Merlin

This doll is mainly a product of my love of birds. I love birds of all kinds, but one day recently I found myself thinking specifically about falcons. A merlin is a type of falcon (Falco columbarius) with blue-grey plumage. I've often wondered how it earned that name. I like to imagine it has something to do with the famous wizard from Arthurian legend, so I decided to sculpt a doll that was a combination of the two - Merlin as a merlin. Merlin has a falcon's head and his clothing mimics the body coloration of the falcon, as well. He has a cloth body over a wrapped wire armature. His extremities are sculpted in polymer clay and epoxy clay and painted with acrylics. He wears leather shoes and clothing of hand dyed and painted raw silk.

Art Doll, 16" tall, 2005