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New for 2006: Brand new work from Margaret now
up! Margaret has big range of work available this year...from new
babies, to adorable ethnic toddlers.. and our favorite "Boe Bae" in
either version - adorable. Margaret also sculpts young ladies and men
and ballerina's! We brought Margaret's work in for the first time last
year. This self taught Australian artist is
relatively new to the doll world but has amazing talent. She was born in
Cornwall England and was the only child of a Classical Ballerina and an
Entomologist. Since 2000 Margaret has been doing reproduction dolls and
for the last few years has been doing original sculpting. All of her
editions are small usually under five pieces world wide. Email
kmalone@dollery.com for info on
others in the line and to go on our mailing list for her work and
receive our free color doll show catalogue.
Bio courtesy of the Artist:
"Margaret doesn't make
dolls, she creates little people!" Her love of art was encouraged from an early
age when she used to illustrate her fathers insect collection. Her mother taught
her the finer points of needlework, a skill which has stayed and grown over the
years. Her childhood was simple with a pencil and sketchpad in the meadows of
England or a needle, thread and a piece material she was happy. Art was put on
the "backburner" for a few years as she trained as a nurse, which is how she met
her husband, a Surgeon. In 1980 they emigrated to Australia and now she thinks
of the vastly different Australia as home. After the move she took up art again
but this time with an Australian theme and enjoyed much success painting native
Australian flora and fauna. Margaret is the mother of five, but has always made
time for art and encouraged her children to pursue their creative talents. Why,
when and where exactly she decided to make porcelain dolls, nobody including
herself really knows. For whatever reason though it was probably the most
positive move she has made in art, since she stopped painting a few years
before. Margaret began making reproduction dolls in mid 2000 and quickly became
bored with this and started sculpting originals. Those who know the process
involved, would be able to appreciate the talent of this self taught doll
artist, to come so far in such a short time. Even more so when you come to
realize that where she lives, in Far North Queensland there are no doll
teachers, no wig makers, no milliners and no shoe makers and worst of all there
are no mold makers! There is not even a doll shop. She has taught herself every
step of the way, learning only by trial and error. The magic of her dolls casts
itself onto all who take the time to look, as the little people of Margaret's
world shed a tear, raise a smile and tell a tale of their own. The little
children and characters are the result of a simple thought and vision by the
artist. With a block of clay and a burst of imagination a new life begins.
Through every delicate brush stroke, life, color and personality is intricately
instilled in the faces and bodies of these little people who, she has lovingly
brought into the world. In context with her unique Australian touch within her
art, the theme continued with her dolls, taking special interest in sculpting
aboriginal children and depicting stories of their diversity and culture
throughout time. It is in her unique and real depictions of life that her
dolls can become the actors, and your imagination can create their screen play.
Once a dear friend, who at the risk of sounding insane confessed to actually
hearing the dolls talk to her;.. the thing is she said 'that she answered back'
before she realized that she was talking to a doll. These creations are timeless
and they capture life in a moment. The depth in there eyes almost divulges a
soul and spirit unlike anyone could have imagined, from a block of clay and the
bare hands of an artist mind! The ballerinas that she loves to sculpt are a
tribute to her late mother and their beauty and grace come deep from her heart,
sometimes she says while sculpting, she feels the presence of her mother working
through her hands.
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