HEARTFELT DOLLS @ ARTSMAD, ROTORUA
I was invited to participate in ArtsMad, March, 2018.
This evening gives 8 speakers an opportunity
to speak about their art, their craft, their inspiration.
Each speaker has 20 slides
and 20 seconds to speak to each slide.
It was an honour and a privilege to speak to my peers about my passion for doll making.
Thank you to
Jill Walker for the invitation;
Debbie Rowles for ideas to speak to;
Julie Voss for her wonderful support;
Riley Claxton who filmed my talk;
Phil and Nigel who bought dolls;
and those gathered who listened so attentively.
Each of you ignited the creative spark!
Here is my talk and slides.
This evening gives 8 speakers an opportunity
to speak about their art, their craft, their inspiration.
Each speaker has 20 slides
and 20 seconds to speak to each slide.
It was an honour and a privilege to speak to my peers about my passion for doll making.
Thank you to
Jill Walker for the invitation;
Debbie Rowles for ideas to speak to;
Julie Voss for her wonderful support;
Riley Claxton who filmed my talk;
Phil and Nigel who bought dolls;
and those gathered who listened so attentively.
Each of you ignited the creative spark!
Here is my talk and slides.
My love of tea and teapots.
Medical procedures.
Ladies in red hats.
Gender discrimination.
Green fur fabric lying on my floor.
Filming for TV.
Anything inspires me to create dolls.
Sometimes only one. Maybe a short series. Or an infinite one!
Medical procedures.
Ladies in red hats.
Gender discrimination.
Green fur fabric lying on my floor.
Filming for TV.
Anything inspires me to create dolls.
Sometimes only one. Maybe a short series. Or an infinite one!
I tend to live in my head.
So when I was given an online poetry course,
I decided to make an intuitive doll each day to reflect my response.
I started with a calico bust and just let it flow from there.
So when I was given an online poetry course,
I decided to make an intuitive doll each day to reflect my response.
I started with a calico bust and just let it flow from there.
Few of the dolls I make have facial features.
Firstly it was because I don't draw or paint
but increasingly I let the posture, materials and context speak to the viewer.
I want them to engage and empathise by interacting with the work.
I got frustrated one day by people asking about faces,
so I created Soul Sisters.
Dolls with facial attitude!
Firstly it was because I don't draw or paint
but increasingly I let the posture, materials and context speak to the viewer.
I want them to engage and empathise by interacting with the work.
I got frustrated one day by people asking about faces,
so I created Soul Sisters.
Dolls with facial attitude!
Inspiration comes from everywhere.
Helping Kay Mcgregor in the library one day I saw a book called 'Knit Yourself a Boyfriend'.
I was enchanted.
So I went home,
designed a male form
and created him both naked and clothed.
Friends for the journey!
Helping Kay Mcgregor in the library one day I saw a book called 'Knit Yourself a Boyfriend'.
I was enchanted.
So I went home,
designed a male form
and created him both naked and clothed.
Friends for the journey!
Fabric and ephemera often guide my hand.
I had a beautiful green print lying around,
several small stuffed birds from the Christmas tree,
and wood collected for me by my son.
I decided to create a series of figures focusing on nature and our interaction with bird life.
I experimented with using stilts for legs.
I like to honour the gifts I am given by others and incorporate them when I can.
I had a beautiful green print lying around,
several small stuffed birds from the Christmas tree,
and wood collected for me by my son.
I decided to create a series of figures focusing on nature and our interaction with bird life.
I experimented with using stilts for legs.
I like to honour the gifts I am given by others and incorporate them when I can.
One of my doll making heroes is elinor peace bailey.
I was given some old patterns of hers by Heather McKechnie.
The one that most appealed was the Enraged Woman.
I so related to her story of seeing the shape of a dog on her linoleum which she just had to draft into a pattern!
And it was about an issue so dear to my heart –
women's rights and emancipation.
I was given some old patterns of hers by Heather McKechnie.
The one that most appealed was the Enraged Woman.
I so related to her story of seeing the shape of a dog on her linoleum which she just had to draft into a pattern!
And it was about an issue so dear to my heart –
women's rights and emancipation.
Some of the series I make are finite.
The Smiles Project used a duvet cover I cut up after my husband left.
I cut out all the lips,
sewed and stuffed them,
and created dolls holding them,
sleeping on them,
cartwheeling around them,
celebrating the person I was now free to become!
The Smiles Project used a duvet cover I cut up after my husband left.
I cut out all the lips,
sewed and stuffed them,
and created dolls holding them,
sleeping on them,
cartwheeling around them,
celebrating the person I was now free to become!
Seduced by the Wild was made in response to a group exhibition curated by The Arts Village.
Each figure was an intuitive response to a poem by Mary Oliver.
I chose green polar fleece because I love its softness.
I only made 4 figures because there was no more fabric.
Each figure was an intuitive response to a poem by Mary Oliver.
I chose green polar fleece because I love its softness.
I only made 4 figures because there was no more fabric.
Most of my figures are a combination of machine and hand sewing.
The bodies are nearly always machine sewn
and then hand stitched into the position they desire.
But I often use hand embroidered items in my work.
English Country Garden continues the story of hand worked table linens crafted by my mother's generation.
The bodies are nearly always machine sewn
and then hand stitched into the position they desire.
But I often use hand embroidered items in my work.
English Country Garden continues the story of hand worked table linens crafted by my mother's generation.
I like to honour the seasons of life: weather, age, liturgical.
For Advent last year,
I took 2 fabric remnants and created the Matron Saints,
honouring all the un-named women who enable and empower us.
One each day.
I limited the size and shape and used minimal embellishments.
For Advent last year,
I took 2 fabric remnants and created the Matron Saints,
honouring all the un-named women who enable and empower us.
One each day.
I limited the size and shape and used minimal embellishments.
The Unemployment Blues was made in heartfelt response to losing my job
and struggling to find meaningful work as a mature person.
Lots of tears.
Lots of frustration.
But by the end my grief was assuaged and I could embrace this new path of my life.
I believe strongly in the healing and transformative power of the creative act.
Doll making is the one I choose.
I think because of the human form.
and struggling to find meaningful work as a mature person.
Lots of tears.
Lots of frustration.
But by the end my grief was assuaged and I could embrace this new path of my life.
I believe strongly in the healing and transformative power of the creative act.
Doll making is the one I choose.
I think because of the human form.
I dialogue with my dolls as I am creating them.
They dwell in my heart space until they have their own form.
They help me understand feelings and emotions which overwhelm me.
When my youngest son left home,
I felt the 'Empty Nest' really strongly.
So I used the stuff he abandoned to create a series –
cables, airline blankets, jeans -
to process this change in my life.
They dwell in my heart space until they have their own form.
They help me understand feelings and emotions which overwhelm me.
When my youngest son left home,
I felt the 'Empty Nest' really strongly.
So I used the stuff he abandoned to create a series –
cables, airline blankets, jeans -
to process this change in my life.
Starting age 50,
I have created a doll on my birthday to reflect back to me how I am feeling.
Must be started and finished on the day.
Some I cringe at now!
I have created a doll on my birthday to reflect back to me how I am feeling.
Must be started and finished on the day.
Some I cringe at now!
I often set myself challenges to ignite the creative spark.
The Rainbow Connection I made just before my Artist in Residence at The Arts Village 2013/2014.
I made 15 dolls in each of the 7 colours of the rainbow.
I folded an A4 sheet of paper into 4,
drew a shape
and whipped up the doll in ½ hour give or take!
I set myself rules,
then find creative ways to break them!
The Rainbow Connection I made just before my Artist in Residence at The Arts Village 2013/2014.
I made 15 dolls in each of the 7 colours of the rainbow.
I folded an A4 sheet of paper into 4,
drew a shape
and whipped up the doll in ½ hour give or take!
I set myself rules,
then find creative ways to break them!
Diaspora came into being
because I had always wanted to participate in the 100 day project by Emma Rogan.
I was unable to register this year,
so did it on my own.
I used a tear-drop shape as a base,
added legs, arms and head maybe,
and created a story for the 102 characters who emerged.
They are the Brennan family and their descendants.
Brennan means tear-drop.
because I had always wanted to participate in the 100 day project by Emma Rogan.
I was unable to register this year,
so did it on my own.
I used a tear-drop shape as a base,
added legs, arms and head maybe,
and created a story for the 102 characters who emerged.
They are the Brennan family and their descendants.
Brennan means tear-drop.
And this is my Selfie coat.
Miniature representations of me!
Miniature representations of me!
Occasionally I make a doll on commission.
Dolls to remember someone who has died.
Dolls to celebrate a significant birthday or event.
I use a biography or photo or items of clothing as starting points.
Dolls to remember someone who has died.
Dolls to celebrate a significant birthday or event.
I use a biography or photo or items of clothing as starting points.
I like to use my gifts to enable and empower others.
So I created the Fire Fighters to raise funds for the Ngongotaha Fire Brigade where my son volunteers.
I also created 50 (or more) Shades of Grey to raise awareness and funds for cancer support.
So I created the Fire Fighters to raise funds for the Ngongotaha Fire Brigade where my son volunteers.
I also created 50 (or more) Shades of Grey to raise awareness and funds for cancer support.
I am Liz Pearce.
I am a doll maker.
The meditative, contemplative process brings me
wholeness, wellness and a sense of belonging.
And I love it!
I am a doll maker.
The meditative, contemplative process brings me
wholeness, wellness and a sense of belonging.
And I love it!
