My Story
Artist's Bio
My journey to this page has been a long and fascinating one from coast to coast (and now in the middle!) In retrospect it ends with the "Doll", much as it began. And so I offer you my story.
With two younger sisters and well over 100 dolls in our home, I spent years designing and sewing doll-clothes before I designed my own as a teen. At Scripps College I explored weaving and Fiber Arts, creating a walk-through forest of crocheted trees. While at UCLA Graduate School getting an MA in Design I began to focus less on large environments, more on sculptural modern dance costume, loving most its fantasy and abstract qualities, although I studied and loved historical and ethnic costume as well.
I then worked in over a dozen costume shops around Hollywood, including for Bob Mackie, a Disneyland parade, and at Paramount Studios on the first Star Trek movie. On the side I was designing for modern dance, and creating fantasy "Wearable Art" before the term was invented, exhibiting in over 13 exhibitions. I made my first fairy doll in 1976 for a Toys By Artists invitational exhibition, inspired by materials and techniques used by some amazing puppeteer friends, and the newly published "Fairies" by Brian Froud. I have been hooked on Sculpey ever since. I produced numerous lines of relief sculpted cast ornaments and many Sculpey fantasy figures which were exhibited and bought by friends.
In Santa Barbara, I designed for community and children's threatre and the local ballet until I was hired at Hasbro Toys in R.I. to design extensively for Jem. (Yes, truely outrageous!) Two of my designs (the "magic" ones) were whisked into production and the ensuing cartoon series but most of a year's work was unseen as they cancelled the whole line at the last minute.
I then worked as a Children's Librarian, pursuing studies in children's illustration at Rhode Island School of Design, and teaching children's art classes there as well. I developed a unique 3-D mixed media illustration style using painted Sculpey reliefs and still look for pulisher for my numerous manuscripts for children's books. Upon moving to Connecticut and teaching lots of kids' art classes- including mask-making and doll-making, I began again to make little people, first a soft body China doll style, then mainly with poltmer parts and poseable wire armatures. Later I began full body sculpts in airdry clay.
It was while visiting Toy Fair and Santa Fe Doll Art back in 1998, that I witnessed the renaissance of this one-of-a-kind figurative artform, and was inspired to go for it! Joining the American Academy of Doll Artists has introduced me to more supportive and enthusiastic fellow travelers and new techniques. The wonderful studio in my Connecticut backyard under a huge maple tree was home to Green Spirit Studio for eight years. Although costume and freelance projects came and went, my focus became the little people that emerged. My last three summers there included running a summer art camp for kids, doll-making in my studio, as well as numerous doll workshops for adults. I have been midwife to much magic!
But I was being called to move to New Mexico and start a new life in the Land of Enchantment. The spirit of this land, the people, and the art here make it feel like home. August of 2003 I sold my Connecticut house, left my friends and drove west. My Green Spirit Studio is now settling into a passive solar straw-bale adobe greenhouse, with a green leaf in stained glass over the door! There's a roadrunner that sometimes peaks in the window! Not far from the Rio Grande River, a new desert chapter begins....
