Eight Years of Folk Art Making

When I first started selling my art, I sold paintings on eBay.  I also sold antique smalls. Researching an old box of old cloth dolls purchased at auction showed me the world of one-of-a-kind art dollmaking I like to sew and I like to paint so decided to create a few folk art dolls. That was eight years ago.


Recently one of my early dolls showed up on the secondary market and I bought her to come home to visit a while.  When you've been doing something  that long your works will show up on the secondary market.  People change their styles and decide to go in a new direction in terms of their collecting.  It's all good. 
The doll above was meant to be an expression of "What if Izannah Walker and Ludwig Greiner collaborated on a creation?" I remember paperclay was a new medium to me. Also, I was learning that my fine art painting technique did not translate well to folk art doll making. In folk art making, I was NOT looking for an expressive brushstroke. It took me a while to learn to use tiny brushes (which were anathema in art school!). I struggled with using larger brushes back then. I'm happy that the painting has stayed well on the doll.
It's interesting to look at this doll that I created in 2007 with 2014 eyes.  This was the first doll that I made with paper clay that I felt had any sense of Izannah~ness to it.  My 2014 eyes see some things that I would change if I were making it today. But I will keep her as she is. After she's had a visit here with I will send her on again into the world.

5 comments:

Hill Top Post said...

Oh my, Dixie, I love her! Sometimes I think the more we learn, the more we lose. I am sure it will be hard for you to send her out into the world again.

Dottie Dollie said...

How wonderful to have her back! She will be a great aid to see how your work has developed.....

Kelly said...

That is so cool! I think it's really neat that she had her rounds and was loved on, and now she has a story and she's back home.
Kelly @ View Along the Way

A Magical Whimsy said...

She is a darling beauty. I love the color of her dress as it compliments her hair so perfectly. Nice to have one of your dolls back home!
hugs,
Teresa in California
I hope you aren't being blown away by all of these New England snow storms. I have thought of you often, as my youngest sister is now living in Minnesota and it is -24 there right now. Brrrr! This has been a long, hard winter for sure.
take care

SympleTymes Cloth Art By Sherrie Nordgren said...

Hi Dixie, Sorry I was in the hospital , was unable to celebrate your 5th Birthday Party!
Your doll truly amazing.. I really do love the color of her dress it compliments her hair reflects , I wish I could come to visit you and your Red House , Just for a Day, Oh that would be so much fun ..!!


"Do not let what you cannot do
keep you from doing what you can do."

John Wooden