Customer Reviews

Creative Cloth Doll Faces: Using Paints, Pastels, Fibers, Beading, Collage, and Sculpting Techniques

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is one of the very best books that I've seen for all levels of dollmakers, from beginners through professionals. Patti's new book is a real gem, and simplifies the process of creating unique faces for your cloth dolls and figures.

When you're creating a doll, the face often makes the doll come alive. And, when I've taken or taught classes in dollmaking, faces seem to be the biggest hurdles for students.

I won't say that Patti's approach is entirely "by the numbers," but she has simplified the face designing process so that anyone can create a lovely, whimsical, sweet, or saucy doll face. Even better, Patti has included dolls made by a variety of artists and dollmakers, so that you can see many approaches to dolls and their faces. No two dolls will look alike, even if you follow the directions step-by-step... and that's how it should be.

In the first chapter, after listing some basic supplies, Patti gets right to the design process, starting with a simple grid that's basic to any doll's face. Then, she shows how to draw the eye in eight simple steps, as well as an almost-foolproof approach to sketching a nose on a flat-faced doll. After demonstrating ways to create the mouth and add detailing to the face, Patti shows how to follow these same steps with colored pencils on fabric.

Next, Patti shows you how to create a face with watercolors on fabric, and she offers inspiring examples for beginning, intermediate, and advanced dollmakers. Whether this is your first or your 50th doll, you'll appreciate her tips for making doll bodies, adding clothes, creating fabric flowers, and finishing the doll.

In Chapter 3, Patti shows how to sculpt a head with fabric and very simple sewing techniques. And, after showing several ways to design a face for this kind of doll, she provides tips for creating hands, stockings & shoes, and ways to dress your doll. Again, she shows examples of soft-sculpted dolls for beginners, intermediates, and advanced dollmakers. You'll be dazzled by the originality in these dolls!

By Chapter 4, you'll be ready to explore more detailed painted faces, including acrylics and oil pastels, and Chapter 5 features innovative collage techniques for dollmakers.

Finally, Patti has included a dozen pages of full-sized pattern pieces so that you can make some of the dolls which are featured in this fabulous, colorful book. And, she has included embroidery instructions, too.

At the back of the book, you'll appreciate the Resources list of places to shop for dollmaking supplies, worldwide.

If you're new to dollmaking or looking for fresh inspiration, this book is a must-read. I'm delighted with it, and eager to try some of Patti's techniques on my own cloth dolls and figures.

Patti has finally made faces easier for all dollmakers, and this book is a fine starting point for fresh doll designs no matter what your skill level.

This is one of the first dollmaking books that I can heartily recommend since Susanna Oroyan's excellent series. Get a copy for yourself, and one to give to someone who is learning to make cloth dolls and figures. This is a book to treasure!
--reviewed by Aisling D'Art, founder and moderator, Wild Art Dolls

The doll's face is its most compelling feature and the key to a doll's personality - it's also the most difficult to render: thus deserving of an exclusive crafter's coverage in artist Patti Culea's Creative Cloth Doll Faces Using Paints, Pastels, Fibers, Beading, Collage And Sculpting Techniques. Dollmakers receive a variety of step-by-step approaches to creating doll faces, from developing simple grids which divide the face into quadrants to using different mediums from watercolors and dyes to collages and fabric sculpting. While there are instructions for dress and other doll parts, it's the face which is the focus.

This is a great book with easy to follow, detailed instructions. I've learned how to create doll faces using this book. I use this book and Patti's Cloth Doll Making as references all the time.
Her books are wonderful. Keep up the great work!

As ususual Patti has done it again. One of the most talented cloth doll artists out there!!! Her book is very informative and is very detail oriented. Clear steps on how to sculpt and paint doll faces, even if you are a beginner. Patti is very colorful and whimsical with her dolls and it just makes you feel good to look at them! Wonderful book Patti! Keep up the good work!!!

The most challenging part of a doll to create becomes possible. Even my 7 year old grandchild that is just learning how to draw could understand the graphics. This is a great book with basic instructions for drawing realistic faces on beautiful and fun dolls.

I love this book, it is a book for the truly creative. If you need inspiration and skills, this book is for you. The book starts off with the specific formula to use in placing features on a doll face and offers some patterns to make dolls. From there it is all about the artist in you. There is a large gallery of ideas (the entire doll, not just the face) and they are fresh, colorful, unusual and even wild. The book reviews using varied materials and methods including paints, watercolor pencils, sculpting and stiches. I have all three books in this series and they are all great!

If you've ever wanted to try your hand at cloth dollmaking, but were intimidated by the prospect of detailing the face, then this book is the answer.
Patti takes you through each and every step - from a flat, pancake face embellished with only colour to a needle sculpted face embellished with fibers, dye, paint, etc.
Each step is detailed in description and in pictures. All patterns are included.
What is even more amazing are the dolls made by contributing artists. This book is worth every penny just for the eye candy alone.

I'm afraid I CONCENTRATED ON THE MAIN TITLE of Patti Culea's book "CREATIVE CLOTH DOLL FACES" which, of course, included the rest of the title "Using Paints, Pastels, Fibers, Beading, Collage and SCULPTING TECHNIQUES" for CREATING THE FACES!

I purchased this book thinking it would be almost entirely ABOUT THE FACE AND HEAD OF THE DOLL - I already have three other Patti Culea books so I felt I had a good idea of how to express my imagination regarding the rest of the doll. I WANTED TO LEARN VERY SPECIFICALLY HOW TO DO THE FACE AND DO IT VERY WELL. I ALSO THOUGHT I WOULD LEARN HOW TO DO A FACE WITHOUT A SEAM DOWN THE CENTER.

I agree Patti writes excellent, colorful books with exceptional costuming ideas and she teaches you the mechanics of how to lay out and draw a face. All of her books are full of face & body painting, make-up and clothing.

BUT, this book is entitled: CREATIVE CLOTH DOLL FACES. Chapter 3 is Entitled: SCULPTING THE HEAD (beginning on page 37). Well, DRAWING AND SCULPTING THE HEAD actually BEGINS ON PAGE 45 AND ENDS ON PAGE 47. She has already started in on clothing and the whole doll in Chapter 2 and continues it into Chapter 3.

I would generously say that HALF OF THIS BOOK IS ABOUT THE FACE OF THE DOLL. I'm sorry but I was disappointed in this book.

This is an exceptional book, very useful to doll and puppet makers, but of interest to other artists as well. There are beautiful illustrations and text to jump-start your creativity.

This book adds to my resources for doll making. It is very well organized and has not only clear written instructions but it also has great pictures and diagrams.