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

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Key Phrases: leaving open where, sample doll, white gel pen, Miracle Bead, Shoe Soles, Shoe Tops (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The face is the most important feature of a doll—it is also the most challenging. So it is surprising that there is so little instruction available on creating doll faces. This book fills that void.

Author Patti Medaris Culea began her career in art as a portrait painter and she puts that experience to work when creating her doll faces. In this book, she shows readers a simple technique for easily creating faces using her step-by-step approach. She gives her tips for how to divide the face into quadrants, graft features together, and much more.

Every aspect of doll making is covered—from the basics to detailed techniques for making the various faces to instructions for putting a pattern together. Readers will learn how to use watercolor pencils, acrylics, and fabric paints, as well as learn techniques for using collage, stamping, and beading, and will find tips for working with stretchy fabrics to create indented eyes, separate eyelids, and sculpted lips.

About the Author

Patti Medaris Culea makes one-of-a-kind art dolls and has a full line of cloth doll patterns. She is the author of Creative Cloth Doll Making (Rockport 2003). She lives in San Diego, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159253144X
• ISBN-13: 978-1592531448
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #48,282 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

100 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous, fun, inspiring book!, April 28, 2005

By	Aisling D'Art "artist and author" (Portsmouth, NH USA) - See all my reviews

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

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A variety of step-by-step approaches to creating doll faces, August 7, 2005

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

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.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book...., September 4, 2005

By	L. Dombrowsky - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!