Berkshire Art
Artists, Galleries and Music in and around the Berkshires

About Doll Artists

Art from the heart:
Learn why doll designers and artists love what they do
Doll Reader, Aug 2002

Position: Doll Artist

Company: Zapf Creation, Inc. Not every artist has a favorite doll that they've designed. But Zapf Creation, Inc.'s Bettine Klemm does. "It is Rosalie," she says. "It was this design that opened the door to my career with Zapf Creation." After five years of working on Zapf Creation's play line, Bettine designed the company's 10th anniversary Designer Doll in 1998. Zapf Creation was so thrilled with Rosalie that they asked Bettine to design another doll-and become a permanent part of the Designer Doll team.

"I get my inspiration from pictures and my imagination, as well as looking at real children," Bettine says. She has made dolls modeled after coworkers' children, and even her own grandson. After 30 years of living and working in East Germany, where private doll production was forbidden, Bettine now feels blessed to be living out her dream with Zapf Creation. "I feel really privileged to have a job that is also my hobby," she says.

Name: Pamela Phillips
Position: Doll Artist
Company: Merrymeeting

What Pamela Phillips says, doll artists everywhere can relate to: "It's hard to be creative according to a schedule," the Merrymeeting artist confesses. "I'm terribly picky, so sometimes, a face needs more time or I need to shop to find just the right lace or trim." That's OK; Merrymeeting owner Stephanie Weaver has no complaints about Pamela's turnaround time. Just look at the dolls she creates, and you'll know why. Every piece is in place, every accessory has been attended to. When Pamela unveils the finished product, it's, in her words, "highly meticulous.

"I am not the fastest or most prolific artist-but I have very high standards for material and design," she says. Part of Pamela's approach is to hold off on painting a doll's face until the wig and eyes are in place. That way, she brings every aspect of her creation together before giving it the final touch. There's no timetable for perfection. "l hope doll lovers find that my dolls almost seem to come to life," Pamela says.

Name: Julie Fischer
Position: Doll Artist
Company: Collection of the Masters (TM)

by Richard Simmons from Goebel of North America

For eight years, Julie Fischer was a preschool teacher at her church. In addition to teaching the children, Julie learned something in the process. "Most of my inspirations for my dolls have come from everyday life," she explains, reflecting on her teaching days. "I have always been fascinated by the beauty of children." That beauty has carried over into her doll line for Collection of the Masters- by Richard Simmons from Goebel of North America. Called The Precious Years, Julie's line celebrates childhood and all the golden moments that fly by too quickly.

Whether it's a little girl holding her teddy bear or a child anticipating the arrival of Christmas, these dolls all have one thing in common: they bring collectors joy. "A doll should make you happy," Julie says. "It's great to see all the different doll collectors out there. No matter what your age, you're never too young or old to start collecting dolls." Or start drawing inspiration for them.

Name: Nicole Marschollek-Menzner
Position: Doll Artist
Company: Zwergnase

Look at a Zwergnase doll and see an intrinsic part of the artist who made it. "I enjoy the freedom I have been given to create art that is a true expression of myself," says Nicole Marschollek-- Menzner, who created 15 limited-edition vinyl dolls for her 8-year-old company's 2002 collection. Nicole's dolls have vibrant, compelling faces and tricky clothes that express children's carefree emotions. Innovation is another hallmark of Nicole's work. "I never want the collections to seem repetitive or expected," she declares.

A graduate of Sonneberg's College of Design and Mechanical Engineering, Nicole says, "I am serious about the details involved in creating a sculpt to proportion. Each detail is crucial as you develop the character expressions and body style." Between sculpting her dolls and overseeing the vinyl-making process and the sewing of fabrics, Nicole takes part in every aspect of production in her Schalkau, Germany, factory. With freedom comes responsibility.

Name: Reva Schick
Position: Doll Artist
Company: Lee Middleton Original Dolls, Inc.

It's been over five years, and still Reva Schick remains as excited as day one about her work for Lee Middleton Original Dolls, Inc. And why not? Reva adores babies, and she works with them all day long. "Lee Middleton had a love of babies, and founded the company on this," Reva says. "The time has gone by very fast, as it seems like just yesterday I started with the company! ... I feel very honored to be a part of this company and the baby world."

The baby world is quite a happy one. It's there that the doll artist does her detailed, love-infused work. Her house in the Canadian province of British Columbia may be almost 4,000 miles away from company headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, but Reva still feels very connected to Lee Middleton Original Dolls. Her sculpts are the heart and soul of the doll, and it's the doll's face that inspires the company's creative clothing designs. Reva's incredibly lifelike sculpts have produced award-winning creations year after year. Her happiness really shines through in her dolls-they all look just as content with life as she does. "What gives me the greatest satisfaction is the happiness babies spread," she says.

Name: Sonja Bryer
Position: Doll Artist
Company: Marian LLC

For gifted doll artist Sonja Bryer and doll company Marian LLC, it's a match made in heaven. "Since I started working with Marie Osmond in 1996, I have designed more than 60 creations," says Sonja. Whether it's a portrait doll as large as 30 inches or a doll as small as 2 inches, Sonja's enthusiasm for her work is visible in every project she undertakes for Marian. "I enjoy sculpting so much that each new project is an inspiration," she says. Sonja, who has been sculpting for 24 years, says her association with Marian is especially satisfying because "not just Marie, but all the people I work with treat me with respect and appreciation. Also, they let me be creative." And no matter the project, the Bellbrook, Ohio, artist says, "I always get excited when the prototype is completed. I enjoy this business so much that I never will consider retiring." How lucky for us!

Name: Martha Pineiro
Position: Doll Artist/Owner
Company: Pineirodoll

Sometimes, dreams come true. For self-taught artist Martha Pineiro, making wax-- over-porcelain, vinyl and composition dolls for her 3-year-old company is the fulfillment of her dreams. "Designing dolls is my way of expressing the love I have for art," says Martha. "I express my feelings on each piece I make."

Surely her feelings are happy. Martha's cheerful youngsters face the world with a wide-eyed expectancy, their expressions conveying a youthful yet knowing look.

A lifelong interest in design, painting, drawing and sculpting led Martha to doll making, and she started selling her dolls to collectors three years ago. "All of these artistic techniques come naturally to me," she explains.

I always have my hands on every doll and manage all production," says Martha, whose 2002 collection of 10 dolls has limited editions of 421 or 151. "I love what I do!" exclaims Martha. Her dolls say so, too.

Name: Linda M. Rick
Position: Designer
Company: Precious Moments Company, Inc.

Linda M. Rick is expanding her horizons. Already known for the sweet dolls she creates for her company, The Doll Maker, Linda says, "I've been having Precious Moments for the past year." As the creator of a new line of vinyl dolls for Precious Moments Company, Linda has helped take the teardrop-eyed children created by artist Sam Butcher during the 1970s to a new level. In addition to adding feminine touches to their lovable faces, she's given the dolls beautiful hair and, says Linda, "the prettiest, fluffiest dresses we wear in our dreams."

When designing for the dolls, Linda aims to delight the legions of Precious Moments collectors-and to attract new admirers, too. In collaboration with Precious Moments CEO Craig Schoenhals and President Richard Hay, Linda has created 12 limited-edition Precious Moment dolls for 2002. Each creation gets The Doll Maker treatment, ensuring that each one has its own look and personality.

Name: Katiana Jimenez
Position: Designer
Company: Mattel, Inc.

Barbie(R), the world's most heralded fashion doll, is a lucky woman. The most talented designers in the world create ensembles for her. Katiana Jimenez is among them. A fashion designer with Mattel's Design Collectibles Group, she gives her imagination free rein as she explores the endless possibilities for new Barbie creations.