The Magician

Time and dedication.

I require more time as I expand into my work. While my techniques and precision have become more refined, I need to devote much thought and focus on elevating the entire piece in conception and construction.

As I have shared with you, my art is my spiritual journey. Therefore, I push myself to achieve mastery in quality and transcend in heart and soul.

This piece took four months of dedicated effort, and I feel fulfilled knowing I did my best.

Please kindly note: The Magician is a one-of-a-kind piece of art, and I do not teach any of my collector art pieces as workshops.

Art and Magic

Since my earliest memories, I've been enveloped in a presence that defies explanation—a unique kind of magic. It's been a subtle yet undeniable force, a constant companion on my life's journey, even when I struggled to find the right words. This magic, this inexplicable wonder, has always been integral to me.

 

Through the language of art, I have found my connection to magic, my voice, and my most authentic expression. We artists are sensitive creatures. As our lives evolve and we take this to heart, we can see it as our opportunity to change and grow ourselves and our art.

 

There is profound magic in the process of creating. It's not just about art but about bringing something into existence. Whether it's a great workout, a story, or a beautiful meal, the very act of creating has a transformative power that is truly magical.

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Commission: finding the connection

When the commission of a Magician came my way, I could now focus on the connection between creating and what most of the world understands of what magic represents in a 3-D form. This commission allowed me to explore the intersection of my creative process and the traditional understanding of magic, blurring the lines between the two.

This piece demanded a unique and unconventional approach, a departure from the norm. Firstly, it was a male figure, a departure from my usual subjects, adding a layer of intrigue. Secondly, he was to be recognizable as a man in a suit capable of performing magic tricks, a challenge in itself. And this is where magic truly stepped in, not just as a theme but as a tool in my creative process, sparking new and innovative ideas.

Research

Research is beneficial in finding inspiration. In this case, it gave me the foundation to 'levitate'!

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Start

It always starts with sculpting the head, drafting the body to sew, and completing it with armature and stuffing.

Fabric is a silk woven to give a matte and nubby look of linen!

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Fabric Magic

Next is our favorite part, pulling out the fabrics to create the story.

This Magician needed an enchanting suit. Silks were the way to go. The bill was filled with vintage Chinese brocades and contemporary black and turquoise. Japanese cotton filled in as accents.

Fabric palette L to R: Bunny fabric socks and interior of the top hat, Red Silk- bow tie, vintage kimono White with print- (didn't end up using this), Black silk- suit, Cream silk or vintage White damask- shirt, and the cape- this really cool ombre metallic silk from silver to black, red dupioni for lining. Chinese brocade for the vest and turquoise dupioni for the lining.

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Creating the Magic: Close-ups in progress

Vest: Chinese silk brocade- turquoise silk dupioni lining. Vintage glass beads as closures.

Jacket: Silk with dupioni lining. Cross over collar to update standard jacket!!

Magic Case: The understructure is mat board, and exterior linen and interior paper are completed.

The hinges and handle are coming. Magic tricks will be inside with a linen exterior and paper interior.

Socks: Japanese cotton. For some reason, I have 'collected' Japanese cottons with rabbits! 

This was the perfect time to use one of them.

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Presenting: The Magician!

Finished Magic Case.

The Magic tricks inside include a book by the collector's favorite magician!

The Top Hat:

Silk with buckram understructure. All hand sewn.

Japanese cotton interior with a rabbit!

-Vintage ribbon band re-dyed to perfect red.

Suited up and almost ready...

Detailing.

-Hair is made of tussah silk hand-dyed and wefted to create rows of hair, then cut into a man's style cut.

-Ascot of vintage shibori fabric. Hand-painted eyes with embroidered eyebrows.

-Square Mother of Pearl buttons- used the backside!

Shoes!

-Silk exterior with vintage Chinese red silk liner and soles, and glass beads are used for shoe buttons.

-The interior lining of the pants is batik cotton. Navy with tiny dots.

Rabbit. 

Velvet with vintage kimono ear lining.

And the final piece- the Cape.

Vintage ombre silk with red dupioni liner.

-Quote from Magician Eugene Burger.

And let the Show go on...

Thank you for joining me on this creative journey!

My Promise

Every day, I strive to be the best version of myself, and I hold my art to the same high standard.

My promise to all of you, my dear collectors and beloved students is to bring you not just art but one-of-a-kind pieces that carry a piece of my soul. In my workshops, I will strive to share my best to inspire and guide you in your own artistic journeys.

Please reach out with any questions or comments!

Much Love-
Leslie

 

The Seasons: Summer

Hello Dearest Readers,

I would say that 99% of my work...my art...comes to me in a flash that settles into my body. It is a feeling that I am reaching to capture and bring it into this world of ours.

Summer - this new workshop- is no different and yet it is!

The Seasons started with Spring...and as no pun intended The Seasons Workshops springboarded from my one of kind series of The Four Seasons (below)... read more here.

Summer, Spring, Winter, Fall

As a strict "rule" I never cross mingle my one of a kinds with my teaching dolls...until now. These one of a kind pieces above were a great turning point in my life. They were created as I walked with my Dad on his last of life's journey. They were critically important to me to express and to learn what the Seasons of life meant to me personally. I believe that our workshops dolls will carry the essence of these one of kinds.

I realize now that Spring has happened online and coming in person to Piecemakers in 2024..and Summer is ready to bloom online...that I am once again on a path of expanding myself...my art...my understanding of at least my life...a firmer footing. 

It is also very important to me to bring this understanding to my students. I needed to carefully think to whom and how I wish to present my workshops. I believe it is the  years of devotion to my art, that it is most important to me to pass this knowledge to those who are interested in receiving it.

Summer: Bloom

As I stated above most of my work comes to me in a flash...I must reach out and capture it before it floats away to another artist.

I do this by quickly sketching the sparkling essence and pull it tangibly onto paper. She is now ready to come to life for my students.

Initial Sketch

Completed Summer

Fabric Choices

Once, I have my subject on paper, it is time to choose the fabrics. For me, this is done not only by sight but also by feel.

There is something called Synesthesia.

Synesthesia is when your brain routes sensory information through multiple unrelated senses, causing you to experience more than one sense simultaneously.

Yes, I actually feel the color and how that will translate into the piece. For my one of kinds, which are more complex, I may need to alter the fabric to create the visual of the feeling.

Summer Palette

click on photo to see video!!

Even in my Asian inspired pieces, the skin tone is not a true white. I also show how to dye the fabric to soften the tone of the skin.

before                 after

When designing, I always start with the head. And then move onto the body.

Once sewn, armatured, and stuffed, we can paint the eyes and (in this case) insert them into the needlesculpted face.

The first layer of painting is created....to be followed with a second layer after the kimono is complete!

The Kimono et al...

As you well know, I love the Asian esthetic....from Korean, Chinese, and Japanese...encompassing the Tibetan esthetic. I find each of these distinct cultures beautiful and soulful. Most everything has a deep symbology to it.

As an artist, I choose to be inspired by not replicate or reproduce to the exact. So I use the word "kimono" just so we have a reference to the idea.

We all love fabric and color!! To bring this into a Lesson, we discuss their fabric choices and how to bring the best of their own fabric forward.  How can we realign the fabric to create something that is unique and memorable? What can we learn?

To adding to the Kimono...each step is also about learning to being present in what we are creating.

To complete the foundation of the kimono...

We then learn how to create even deeper into ourselves and are now able to Bloom in our expression!

I love hand-dyeing and am always experimenting with new ways to dye...

At the end, we will have a beautiful and thoughtful ensemble for our own Summers...

Last to create is her  Raindrop Hat and her Zori shoes...

Finale!!

This art piece will be three months in the learning and the making, discovering along the way the Language of Flowers and what knowledge they can give us to take into our own lives.

click on photo to Summer Workshop description

 and close up photos!!

Summer : The Seasons with Leslie O'Leary
please reach out with any questions! here

SUMMER SIGN UP HERE!

EARLY BIRD!! save $20 until Friday November 3 2023

code: summer 20

All my Love!!

Leslie