Kish) had painted herself, such as some of those in the Kish Signature Line. I would not paint one in a limited edition of fewer than 300 (preferably 500 or more). I consult the beautiful book I own: Helen Kish: The Artist and Her Dolls by Louise Fecher (hardcover published in 2006). I am NOT affiliated with any doll company, creator or manufacturer.
Please send your questions and requests to Nancy at nancylee@nancyleemoran.com
or by phone: 402-274-3040 Central Time
All rights reserved. All art and photos on the site are protected by copyright © law.
Each may only be reproduced with written permission of the artist. Site page design copyrighted © by Nancy Lee Moran.
Thank you for visiting Nancy Lee Moran's website!
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