Soft sculpture, art doll style

For years I've been thinking about trying soft sculpture, maybe lifesize figures, using my own clothes, sculpting the faces by stitching. Then not wanting to have slightly unnerving large sculptures around. I've done miniaturized soft sculpture in the form of trapunto stitching, even literally miniaturizing kits for my miniature club long ago.

But I came around recently to thinking art dolls, maybe for exhibit, if and when that happens. Meanwhile it's an interesting artform to explore with the sculpting being done on the faces. It does squick me out a  bit, thinking about putting a needle into a face.  But I think I'll do it.

If you haven't made dolls you might not know how soon and how eerily they take on a personality. Even stitching the Dollivers faces felt intrusive.  And how often you reproduce your own facial expressions and physical build.

Anyway here's what I came across. Patti Medaris Culea. She was an exhibiting artist and portrait painter before moving into art dolls.

The thing I am liking about this current adventure is that I can use a lot of skills from other artforms, drawing, painting, spinning, embroidery, beading, knitting, dressmaking you name it. It's a journey of imagination.

One thing I don't plan on unlike a number of these artists, is using hot glue. I'll stitch.

As I read this book which shows other doll artists' work, I was reminded of what one of my sisters said when she got into miniature making, my fault, that it paid to have a lot of arts and crafts experience, and leftover materials available. Otherwise you'd spend a fortune getting started.

It also occurred to me that the bag of scrap fabrics still waiting in the car, too hot to go to the thriftie, might be pressed into service again..a Failed Winnowing.

Before i get us to now, here are some dolls and animals I've made, mostly knitted. I have a history, as they say of recidivists.

And here's the Dolliver luggage. 

Christmas dresses, felt and lace

Suffragists outfits.

Many permanent items, as well as scraps of exotic stuff for temporary clothes for photo shoots. A couple of the long skirts might work for the new, I hope series, depending on how it works.

We return to the drawer of embroidery things, silk and linen scraps, beads, butterflies. 

And I did retain a little supply of vital dollmaking materials through the breakdown of the studio. Including doll needles. 

Anyway here's what I'm trying. The raw base materials: trouser socks, white, tan, black, choices. Had them for years. I started with the white for easy visibility until I find out what I'm doing.

My idea is to create a doll from one sock, with moveable arms and legs, without cutting parts separately and attaching them. So this entailed little drawings and outloud discussions with myself as I went. Since the fabric is knitted, no fraying concerns. 

The doll book reminded me of teaching the proportions of the face, to disbelieving students who even after measuring, found them hard to accept! Almost impossible, too,  to realize what a small amount of the human head is occupied by facial features.

Handy grid, courtesy of doll book

And here's more or less what's happening.

The seam starts a ready made nose

See how soon she's sitting up and taking notice? Soon there will be opinions. And she doesn't even have legs yet.