5 New Art Doll Ideas

My system of making sketches and notes has always been pretty random. When I start to get an idea for a doll I just reach for scratch paper, the back of an envelope, or best case, a blank page in my notebook. The sketches usually are focused on how I plan to assemble a figure and materials I might use, without much other detail. These sketches are mixed in with grocery lists, and so forth. Once in awhile I gather them up and stick them into 3-ring binder. I pulled this notebook out recently to see what I could see, and to look for a few ideas.

You can see my original sketch on the left that resulted in the "Zipper Men".  It was fun to find some of the very early drawings for the "Hoop Skirt" doll that I eventually made many times. Many ideas have not been developed yet, and may never happen. 

I noticed several things as I browsed. Early dolls strongly featured machine quilted fabric collage. The expressive polymer clay faces never show up in the sketches, but are important in each piece.  Fascination with construction and moving parts shows throughout.

I tried to focus on what materials I would like to with now and how I would like to spend my time.
I've gotten away from fabric collage and machine quilting in recent years, but I would like to do more now. I have many tiny scraps to use and I could hand paint some fabrics, too. Several boxes of antique linens, lace and baby clothes are still available. I love to make the little polymer clay faces and hope to find ways to use them that are not as labor intensive as making a full figure. I've been interested, too, in a more primitive, folk art style. 

This is a list of what I've figured out so far.

• A tube doll: sweet face with collaged and quilted "tube" body.
• A doll with a transparent torso or dress: interesting elements inside are visible.
• A large hand puppet form to hang on the wall.
• A suspended dress with stylized head: collaged and quilted dress.
• A group of folk art style primitive/abstract figures, including some "Santa" figures.

I need to make prototypes of each of these styles to work out all the problems that will undoubtedly reveal themselves. My first instinct is to launch into a long series of pieces without a clear idea of what I'm doing, so this is may be the newest idea on the list.  My supply of materials is kind of skimpy in some categories, but I plan to work with what I have on hand for now. I hope to begin cruising through thrift stores and fabric stores again before too long.

Some of these ideas are not entirely new, but there are 5 of them! In my blog posts over the next few months I plan to write about the development of each idea and show the results.