A few random doll-making tips:

1. Study human proportions; hands, feet and heads are the most common parts to have either too large or too small.

2. Use oil paint mixed in with liquid polymer clay for facial features.

3.Â Have a piece of scrap clay to rub between your hands, fingers and on your work surface to pick up any stray dust or hair before you start each session and often while you are working.

4. You can paint over the polymer clay completely if you want a painterly or matte effect to your doll.Â

5.Â Add a rosy glow to the checks with a little blush on a q-tip. (I don’t know about you, but I seem to have a collection of blush that I no longer use.)

6.Â Study sculpture, art history and traditional doll-making books for information on sculpting the features of your doll.

7.Â Bookmark this pageÂ filled withÂ the mother-load of online doll-making techniques.

8.Â Have fun and don’t worry about creating something that is perfect.Â Enjoy the imperfections, from now you can call them personality!

POP! – Perspectives on Polymer

Contemporary Craft is thrilled to be hosting POP! – Perspectives on Polymer June 25-29, 2022. A five-day celebration of contemporary work in polymer, the event will have something for everyone who loves polymer clay. POP! will feature four workshops along with virtual talks by some of the best polymer artists in the country, an exhibition of small works in polymer, and a curated feature in the Store. The opening reception will be held on Saturday, June 25, 6-8 PM, and will be free and open to the public.

POP!’s focus on workshops and the materiality of polymer makes this boutique event more than just a conference. Each participating artist was selected for their unique perspectives on polymer and the exciting ways they are moving the medium forward. The featured instructor for the event is Jeffrey Lloyd Dever, whose pioneering techniques in polymer have made him one of the most respected artists in the field. His jewelry and sculptural objects have been shown in many national invitational exhibitions, and his works are represented in numerous private collections, galleries and museums.

Have you read?

POP! – Perspectives on Polymer