500 Handmade Dolls: Modern Explorations of the Human Form (500 Series) (Paperback)

~ Lark Books (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Contemporary and unique, these handmade creations range from representational to abstract, from skillful realism to provocative surrealism—and they’re made from every conceivable material, including beads, gourds, and polymer clay. Juror Akira Blount, a pioneer in the “art doll” movement, incorporates vines, twigs, and carved wood in her fabric dolls; with their expressionless faces and closed eyes, they appear absorbed by inner worlds. Dutch artist Marlaine Verhelst’s porcelain designs seem to have sprung straight from a medieval painting. Chris Chomick’s strange and slightly scary figures feature amazing detail and elaborate costumes. Dollmakers, crafters, collectors, and anyone who loves beautiful objects will love the amazing diversity showcased here.

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Product Details Paperback: 396 pages Publisher: Lark Books (November 1, 2007) Language: English ISBN-10: 1579908675 ISBN-13: 978-1579908676 Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 7.8 x 1.3 inches Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,205 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #10 in  Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Toymaking #29 in  Books > Arts & Photography > History & Criticism > Themes

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	56% buy the item featured on this page: 500 Handmade Dolls: Modern Explorations of the Human Form (500 Series) 4.6 out of 5 stars (42) $16.47
	15% buy Creative Cloth Doll Faces: Using Paints, Pastels, Fibers, Beading, Collage, and Sculpting Techniques 4.9 out of 5 stars (27) $16.49
	11% buy Creating Lifelike Figures in Polymer Clay: Tools and Techniques for Sculpting Realistic Figures 4.7 out of 5 stars (36) $14.93
	9% buy Cloth Dolls 4.2 out of 5 stars (16) $9.20

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Customer Reviews

42 Reviews 5 star:  (32) 4 star:  (7) 3 star:  (2) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:  (1)           Average Customer Review 4.6 out of 5 stars (42 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 26 of 26 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A phantasmagoric display!, December 27, 2007 By  Book Reviewer 2009 (Terra Firma) - See all my reviews    This rugged paperback book (one of those great Lark books) is 8-inches by 8 inches and packed with color photographs of dolls. This has no doll-making instruction but is more like a huge museum exhibit that you can pore over without having to stand in line and have other people breathing down your neck while you're examining each display. Here, each doll gets a lush, color, full-page photograph. Many dolls get a second close-up photo to reveal the tiny details. There is a three-page introduction and an index of contributing artists. The rest of the book is the photos of the 500 dolls, divided into the categories of Non-Traditional, Fantasy, Found Objects, Traditional, and Cloth. None of these are "kid's dolls" in any sense of the word. Rather, they are artistic, folkloric, and eerie, expressing layers of meaning through both their symbolism and the sophisticated human expressions on their amazingly detailed faces. You will not believe the materials you start to recognize in these dolls: pinecones, chicken bones, scraps of cloth, beads. It's a dreamlike experience paging through this gorgeous book. 16 of 16 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful eyecandy!, November 19, 2007 By  funnyhon (NJ) - See all my reviews If you love art dolls you will love this compilation. This is not an instructional book, but rather an inspirational one. It is a pictorial page-turner. I am not given to buying books that are not for reading, but in this case, since I love the art of the doll, I have to say I will cherish this book with its photos of such beautiful creations. Thank you to all the artists whose works are displayed. 11 of 12 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars If the Art Dolls end of the spectrum is your thing ..., January 18, 2008 By  Aroha Mahoney (New Zealand) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    The sub-title of this book is Modern Explorations of the Human Form, which gives a better indication of the content than the actual title. In her introduction, Akira Blount, a doll-maker herself, ponders the question as to what exactly is a doll? She then briefly traces the development of "dolls" from their traditional origins as children's playthings through their branching out to include the evolution of dolls as art forms in their own right. Most of the images in the book are from 2000 onwards, giving a comprehensive overview of current trends. I could not find any indication of how the artists were selected, other than it was a juried process, so I don't know if submissions were called for from anyone, or whether the artists were selected first then asked to submit. I suspect the latter, because there is an overall standard of rigorous professionalism in the images chosen, and a merciful lack of arty-crafty whimsey (I realise that this may grate on some readers, but it is not meant as a criticism of this genre). As Blount says, the definition of the doll has certainly expanded, and the whole spectrum is here. There is much to challenge, impress, inspire and move in these avatars of the human spirit. I have two minor quibbles. Many of the photographs could have had improvements in their shadow areas, as the detail was sometimes hard to discern on the paperstock chosen. And the arbitrary classification system baffles me; I couldn't grasp many obvious differences between the dolls in the Non-Traditional, Fantasy or Found Objects, Assemblages & Toys sections. However, overall a serious book, well worth looking out by both collectors and practitioners.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars Captivating Book I love this book. I look at it often for inspiration, or just for fun. Photographs are beauiful. Actually love the size of the book as well. Read more Published 1 month ago by Bettina Gutierrez 5.0 out of 5 stars 500 Handmade Dolls Beautiful book for the price. Many gorgeous dolls. To view them is inspiration . If it was hardback, I would expect to pay a fortune for it! Published 5 months ago by Katrina Parker 4.0 out of 5 stars Yes and No! The book is loaded with dolls of every nature, beautifully illustrated, and inspirational. But there was a little too much nudity for my taste. Read more Published 6 months ago by Deb White 5.0 out of 5 stars amazing photos the photos in this book are amazing! the artists involved are nuts, of course - with imaginative images and themes - not for someone who wants to know HOW to make the... Read more Published 7 months ago by Janice M 5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for all art doll lovers There are tons of pictures, tons of imagination, and lots of interesting dolls in this book. I never knew dolls could be made this way. Some of the artists are true genius. Read more Published 8 months ago by sarasn1derland 3.0 out of 5 stars Was hopoing for more variety Probably should have researched this book more before I bought it. I was looking for a variety of perspectives on handmade dolls--this is all about the type on the cover of the... Read more Published 10 months ago by P. M. Campbell 3.0 out of 5 stars Handmade art This is a great book for anyone who loves hand made dolls. Pictures are great. Not alot of info for the doll maker but the art work is excellent. Cendylou. Read more Published 10 months ago by Cynthia M. Matheson 1.0 out of 5 stars Handmade dolls: Modern Explorations Not very interesting. If not for Lisa Lichtenfeld it would be unbearable. Would not buy again or give away. Published 10 months ago by Bertha S. Whittemore 5.0 out of 5 stars Best money I have spent on a book I LOVED this book. I loved the fact that it is full of fantastic pictures of art dolls- not just traditional dolls. Read more Published 11 months ago by L. Anderson 5.0 out of 5 stars Coffeetable Piece This book is a wonderful collection of art dolls and would appeal to guests in the home as a "browse" book. I love it! Published 12 months ago by Dana J. Wegner Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 396 pages
• Publisher: Lark Books (November 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579908675
• ISBN-13: 978-1579908676
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 7.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,205 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #10 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Toymaking
  #29 in	Books > Arts & Photography > History & Criticism > Themes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A phantasmagoric display!, December 27, 2007

By	Book Reviewer 2009 (Terra Firma) - See all my reviews

This rugged paperback book (one of those great Lark books) is 8-inches by 8 inches and packed with color photographs of dolls. This has no doll-making instruction but is more like a huge museum exhibit that you can pore over without having to stand in line and have other people breathing down your neck while you're examining each display.

Here, each doll gets a lush, color, full-page photograph. Many dolls get a second close-up photo to reveal the tiny details. There is a three-page introduction and an index of contributing artists. The rest of the book is the photos of the 500 dolls, divided into the categories of Non-Traditional, Fantasy, Found Objects, Traditional, and Cloth.

None of these are "kid's dolls" in any sense of the word. Rather, they are artistic, folkloric, and eerie, expressing layers of meaning through both their symbolism and the sophisticated human expressions on their amazingly detailed faces. You will not believe the materials you start to recognize in these dolls: pinecones, chicken bones, scraps of cloth, beads. It's a dreamlike experience paging through this gorgeous book.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful eyecandy!, November 19, 2007

By	funnyhon (NJ) - See all my reviews

If you love art dolls you will love this compilation. This is not an instructional book, but rather an inspirational one. It is a pictorial page-turner. I am not given to buying books that are not for reading, but in this case, since I love the art of the doll, I have to say I will cherish this book with its photos of such beautiful creations. Thank you to all the artists whose works are displayed.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If the Art Dolls end of the spectrum is your thing ..., January 18, 2008

By	Aroha Mahoney (New Zealand) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The sub-title of this book is Modern Explorations of the Human Form, which gives a better indication of the content than the actual title. In her introduction, Akira Blount, a doll-maker herself, ponders the question as to what exactly is a doll? She then briefly traces the development of "dolls" from their traditional origins as children's playthings through their branching out to include the evolution of dolls as art forms in their own right. Most of the images in the book are from 2000 onwards, giving a comprehensive overview of current trends. I could not find any indication of how the artists were selected, other than it was a juried process, so I don't know if submissions were called for from anyone, or whether the artists were selected first then asked to submit. I suspect the latter, because there is an overall standard of rigorous professionalism in the images chosen, and a merciful lack of arty-crafty whimsey (I realise that this may grate on some readers, but it is not meant as a criticism of this genre). As Blount says, the definition of the doll has certainly expanded, and the whole spectrum is here. There is much to challenge, impress, inspire and move in these avatars of the human spirit.

I have two minor quibbles. Many of the photographs could have had improvements in their shadow areas, as the detail was sometimes hard to discern on the paperstock chosen. And the arbitrary classification system baffles me; I couldn't grasp many obvious differences between the dolls in the Non-Traditional, Fantasy or Found Objects, Assemblages & Toys sections.

However, overall a serious book, well worth looking out by both collectors and practitioners.