HerFineHand

It was 2015. I was feeling uninspired and wanted to do something different, just to get my creative juices flowing again. I happened to pick up an issue of Art Doll Quarterly magazine, and on a whim, I bought a box of polymer clay and a cheap set of sculpting tools. I wasn't expecting to produce anything special. I just wanted to play. But the next thing I knew, this funny little elf person had emerged. He had a big nose, pointed ears, and bare feet. I fell in love with him and named him Bernard. I made another doll, and then another, and suddenly I knew that this was what I wanted to keep doing. To this day, Bernard keeps me company every day at my work table.

My process for making an art doll begins with a wire armature. I sculpt the head, hands, and feet from polymer clay and attach them to the armature. After this, the process can vary. Some of my dolls have soft torsos made from fabric and batting, and some of them are fully sculpted. Once the figure is completed, I blush it with multiple washes of acrylic paint to bring it to life. The final step is adding the hair.

Costuming the doll is one of my favorite parts of the process. I make paper patterns for the clothing, and often I make muslin mock-ups of the costume pieces to ensure that they will fit properly and create the effect I want. Most of the final costume pieces are made from silk or other natural fibers. Almost all of them have to be hand-stitched because they are too delicate for a sewing machine. One thing that makes costuming an art doll challenging is the fact that the figure is either largely or entirely fixed in one position (depending on whether it has a soft torso or not), so some of the seaming has to be done while the piece is on the doll.

Some of my dolls hold objects, or are set on bases that function as vignettes to help to tell their stories. I make almost all of these accessories as well. These can be created from a variety of materials, including clay, wood, artificial greenery and flowers, and paper. I will use whatever I can find to create the effect I want.

The time required to make a doll varies. Some of the simpler ones come together in a week or two, while others can take a month or more. I generally work on only one at a time, and while I am creating it I discover the doll's personality and learn its story. I feel very fortunate to be able to make my own friends! I hope you will find one that speaks to your heart.