Customer Reviews

Anatomy of a Doll: The Fabric Sculptor's Handbook

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

You will not find patterns or projects in this book, but you will find thorough descriptions of cloth doll making techniques and inspirational photos of contemporary dolls. I've been designing and making dolls for most of my life, but I didn't realise what was possible until I discovered this book. It's a book that encourages you to discover and celebrate your own creativity.

The Bible of cloth dolls! A source of inspiration and imagination. When your creative spark dims, a quick peek at the wonderful doll photographs and you are up and running again.

Down to earth, the creativity becomes attainable...if you are a doll maker, a future doll maker, or a doll lover, this book is a must read.

This book covers it all. If you want to make dolls from cloth this book goes into every detail Inspiration galore from famous doll artists. Would also be helpful for armature making for any medium doll maker. This book is a must if you make dolls.!

I first became aware of 'art dolls' via the net, and Susanna Oroyan's books via Amazon. I was fascinated by all the different approaches given in this book, and also the multitude of differing styles and results. It inspired me to design a doll of my own! It encourages you to be inventive! Many thanks Susanna.

The book follows no particular sequence and leaves much unanswered in basic steps. For example, page 35 which instructs on making a fully sculptural head is initially clear, basically 3 circles are needed and you'll come out with a fully sculpted head with no nose. But, then there is a drawing of a fully sculptured head with a nose. This head appears to have 4 pieces. The increase caused by splitting the face with the nose in half...but, is this nose appliqued or glued on? Is it then covered with another cloth? This is never answered. And what order is easiest in sewing this face together. If you sew parts 1 and 2, the face, then part 3, the piece which hold in the padding to the face should be smaller (remember, you sewed the face together) and now you need a smaller circumference for part 3, or should it be pleated. According to the author, "learning will be quicker and more enjoyable if you allow yourself to have ideas, to play with them, and to experiment with the techniques." She continues and it becomes condescending. I spent more time than necessary trying to determine exactly what steps to take and when.. she never tells the full story and jumps from one subject to another without warning or explanation. I have plenty of ideas but needed help with the basics in order to apply my ideas. You won't get that here. There are many beautiful figures made by the author and other artists and a brief statement of the technique used. The book is a waste of time and money.. I closed the book and started from "Scratch". I will list the book here on Amazon if any of you want to buy it.

This book is worth much more. I absolutely desagree with those who says the author promotes her dolls only (btw,they are stunning). The book covers all stages of doll making and the evolution of the doll industry in general. Images of the dolls are carefully selected and represent dozens of doll artists, each of them unique in style. I personally, find most helpful info on joints, face painting, soft sculpture. And of course, just seeing works of all great doll artists is a great inspiration.

This book is not for beginners or masters. It has ideas for someone who has made dolls before and wants to refine them. Joints, breasts, hands, feet, bodies, heads, everything is touched upon! My only wish is that there were more ideas for hair. The book has hundreds of examples for your pleasure and inspiration. Before getting a copy of my own I would photocopy almost the entire thing as the library, cut and paste it together, and fasten it to my sketchbook of doll ideas. I love this book.

I anxiously waited to buy this book when I first heard is was soon to be publisher. (I have been a fabric doll and artist designer for many years and sell in art galleries, shops and fairs). It was RAVED about by the group of other doll artists I corresponded with and I was very familar with the authors work and impressed with it. But this book offered me NOTHING but pictures of her dolls. Too advanced and vague for a novice and boreing, lacking new or creative techniques for the skilled doll maker, it felt like a "brag book" of her recent dolls, which in my opinion were not at all as creative or interesting, almost scary and unattractive, as he old stuff was. I returned the book and did not consider the second one she did. Too bad, as she is a very, very excellent doll artist but we all change styles,etc. and who knows why these particular dolls were included in her book. I found it more of an "art" book than a book that offered ideas, techniques and down to earth "this is how I did it" information. I am glad that many other people did find it helpful but am amazed they did.

This book is my bible when I get stuck on how make some part of a doll. The author gives very clear diagrams on many different construction techniques. It's NOT a pattern book or a how-to manual. It's a reference book, meant to give you guidance as you pursue making your own dolls. I love looking at the pictures and find them very inspirational but these are art dolls and like any art, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

This book is one no dollmaker should be without, whether you make dolls for your own pleasure, as gifts, or as a professional. The inspiration from the photos alone is amazing, but the book is also filled with wisdom on dollmaking that comes from one of the most talented dollmakers in the country.