Whenever I pick up a doll, I turn it upside-down to see what’s under the clothes. I don’t quite know why I do this, but I’ve noticed most other people do it too. Therefore, since you are not in a position to be able to peek under the clothes of my dolls, here are some pictures of what you would see if you could. The heads, hands, lower legs, and shoes are made of polymer clay (I like Sculpey III). The arms and legs are wires, which are part of the internal armature of each doll. I could make the entire doll of clay, but what would be the fun in that? This way, they are pose-able, so you can position them to suit your mood.
I hope you’ve noticed that the bodies ARE NOT IDEALIZED FANTASY VERSION OF THE FEMALE FORM. They have poochy stomachs, thick hips, and slightly sagging breasts. Whee! I think it is high time to push back against the media’s version of idealized femininity. Walt Whitman’s poem “Leaves of Grass” begins with the lines, “I celebrate myself and sing myself…” So, I’ve taken that to heart and given it a female twist. I am celebrating the female form in it real, everyday aspect. When you buy my dolls, you will not be getting a Barbie doll. For that, you will have to shop at Target. Ladies, let’s get out there and dance, and sing, and teach, and laugh, and love, and have dolls and art that celebrates our true selves! Some of my recent ladies don’t even have naked bodies under their clothes–they have clay armor!
All photos and dolls are copyrighted by the artist: Karen Grace Feb.-April 2009
None of my sculpted figures is truly a “doll” in that they are designed for display only and are made from polymer clay that has been found to be toxic if ingested. Not for use with children.
I seek to create dolls that mimic the old paper mache dolls of the past, so the “skin” will not be perfectly smooth.
Visit my Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/graceworksstudio
