Yearly Archives: 2005

more on NIADA

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I’m going to start posting about dollmakers I met in Philadelphia, in no particular order. I have a pile of business cards, postcards and a few magazines and I’m going to start shuffling through the pile.

leslie molen

These dolls are made by Leslie Molen of Rootie Studio. Here is a much better picture! These dolls just pulled you in- they have such sweet faces and expression. Also beautiful hair and costuming. Well, I could go on and on I guess, but then I’ll never get through!

One of the first people I met when I got to Philadelphia was Maryanne Oldenburg– what a friendly and welcoming person she was. She helped me feel part of the event right from the beginning. And what a sweet pea her little fellow was!

maryanne o

I met several artists who do minature work. This is an area of dollmaking that I had never appreciated before. I don’t think I could have without seeing them in person. There was Gisele Hanson, whose work was next to mine at the critique. She is obviously a very patient person since she never said a word about having to answer all my dumb email questions before getting to Philadelphia- she was one of the contact people for the conference, a job I don’t envy!

There were 2 NIADA artists who do minatures at the Philadelphia show. Jane Davies, who did the demonstration of minature sewing and showed this amazing creation-

davies

The other artist was Susan Scogin who showed this piece-

scogin

I never had a chance to talk with her, but was amazed by how much life she could put into something so little!

NIADA photos

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Now that my workshop is finished I can get a few other things done… well actually my list is about a mile long!

I’ve put together an album of my photos from NIADA. I took tons of pictures but somehow came home with none of some amazing work. Luckily I’ve got links to some other peoples photo galleries if I need to remember.

Photos are here.

Workshop!

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I’ve been working very hard all week to get ready for my first teaching experience- a gourd head doll workshop. I’ve been so nervous!

These are the step-by-step face painting samples for the hand-out sheets.

workshop1

My gourd head in progress- looking sort of smirky!

workshop2

Now she has a body-

workshop3

and all dressed-

workshop6

Today was the first day of the workshop- working with the gourd. I had 7 students and everyone worked really hard.

workshop34

Here is the results from today- It looks like a cute kindergarten class to me!

workshop5

Tomorrow we do the bodies.

NIADA critique

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critique

One of the best things that happened in Philadelphia was the critiques I got on my work. All the visiting artists who had scheduled critiques set up their work on tables. We got to walk around and see the artwork of the other visiting artists. The NIADA artists walked around and gave feedback on the artwork in an informal way. After that, I had one-on-one critiques from Donna May Robinson and Shelley Thornton.

The critiques and comments were incredibly useful. People who commented were mostly very positive. The funny thing is, I mostly don’t remember the specific positive things people said- just that they said them; well also that they were informed and intelligent comments on colors use, form, construction, painting technique. I was most interested to hear what areas needed work. Also the direction I could push in- improving the body and clothing construction techniques, for instance. The most difficult part of showing my work was seeing some people just walk by- the work not engaging them at all.

In the end I think I learned the most by looking at the artwork of the members of NIADA. I never understood how excellent the work could be- I have now stretched my own definition of what will make me 100% satisfied with my own work and what I can aspire to.

This is Donna May Robinson and her work at the show-

donna may

and Shelley Thornton’s work-

sthornton

I’m back from NIADA

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I’m back from NIADA and Philadelphia; not that I saw any of Philadelphia. I almost never left the hotel! It was fantastic. I am tired after driving all day so I will post about what and who I saw during the next few days. Today I’ll start with my terrific roommate- Ruth Marks. Here is our room in the hotel-

hotel room

and a better picture of her dolls-

ruth marks

I’m back from NIADA

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I’m back from NIADA and Philadelphia; not that I saw any of Philadelphia. I almost never left the hotel! It was fantastic. I am tired after driving all day so I will post about what and who I saw during the next few days. Today I’ll start with my terrific roommate- Ruth Marks. Here is our room in the hotel-

hotel room

and a better picture of her dolls-

ruth marks

he’s done

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east

He’s done… although looking at this picture maybe I should do something about his bad hair day. I’ve named him “East”. I will take more, and better pictures next week.

Tomorrow, early, I leave for Philadelphia and NIADA. I am nervous and excited. I will have the opportunity to have 2 of my dolls critiqued by NIADA artists and it has been a difficult decision to choose what to bring.

he’s done

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east

He’s done… although looking at this picture maybe I should do something about his bad hair day. I’ve named him “East”. I will take more, and better pictures next week.

Tomorrow, early, I leave for Philadelphia and NIADA. I am nervous and excited. I will have the opportunity to have 2 of my dolls critiqued by NIADA artists and it has been a difficult decision to choose what to bring.

graphs

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bats

I found a book of cross-stitch graphs when I was clearing out some of the books at my parents’ house. At least that’s what I think they are- the booklet is in French and looks old- like maybe ’30’s. I thought this bat design was very unusual and interesting. It could be used for knitting or anything with a grid design base. I put a few scan in a gallery.