Am still having mental issues around making cloth figures. It is funny. The "doll" word is there because of the size and material. The function may or may not be different. Are they playthings? Sort of, as I feel very playful when I make them. Are they meant to be played with? Only mentally. Are they made to resemble a baby? Most definitely not. What is their purpose and function? Many "doll" artists make beautiful, realistic reproductions of the human form. This is a very challenging task as the scale is often so small, and including detail at this size can be difficult. Other "doll" artists choose highly abstract forms and then add embellishments to further articulate their idea. Sometimes the idea is original, sometimes not. I prefer to look at small figures in the way we see "VooDoo" figures -- encapsulating an identity and mental thought. Ambiguity. Is because it is. Today the power of mental thought is being extolled in healthcare, mental health care, and philosophy. Why not encapsulate it in a little figure that is created by human hands with good intentions? I will have to think on that a bit more.
In the meantime, here is a book to provide more food for thought about the relationship between dollmaking and thoughtful intent. It is called The Voodoo Doll Spell Book and is an interesting read, if nothing else!! So fellow fabric figure creators, let's get intense and think about how creating a little form from cloth can have more meaning that it just being "A Doll." I will be trying, as I am enjoying making these little abstract figures that keep springing up out of my fabric stash.
What will you make today?