Cloth Doll Faces: A practical guide to creating character and expression - Softcover

Slater, Ray

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1782213074 ISBN 13: 9781782213079

Publisher: Search Press, 2021

Synopsis

Leading international doll-maker Ray Slater reveals her secrets to creating vibrant and dynamic faces in cloth. Brimming with ideas and practical advice, this is an invaluable guide for cloth doll-makers everywhere.

The face is the key to bringing life and personality to a cloth doll. Often thought of as being the hardest part of the making process, creating the face is, in fact, relatively easy and enjoyable to do. Just by following a few simple rules a whole world of wonderfully expressive, fun characters can be created. Ray will show you how, taking you from the initial inspiration sources, the design and drawing process, to the final colouring, sewing and embellishment of the head.

Using just three basic face designs – flat, three-dimensional and collaged – you'll learn how to create a fantastic collection of characters. With tips on how to adjust proportions, hues and positioning of the features, you will learn how to make a whole host of faces with different looks and expressions. Fully illustrated step-by-step instructions break down the process of making each kind of face, and there are techniques to help you make your own unique doll. Finally, Ray shares two body patterns in her book to suit all three head types, and body templates are included.

About this title

About the Author

Ray Slater studied Embroidered Textiles at Goldsmiths College and Theatre Costume at Croydon College of Art before working in theatre, film and television. She curated an exhibition of cloth dolls from the US, Canada, Australia and the UK in 2003, and is now one of the UK’s leading teachers of dollmaking. She practices a wide range of textile-related subjects and her current work has evolved from her passion for costume and textiles. She is the author of Cloth Dolls for Textile Artists and teaches throughout the UK, Europe and America.

To see more of Ray's work visit www.rayslaterclothdolls.co.uk.

From the Back Cover

Leading international dollmaker Ray Slater reveals her secrets to creating vibrant and dynamic faces in cloth.

Using just three basic head designs – flat, dimensional and collaged – discover how to make a whole host of personalities with different looks and expressions. Learn how to transform your inspirational sources into a three-dimensional head, and follow Ray’s tips on adjusting proportions, hues and positioning of the features to create a face that’s unique to you.

• Illustrated step-by-step instructions for every type of doll face, including how to make ears, hair and beards
• EXTRA addition of three basic doll body patterns – male, female and collage – also with illustrated step-by-step instructions so you can continue to compose your final character
• Inspiring galleries of faces and finished dolls throughout, to encourage the development of your own unique doll
• Templates for tracing doll faces and bodies are included.

Brimming with ideas and practical advice, this is an invaluable guide for cloth dollmakers everywhere.

Edition details

• Publisher: Search Press
• Publication date: 2021
• ISBN 10: 1782213074
• ISBN 13: 9781782213079
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 144