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Sweet Sampling of Childhood Memories
Preface Charles was probably around 10 or 11 years old when he made these dolls, dating them to around the mid-40s. It was a gift. He gave Tina and me a set together, and he gave Sunie a set. Before, all we did have to play with was cut models out of the Sears Roebuck catalog, which was not in color at that time. And they didn’t have any legs because the ads were all at the bottom. We would pick a model and cut her out of every page with different outfits on. So this was really a luxury for us—much more than a bought paper doll book. Something that really impressed me was that he took the time to make tiny little records with the names on them and tiny little books—all classics. They came in a two story apple crate doll house that was completely furnished. He put tiny chandeliers in the all the rooms, and wallpapered the walls. They were what we played with for years. On the back sides of all the pieces, you could see where he had drawn or the pages were typed. He used paper and things that they already had—it was war time and resources were scarce. Paper was scarce, and we kept them in the Whitman Chocolate Sampler Box that was also something we already had. This book is meant to share what a wonderful and generous artist Charles Dykes is. These paper dolls were a treasure then, and will continue to be, as we pass this book on through generations. Sandra Stephens
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About the Artist Perfectionist, artist, musician, and writer of beautiful letters After graduating from Louisville High School, Charles attended Troy State for one year and graduated from Auburn University in late 1957 with a degree in Advertising Design. He was always both artistic and musical and never once doubted that he would make his livelihood accordingly. He studied serious piano through his sophomore year at Auburn and played four fun years of weekend “gigs� with several college dance groups. His first 22-year career began after college when he began working for Doyne Advertising Agency in Nashville. Charles went back to school to receive his graduate degree from Florida State University, and upon graduation was offered a full-time, tenured position on the faculty as an Interior Design professor. He was able to teach the art specialties he loved most until his retirement in 2002. He is now enjoying his own personal creative outlets. Charles is currently living between Auburn and Louisville, Alabama and has greatly enjoyed doing extensive restoration on his old Louisville home.