Art Doll Adventures: Exploring Projects and Processes through Cultural Traditions [Paperback]

Lisa Li Hertzi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2007

Doll-making inspired by cultural icons

Finding meaning in your art is one thing; doing it for the fun of the creation is another. How do they go together? Making dolls inspired by cultural icons brings new meaning to your work and helps you connect with larger universal truths. Doll makers are very conscious of and interested in the history of the human/female figure and cultural icons, and often use them as starting points for their designs. Spirit dolls, African icons, goddess figures, and Hopi katichinas are all popular forms.

Using history as a starting point, Lisa-Li Hertzi has created five exciting doll projects, inspired by five very different cultural and historical icons/figures. Through the projects, she explores the creative process, the meaning and significance of each figure, and teaches techniques that doll makers are currently experimenting with: journaling, collage, mixed media, and found objects. Each doll is presented as a step-by-step project with complete instructions, and is followed by a gallery featuring interpretations by leading doll artists of the same cultural figure. Fantastic full color illustrations and patterns by the author are included.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lisa-Li Hertzi is a professional illustrator, graphic designer, and artist, and runs the art department for Squadra Inc. USA. She is known for her eclectic line of cloth doll patterns, ranging from the Boulder Goddess which is based very roughly on the Venus of Willendorf, to Lilly, a Feisty cowgirl to the EarthSky Man, who was inspired by a raft trip down the Colorado River. She is a popular teacher, using both her patterns and classes to explore art, science, history, the figure, color, and more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books (June 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592532675
• ISBN-13: 978-1592532674
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #961,281 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Li Hertzi runs the aptly named, LiHertzi Design, a small graphic and illustration business where she designs for print, web, publishing, and cycling apparel manufacturers as well as drawing funny (and decidedly educational) things for anyone who wants them!

After 15+ years of tutoring clients and students in Photoshop, Illustrator and Drawing, Li has created a series of workshops titled "The Photoshop4Artists Workshop". She also teaches the above mentioned programs on a one-to-one basis and at Akron University in Akron, Ohio.

Li wrote and illustrated her first book: "Art Doll Adventures: Exploring Projects and Processes through Cultural Traditions" for Rockport Press and her artwork has appeared in galleries, books, private collections and on the backs of countless cyclists all over the world. She is an avid Art Doll stitcher, and a fiber devotee!

She lives in North Canton, OH

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Having fun with cloth doll making, July 21, 2007

By 

Terry Weiss "Mystery Lover" (Corvallis, OR U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Art Doll Adventures: Exploring Projects and Processes through Cultural Traditions (Paperback)

I truly love this book. I make cloth art dolls, and like unusual dolls made from interesting shapes that can be tailored to my own designs. The patterns in the book are fun as is - and certainly can be adjusted and reworked endlessly.

I like the ideas for embellishments and design - the photos are well worth looking at and spurred much creative thinking and planning. The author is obviously a fun, spontaneous person who gives lots of permission to play and go your own way - while providing ideas and directions at the same time.

I have recommended this book to everyone I know who likes and makes cloth art dolls. Everyone I've shown it to has wanted a copy for herself.

I would caution those who like more traditional, Raggedy Ann dolls or baby dolls, that they may not find this to their taste. However, if you are interested in pushing your limits and opening up to new and unique ideas, you will certainly have fun with the book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshingly creative book, June 20, 2007

By 

Amy E. Fasnacht - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Art Doll Adventures: Exploring Projects and Processes through Cultural Traditions (Paperback)

A refreshingly creative book that makes you immediately
want to go out and make something new and different. This
is not just a book about dolls and sewing; it's an artistic
exploration of culture, color, materials, and processes.
Lovely color photos, drawings, and step-by-step instructions.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never thought i would be loving "dolls" this much!, January 15, 2008

By 

Philip J. Vaughn - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Art Doll Adventures: Exploring Projects and Processes through Cultural Traditions (Paperback)

.. okay where do i start? i am 23 yrs old.. and haven't picked up a doll since i was 9. on one of my many journeys through the crafts store i picked up this book because of the strange little doll on the cover.. i opened it and loved every page of it! i immediately got everything i needed to start making a doll of my own.. the neat thing about this book is although the price is somewhat high for a craft book. the possibilities are endless.. yo can twist and conform any one of her patterns to something that suits you more as a person. the dolls were definately odd looking. and i love how in the book they not only show beautiful "goddess" and fairy types, but also some unique ideas from many different cultures.. tey even have a doll by elizabeth mcgrath which is super duper creepy.. i am a beginner and i would reccomend this book to aLL.