Joan M. Ross wrote a book titled Artists and Original Dolls, which was released in 1983. It is a directory of the Original Doll Artists Council of America members and contains descriptions of each artist’s creations as well as images of the dolls they created.
There are two parts to the book. Each artist is profiled in the first part, “The Artists,” which also contains details about their education, training, and previous work. The artists’ dolls are depicted in images and briefly described in the second part, “The Dolls.”
Anyone interested in handmade dolls should definitely check out the book. It is an invaluable addition to the library of any doll collector and offers a lot of knowledge about the artists and their work.
Here are some of the artists featured in the book:
- Gwen Ross: Ross is a well-known artist who specializes in making porcelain dolls. Her dolls are often based on historical figures or characters from literature.
- Mary Engelbreit: Engelbreit is a popular illustrator and author who is known for her whimsical and heartwarming artwork. She also creates original dolls, which are often based on her illustrations.
- Margarete Steiff: Steiff is a German company that has been making high-quality stuffed animals since 1880. The company is best known for its teddy bears, but it also makes a variety of other animals, including dolls.
- Katherine Dunham: Dunham was an American dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist. She is best known for her work in modern dance, but she also created a line of original dolls, which were based on her own life and experiences.
- Ruthie Askins: Askins is an American artist who specializes in making rag dolls. Her dolls are often based on everyday people and objects, and they have a whimsical and charming quality.
- Mary Blair: Blair was an American artist who worked as an animator for Walt Disney Studios. She is best known for her work on the films “Alice in Wonderland” and “Peter Pan,” but she also created a line of original dolls, which were based on her own designs.
