Artist Statement

PURPOSE:  To share a little understood, but amazing, culture with the rest of the world, helping to bridge a gap of understanding.  There is so much to gain from Indigenous cultures and we have dismissed it as ignorant, heathen and savage.

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IN GENERAL:

> INTEGRITY in my work is important to me.  So many artists come to appreciate the monetary gain over their craftsmanship.  I've witnessed cutting corners and using production line workers while providing less detail and quality with increasing prices, while calling it "hand made by artist".

> I am the only one who creates my dolls from beginning to end; no helpers. 

> I am constantly researching the culture for new characters while keeping with the accuracy of identity through patterns and colors.

> Dolls are numbered in the order they are created.

> I explore the industry seeking out new techniques and ideas.  Soon, I will be introducing moveable arms on the larger dolls.

> I take pride in my work to present accuracy and detail.

> A "plastic look" that screams "commercial" is not my goal.  Rather a rustic, hand made look that shoes knife cuts and wood grain is my idea of originality.

 

THE DOLLS:

> My People: are carved by hand with only a small knife, so they may receive their spirit as each one emerges from the wood, insuring a true one of a kind.

> Work is done under a magnifying lamp to insure even coverage.   Variations to each character insures each is an absolute one of a kind.  The number of your doll is the only doll I ever made exactly like it.
> Each one is then sanded, burned with a design, sealed, painted, varnished and adorned with various accessories, beads and embellishments.
> They are collected internationally and are part of the permanent collection at Standing Bear Museum, Ponca City, OK.
>  I am a member of ODACA (Original Doll Artist Council of America), UFDC (United Federation of Doll Clubs) and the BAA (Bartlesville Art Assoc.)

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RESUME:

Doll Magazine

Doll Artist Mag

45 years professional oil painter with various awards.

News articles in:  UFDC's Doll Magazine, ODACA web site and newsletter, BAA and various magazines and newsletters.

Have spent years in various mediums, teaching classes & workshops and research.

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