Photo No. 2 shows an origami paper folded doll set done by Grace Battjes. Mrs. Battjes hand painted the faces of "The Prince and the Princess" and added a special touch by making a decorated folder and backing to go with these dolls. A great deal of attention to detail and careful work went into the making of this set.
Photo No. 3 shows only the first page of three page set by Marianne Anderson. Mrs. Anderson is well-known for her fine black and white "original" sets and I am especially proud to have some of her handmade sets. She not only has a marvelous sense of fantasy but her painting technique is sure and delicate. The other tow pages of the set( not shown here) contain costumes for "Patty Pig" that include a pirate costume, a woodsman, a "Bo-Peep", a baker, and several others. There is even a judge costume!
Photo No. 4 and 5 show the work of Loraine Neff. Ms. Neff uses very light pencil lines to sketch out her work and then does all the remaining detail in watercolor. Her "Just Hats" shown in Photo No. 5 is included to show paper dolls don't have to be completely conventional. The hat wardrobe for the head and shoulders lady is unique and charming.
Before discussing the remaining five sets pictured, let me digress a moment. How does a collector get his or her hands on a handmade set? A lot of time and work goes into production a handmade set and it is not profitable for most artist to make them for sale. One way to obtain a handmade set is through a trade. The artists who do these sets are, of course, also collectors themselves. The general trade arrangement is one handmade set for another handmade set. That leaves a lot of people who can't paint or draw out in the cold! There is one handmade artist, Helen Page, who does sell her work. If you look at Photo no.7 showing the set "Penny" you will see that Mrs. Page does excellet work. Any set of hers would be a fine addition to a paper doll collection. (next line I decided to obit because it contains outdate information on obtain a list from Helen Page and includes an address)
Or... you could try making your own set for your own collection. You don't have to be an artist. Photo No. 6 shows a Patin paper doll done by Marie McCoin. Ms. McCoin used a pattern for this particular Pantin and used colored pencils to drawn in the face and hair. The rest of the doll was constructed carefully by gluing. Or look at Photo No.8 done by two teenage girls. They cut out the body from a sewing pattern catalog, backed it with heavier paper and then proceeded to let their fashion conscious imaginations design clothes for the doll by plaice tracing paper over the body form and drawing the clothes to fit. Once the clothes were designed they transferred them to heavier paper and colored them with colored pencils. Sewing pattern catalogs have a wealth of fashions and body forms. They can usually be purchased, after they are discontinued from a sewing store for a nominal fees.
Photo No. 9 is a one of a kind handmade by Peggy Jo Rosamond, the artist who has done so many beautiful 'doll' paper doll books. Mrs. Rosamond is a commercial artist and a doll and paper doll collector. You may not be able to get one of her handmade but you can have the next best thing if you order her paper doll books. (again excluding address to order list from Peggy Jo Rosamond cause it is out of date)
Last, and probably least, is a handmade paper doll by the author of this column (who does not pretend to be an artist). Making one's own paper dolls gives a special appreciation of what goes into the process. You will not on the "Oprhan Annie" set (Photo No. 10) that the hands of the doll are conveniently placed in such a position that they do not show. Most artist have trouble with hands. Even Queen Holden, one of the most well known of paper doll artist, admitted to have this problem. Trying to draw hands certainly enhances one's admiration for those who draw them well. hiding the hands is a "dodge"!
Not pictured is the work of another paper doll creator who does something unual. She mades "Fingerprint Paper dolls" (Mary Ellen Smith *address printed I will not post*) has a unique imaginaton and makes colorful and different handmade paper doll sets in the from of paper doll notes. theres are all done individually but not necessarily limited in quantity. Ms. Smith also sells a line of paper doll bookmarks and original paper doll rubber stamps.
If this column has inspired you to try you hand at a handmade paper doll of you own, I should like to add a few hints here. When it comes to coloring handmades, the easiest medium to use is colored pencils. Eagle brand Prismacolor pencils, which are oil based, are the best on the market and blend very nicely *still true today* Watercolors are also effective but more difficult to handle. Keep you first figures simple so that they will be easy to dress and consider using decorative paper dresses rather then drawn dresses to make things even easier.
(last paragraph is omitted because it is out of date information with an address discussing trading of originals and handmade paper dolls)
No comments:
Post a Comment