“At nineteen my skill experiences were okay, I still hadn’t really thought enough about the processes to create the desired results. However, the more I tried, the more I learned and the better I liked what I made. I got good at figuring out the best ways of getting what I wanted.”
— Susann Oroyan, Fantastic Figures |
What Are Personal Art Healing Dolls
Adapted from Anatomy of a Doll by Susanna Oroyan DOLL: Represents a miniature human figure, embodying various aspects of humanity. Doll-making is driven by a fascination with people - their actions, appearance, attire, and emotions. It's a medium through which we celebrate the vast diversity of the human experience, whether real or imagined. The history of doll figures spans centuries, demonstrating their enduring appeal. PLAY DOLL: A play doll, designed for children, serves as both a companion and an occupier of a child's imagination. Typically, it possesses mobility and removable clothing, allowing the player to define its identity and integrate it into their real or imaginary world. AESTHETIC or ART DOLL: An art doll takes the form of a solid, sculpted figure, available in various shapes and sizes. It delves into the depth and potency of human character and personality expression within the artwork. Creating an art doll invites the artist and observer alike to engage with and contemplate specific facets of the human condition. Some creators find pure delight in crafting art dolls. In essence, both play dolls and art dolls share the common objective of captivating, educating, or entertaining those who interact with them. At the very least, they should elicit emotional or intellectual reactions that endure beyond fleeting moments. HEALING ART DOLL: This unique category of doll reflects the creator's creative journey, encompassing the depth of storytelling, thought, and emotion. The more profound the artist's introspection and emotional investment during the design and crafting process, the more likely the completed doll will evoke profound and thought-provoking responses from both the creator and, in most instances, the viewer. |
When a dollmaker shares a healing doll with a group, including the story and emotion behind it as well as the dollmaker’s process deepens the doll’s meaning and connection to the dollmaker and those in the group.
Making a healing doll for oneself can create a shift, transformation, or—yes—even some kind of healing as the maker defines it.
A healing doll maker is a person who:
How to Think Art Doll
The minute you start thinking about making an art doll, you are already making the doll in your imagination. You are getting ideas and playing with design—even if you don’t know how to design one. You’ve seen art dolls, and even healing or spirit dolls, on the Internet. Maybe you were drawn to the appearance and how they made you feel. You felt an urge to own one or maybe make one for yourself.
The purpose of taking any class on making art dolls is to provide you with shortcuts based on others’ experiences, to help you research options for solving doll problems you pose to yourself as well as assist and guide you as you make your art dolls.
If you’re a beginner, you just haven’t had the opportunity to learn how to think a doll into reality. Or maybe you have some skills but haven’t had enough dollmaking experience to know the best ways to approach visualizing and manifesting the dolls that live in your imagination.
Learning to make an art doll step-by-step is really learning to take apart the picture in your imagination, reduce it to shapes, materials, colors, and textures, then put it all back together so it becomes the doll you imagine it to be. You are learning to write your own instructions at every stage, learning how to make an art doll your way. You ask yourself what needs to happen to have all the parts work well together. Then you look at all the options for solving the creative problems.
“If you understand what you are after, and if you are familiar with several ways of getting there, then it will be easier for you to select the methods that will work best for you.”
— Susanna Oroyan, Fantastic Figures
In order for an art doll to become a healing doll, you must be willing to connect with your creative self and be willing, and courageous enough, to explore who you are. This is what the Healing Doll Ways class “How to Make Your Own Personal Healing Art Dolls” is about. In this class you will . . .
- is curious about the concept and wants to make small representations of human beings and parts of human being—both external and internal, visible, and invisible.
- is willing to explore and ask questions about emotional expressions, personal beliefs and preferences, and life events.
- is willing to be vulnerable and play with her creative energies.
- starts the design of her dolls with questions like How can I _____? and What would happen if _____?
How to Think Art Doll
The minute you start thinking about making an art doll, you are already making the doll in your imagination. You are getting ideas and playing with design—even if you don’t know how to design one. You’ve seen art dolls, and even healing or spirit dolls, on the Internet. Maybe you were drawn to the appearance and how they made you feel. You felt an urge to own one or maybe make one for yourself.
The purpose of taking any class on making art dolls is to provide you with shortcuts based on others’ experiences, to help you research options for solving doll problems you pose to yourself as well as assist and guide you as you make your art dolls.
If you’re a beginner, you just haven’t had the opportunity to learn how to think a doll into reality. Or maybe you have some skills but haven’t had enough dollmaking experience to know the best ways to approach visualizing and manifesting the dolls that live in your imagination.
Learning to make an art doll step-by-step is really learning to take apart the picture in your imagination, reduce it to shapes, materials, colors, and textures, then put it all back together so it becomes the doll you imagine it to be. You are learning to write your own instructions at every stage, learning how to make an art doll your way. You ask yourself what needs to happen to have all the parts work well together. Then you look at all the options for solving the creative problems.
“If you understand what you are after, and if you are familiar with several ways of getting there, then it will be easier for you to select the methods that will work best for you.”
— Susanna Oroyan, Fantastic Figures
In order for an art doll to become a healing doll, you must be willing to connect with your creative self and be willing, and courageous enough, to explore who you are. This is what the Healing Doll Ways class “How to Make Your Own Personal Healing Art Dolls” is about. In this class you will . . .
- be shown the ways of making art doll, including various techniques to best reach the outcome you imagine;
- engage in creative problem solving;
- play, experiment, and practice on your own and with the guidance of an experienced teacher;
- learn about the elements of design that apply to making an art doll and enhance an idea and its message;
- learn how to do you own original designing and planning (how to turn your ideas into art dolls);
- learn how to wonder and ask How did that artist make that? and What would happen if I _____?;
- share in a process with a group of other creative minds, who bring their own emotions, spirits, histories, interests, and experiences;
- create one-of-a-kind art dolls that personify, interpret, or react to a feeling or story or convey a personal opinion; and
- find your own version of healing doll-ness.