About the Artist Rhonda Hagy

"Tea with the hounds"
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"Toulouse La Cat" is an original soft doll creation
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"Morgan" is another soft sculpture original

"Lotus" is an 11 1/2 inch fashion doll that has been transformed into a fanciful far eastern beauty

HISTORY

Hello, my name is Rhonda Hagy. I'm the artist and designer of the dolls you have seen on this site. I have been a student of doll crafting since the late 1980's. Having a background in art, photography, creative writing and theater costuming has been a real help in designing one of a kind (OOAK) dolls in both soft sculpture and fashion doll mediums. Armed with sewing machine, sculpting needles, hack saw, vice grips, paint brushes, etc., my studio table is always busy trying to give form to the dolls I envision in my imagination. Experimenting with new techniques, I find that each medium lends something to the other.

BACKGROUND
Almost all doll artists begin creating dolls in childhood. I can remember creating doll characters since I was five...
How thrilling it has been to learn techniques and skills that now allow me to model doll creations from the ground up. Since the late 1980's I have been a student of doll crafting.

"Max" was featured in the May 2001 issue of "Soft Dolls & Animals!"

Inspiration is drawn from the four corners of the beautiful patchwork of humanity

THEORY
Composition, content, and harmony of design elements are goals I strive for in each doll creation. My interest in literature, mythology, history and theater create a melting pot from which my imagination draws inspiration for elements that shape each doll and it's story. Subtle or obvious, each finished doll has a story to tell. Details make the difference, so each doll's details help support it's story.

PROCESS
My soft sculpture dolls are made of quality muslin from my own patterns. Each face is hand painted using basic fabric paints. Colors are mixed into a color scheme unique to each doll. My OOAK (one of a kind) fashion dolls and costumes are researched from historical and theatrical costuming resources. Next, each costume is pre-sketched and morphed with the doll's story in mind. Then, the pattern is created.

An 11 1/2" male fashion doll is radically altered to become "True Son"

MATERIALS
Whenever possible I use natural elements and/or fibers in a doll creation. Materials such as feathers, leather, fur, quartz, stone, shells, animal teeth, horse hair, raffia, about anything that looks beautiful or has rich textures from the natural world are fair game. Whenever possible, I try to sneak at least some natural element into each doll .

"Mustard Seed" was inspired by my own little hairless fairy dogs
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EXPLORATION
Tedious but true, learning the rudiments and practicing skills are vital aspects of doll crafting. But, equally important -and a lot more fun- is exploring new frontiers. When I'm not smoothing out existing skills, I'm experimenting with new techniques. Whether soft sculpture, fashion doll makeover and costuming or paper doll, each medium lends something to the other. It is so exciting to see these doll crafting disciplines crossing over and new techniques emerging.
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"Hippolyta and her Spartan hounds"
In artistic imagery, the concept of passion and reason working in harmony within the artist has been a popular and reoccurring motif. This idea was often portrayed by a Greek chariot pulled by two horses representing passion and reason. In this piece, passion and reason are portrayed as two hounds that must work together to achieve more than the sum of their parts. Artistic achievements tempered by the harmony of these separate yet inseparable elements is a daunting task. However, when the mind and the heart collaborate equally the end result is something wonderful!

Costuming is a life long love...
theatrical costumes for the 15 1/2" fashion doll give me a wonderful outlet to explore fashion history

STORY TELLING

Each creation has a story to tell. In the end, the doll is merely the tip of the proverbial iceberg in the process of story telling. Clues of the doll's story can be gleaned not only by the small details in the piece but also by a brief narrative that helps spark the mind's eye. Grammar, spelling and other technical skills are, sad to say, often lacking but I do enjoy creating a mental picture with words. The verbal sketch provides a backdrop from which the doll draws some of it's animation.
click here for an example
Often, an age old tale is re-visited and given a new twist.
click here for an example

THE GORY DETAILS
Just as handy as my sewing machine and extra long sculpting needle is my hack saw, vice grips and power drill. I use whatever is at hand to get the doll out of my imagination and onto my studio table. For me, that's the fun of designing original dolls. Fashion dolls are subjected to hack saws, blow driers and boiling vats of dye. My soft dolls are similarly worked until the desired results are achieved. Often, what I envision and what emerges from the design table are not quit in sync. I find that as I work with the doll, it's character begins to surface beyond what I have envisioned. This is never a conflict since I will always yield to the emerging doll's character.

An 11 1/2 inch fashion doll becomes a Serengeti Centaur

Another 11 1/2" Fashion Doll Transformation
Photography has always been an enjoyable hobby that has proven to be a great asset in doll presentation. Exploring the world of digitally manipulating images has been the newest chapter in this ongoing education.

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WHY DOLL MAKING
Each doll enthusiast and designer has a special place in their heart for dolls. We grew up with them and our imaginations took flight with them. As adults their beauty and character continue to inspire us. For me, doll making keeps my mind, heart and hands busy, presenting me with challenges that spark my imagination.

Is doll collecting for those who have never grown up? Or is it an interest that has grown up with us? If our doll collection gives wings to our imagination and inspires us with beauty, then we truly have a collection beyond price. I hope that the dolls on this site have been a source of inspiration weather you are a collector or designer.

Thank you
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