Dollandia: The E-Zine

DOLLANDIA The E-Zine

Doll Artist: Lethia Cobbs © 2015

This is an e-zine publication of the artist’s work for viewing. As with most zines, it’s published for others to see and to share our interests. The process of publication is one wrought with enthusiasm mixed with dread in hopes that someone out there will appreciate the love and work of producing this text.

The pictures of these dolls were done informally from phones, an iPad, and friends with cameras. They are not necessarily in the order of my own development in learning this art form. Some of the dolls are accompanied with a poem or explanation.

When I embarked on this journey I never expected to become so caught up in the fun of creating. Doll making combines all of the arts that I have practiced over many years from drawing to painting. No, I am no expert in any of these forms because it was never about becoming an acclaimed artist. I am an art participant because it keeps the world fresh for me to see it in its entire splendor.

The art of dollmaking combines what I learned growing up from handsewing and sewing on Mommastella’s Singer’s treadle machine, to crochet, and of recent times, knitting; all combined into a three -dimensional art form.

I searched the Internet for books to show me how to begin the process and sewed by hand and machine – a machine with electricity. Now, I create my own patterns and hand-stitch the work because I enjoy this activity in coffee shops or other people watching venues.

I got into making paperclay as a result of googling and finding the recipe online. I first made a few skulls for Dia de los Muertos using inflated balloons as the base before experimenting with it in doll construction.

For me, there is something eternally fascinating about creating objects that resemble live beings. Part of it is the process of creating an imitation of life that is transmutable into an object of fancy.

Some of my favorite doll artists are Patricia Coleman Cobb, Nellie Mae Rowe, Lisa Litchenfel’s, & Patti Culea whose styles are as diverse as their backgrounds.

Primitive, abstract, life-like, and surreal can be done in the form of a 3 dimensional doll and that is why I will continue my experimentation in evolving into a better doll artist.

This is the first doll I made. I followed a pattern so I don’t take credit for her body. The guitar was created following directions from myfroggystuff on Youtube.

The paperclay head below was the very first head I created.

The paperclay in this instance is store bought.

I don’t like the body it’s attached to so this is a project that I will finish in the future.

Title: Little Girl and Blue Guitar © 2012 Material : Musli, yarn, acrylic paint, cardboard, paper, cotton fabric

This creation was inspired by the events that have transpired from 2013 to current times (2015). I played around with the meaning of unarmed and came up with this concept.

The construction itself is very rough and basic.

At first, a portion of this display had to be removed for fear of offending someone. The press got ahold of the issue of censorship in public spaces. CBS news did a brief 6 o’clock news story about this particular display and two articles were published in the Long Beach Press Telegram.

Title: Unarmed © 2014 Long Beach Main Library Exhibit Jan 3 –Feb 28 2015 Long Beach, California

Anna Mae Wong Wong Liu Tsong This doll was inspired by a PBS documentary on the life of one of the first Asian actress of Chinese descent. She faced many challenges in working in Hollywood due to typecasting as the dragon lady or the tragic woman in love with a Caucasian man.

Another influence in creating this doll was being asked by various friends to make an Asian doll that was NOT a geisha girl or a villager.

Title: Anna Mae Š 2013 Materials: Muslin cloth, cotton, yarn, acrylic paint, leather

Title: Dia de Los Muertos & Loteria Š 2014 Long Beach Main Public Library, Jan 3-Feb 28 2015 Materials: Muslin, lace, yarn, paperclay, acrylic hair, cardboard, foam board.

Influenced by Mexican Culture in Los Angeles, Dia de los Muertos is a time of remembering the departed by setting out sweets and treats for their visit. Alters are built and adorned with photos of deceased loved ones. This holiday has been particularly important for me to remember family and friends.

As a child, my mother would take me to the library and allow me to check out books. Later, I would purchase books and kept a small library at home. My dolls and I would have pretend tea parties and discuss books.

I choose as often as I can to represent the darker hues of African American complexion but I have dolls that are pale especially for the gothic look to Blackberry.

Title: Little Girl Enjoying the Library Š 2014 Displayed at Long Beach Main Library: Jan 3 - Feb 28 2015 Title: Untitled Š 2012.

The bottom untitled image was my very first. I wanted to see her in orange like a burst of summer. This doll taught me quite a bit about human proportionality and designing clothing to fit. The shoes were perfect because I had somehow gotten shoes down to a science but bodies and heads are always complicated, even now.

The fun part about living near a beach is what is seen. I wanted to create a couple lounging around enjoying life.

P.S. Forgive the spots…

It’s from the glare of the display glass.

Top: Man in Tube © 2014 Bottom: Lounging Woman © 2014 Displayed at Long Beach Main Library, Jan 3 - Feb 28, 2015 Materials: Muslin, acrylic paint, cotton, yarn, pipe cleaners, paper clay.

Books are a talisman to me.

They made me feel protected from the rest of the world and transported me to another world. Little Ms. Innocent was full of mischief but she also loves reading. She looks up at you with those big doe eyes and you want take her home and read to her.

My freckled red-headed doll was created because this particular phenotype is rare-even in human beings.

She knows this and sometimes feels alone but with Little Ms. Mischief as a friend, it is impossible not to have fun.

Title: Little Ms. Innocent Š 2013 Materials: muslin, felt, cotton, acrylic paint, ribbon, cowry shells

From sewing these dolls I began to grasp the complexities of later making my own patterns.

Title: The Irish Flower Š 2014 Material: muslin, cotton, felt, ribbon, eyelashes.

I wanted to create a fancy doll with a color theme based on the women’s clubs that existed in the past as well as today.

Title: The Hat Society Lady Š 2012 Materials: Muslin, felt, acrylic paint, eyelashes, yarn

The first attempt at designing animal bodies…

I am fascinated with sloths because they seem to be easy going and sweet.

However, I didn’t want to create them in their natural colors and I wanted them jointed. I learned quite a bit from sewing these patterns such as I need to incorporate gussets into the pattern phase. I also learned that I really don’t have an idea of what a sloth really looks like and so these two are a cross between some sort of lizard of unknown origin with the body of a sloth.

In any case, you’ll find them in trees where their long claws and arms are best suited for their transport.

Title: Lizards Hanging Out. © 2014 Materials: Cotton, corduroy, ribbon, cowry shells, buttons

Title: Sadie Š 2015 Materials: Muslin, nylon, cheesecloth, cardboard, Cloth over clay head and upper body.

Auntie Mae Said Come on over an get a plate she always have greens & cornbread blackeyed peas an’ such even if you don’t ask she’ll fix you a plate An’ say, “Sit a spell cause you chasin’ then chasin’ ain’t caught nothing but a bad break.

Dedicated to Ruby L. Cobbs, & Estella Lewis

Titled: Aunt Mae© 2015 Cloth body, cloth over paper mache Materials: Muslin, cotton, nylon, homemade paperclay recipe from http://www.ultimatepapermache.com/paper-mache-clay,

As an emerging doll artist, I have learned to be patient while pushing myself to try new methods of this art. My education thus far is from Youtube videos, blogs, web pages, and books. I make my mistakes, become frustrated, and learn from them or at least how to hide these errors. This rough portfolio is the first step in documenting my work. Thank you for taking the time to review this project. It has been another process for me because I am ever the procrastinator. I hope to improve with future editions of this online zine.