My Paper Dolls for the 2014 San Diego Comic Con Art Show - Part 1

I'm back for my 2nd year at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con Art Show! I'm half way done with my goal of 12 paper dolls for the art show. I hope to finish the remaining six paper dolls within the next week or two. Art set-up is on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014 at the San Diego Convention Center Sails Pavilion. 

Below are my first six paper dolls (all mermaids!) that I will be displaying at the art show. Again, I wanted to share my finished dolls and the inspirations behind their creations. Enjoy!

MERMAID PAPER DOLLS

Mermaid Paper Doll #102 - Brienne

Mermaid Paper Doll #102 "Brienne" is based on the character Brienne (Maid of Tarth) from the book series "A Song of Ice and Fire" (or others know it by the HBO television series "Game of Thrones") by George R.R. Martin. Brienne is not only very tall, she is also a skillful warrior. She wears blue armor which is the color of her House Tarth. I love Brienne's character and she is played brilliantly on the television show by actress Gwendoline Christie (see above).

Mermaid Brienne is also very tall. I made her about 2 inches taller than my usual Mermaid Paper Dolls. In addition, she is double-jointed at her arms and her tail. I thought since Brienne is at the level of a knight, she should be honored with a more agile paper doll.

For her suit of armor, I was highly inspired by the amazing costume designer Eiko Ishioka's  work on Francis Ford Coppola's film "Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992). I loved how she  incorporated Japanese kabuki theatre-influenced costumes fused with elaborate Victorian period costumes. Her standout pieces for me and for my work on Brienne included the Count's blood-red armor suit and Lucy's brimming high-collared Victorian wedding/funeral dress (see above).

Mermaid Paper Doll #103 - Ellaria

My "Ellaria" mermaid paper doll is based on another "Game of Thrones" character. Ellaria Sand is the beloved mistress of Prince Oberyn Martell of House Dorne. She is described as  brave, strong, and eye-catching with an exotic, sensuous flair. I love both Ellaria and Oberyn! And she is wonderfully played by actress Indira Varma on the television series (see above).

One of my favorite things about Ellaria is the way she is dressed on the show. Plunging necklines, strong jewelry, and rich golden-yellow clothes complement her confident and erotic personality. I totally loved making "Ellaria" and shaping her into how I envisioned mermaid Ellaria would look like.

Mermaid Paper Doll #104 - Lupita in Chanel

This "Lupita" Mermaid Paper Doll is the second made (and far from the last) of gorgeous actress Lupita Nyong'o. My first Lupita Mermaid Paper Doll was based on a Miu Miu dress that she wore at a "12 Years a Slave" red carpet premiere. "Lupita in Chanel" is based on her playful and multi-colored dress that she wore at the MTV Movie Awards. I was immediately enamored by her Chanel high-collared dress with paillette-encrusted cap sleeves and I knew I had to make a mermaid doll inspired by this dynamic look!

Mermaid Paper Doll #105 - Haute Couture Ariel

"Haute Couture Ariel" is my re-envisioned look of Disney's very basic fashioned red-headed mermaid (see above) into a high fashion underwater siren. I really love to believe that with all plentiful sea life surrounding the spunky and adventurous Ariel, she would leave no sea shell unturned, and create the most amazing look of sea shells and other sea life just perfect for herself!

Mermaid Paper Doll #106 - Dark Lady

My Mermaid Paper Doll #106 "Dark Lady" was inspired by a character in Joe Hill's comic book "Locke & Key". The whole "Locke & Key" story is outstanding and the art by Gabriel Rodriguez is absolutely stunning. The Dark Lady (see above) is the echo of gender-switched Lucas Caravaggio after being possessed by the demon known as Dodge - pretty crazy stuff, right?!? "Dark Lady" Mermaid is also shown wearing a crown similar to the Crown of Shadows worn by the Dark Lady who thereby can control an army of living shadows!!!

Mermaid Paper Doll #107 - Steampunk Maggie

"Steampunk Maggie" is named after Maggie Dubois (played by Natalie Wood, above) a character from the 1965 movie "The Great Race". "The Great Race" is perhaps one of the best Steampunk-esque classics of the early Steampunk movie era. Together with the character Maggie and the beauty of steampunk fashion, I created an elaborate Steampunk Mermaid version with details such as the eclectic top hat and under bust corset.


I hope you enjoyed this first set of paper dolls for the upcoming 2014 San Diego Comic Con Art Show. I will post the second set (final six) as soon as I finish making them! 

Thanks for stopping by!