Hmm, dolls can be two things...utterly enchanting or horrifyingly creepy. Hopefully I can create ones that fall into the first category.
My creative process goes in 4 stages: inspiration, gathering, interpreting and creating.
The inspiration is that first seed of an idea. It might come from something that I see, read or something buried in my subconscious.
Gathering is my favorite step of the process. I read, look at other artists work, find my materials and stay open to the possibilities.
Interpreting is taking all the information, that first seed of the idea and my materials and deciding how to create something that is my own vision and voice. Whether it's beads, illustration or a craft, I have to find a way to make it something other than a copy of what others have done, I have to interpret the ideas through my own visual language. This stage often includes prototypes and experiments.
The final step is creating the actual pieces that I will call my artwork.
Of course, by the time I get to the final step, I usually have made another discover or had an idea that pushes me even further and the process starts over again.
With dolls, I'm in the gathering and interpreting phase and will be for a long time. Here are some rather enchanting examples of work from other doll artists that I find inspiring:
"Waiting for a Prince II" by Marlaine Verheist.
"Nina and Swiftly" by Shelley Thorton. (my all time favorite)
A pressed wool felt doll by Maggie Iacono. How are these even made? Such a beautiful mystery!
