DOLLS: What types of dolls do you make?

Jackie Hay: During the holiday season, I prepare for several art and craft shows by making an extensive collection of both small polymer clay sculptures and mixed-media art dolls. This collec­tion encompasses a range of different types of dolls across many art-making techniques — fiber art, sewing, wire frame dolls, sculptures, teddy bears, and so on. On January 1, I focus on my resin BJD collection. I am currently working on perfecting my first hand-cast resin BJD based on Alice from Alice in Wonder­land: Through the Looking Glass. I am excited to say she is in the final stages of production.

DOLLS: How did you get your start in dollmaking?

Hay: Back in 2012, I began creating and selling small polymer clay sculptures at local craft shows. Each year, I tried to expand my skills, and dolls seemed like a natural progression from small sculptures. After subscribing to magazines like DOLLS and Art Doll Quarterly, I realized the endless possibilities for creating unique dolls. Dolls are really the perfect art form for me because you need to employ lots of art skills to make a doll. Dollmaking involves sculpting, engineering, sewing, painting, fiberwork, beadwork, and more! As an artist, it seems impos­sible to feel like you’ve mastered all the methods of creating a doll — the learning just never ends. So, over the course of 12 years, I’ve dedicated my time to understanding as many doll­making techniques as I can. Currently, I’m working on creating resin dolls with articulation.

DOLLS: Is your dollmaking influenced by anything in particular?

Hay: I have always loved the Halloween season. Anything spooky, quirky, or scary really excites me and gets my imagina­tion spinning. Although I have a lot of artist influences, some of my biggest inspiration stems from the works of Tim Burton, Clive Barker, H.R. Giger, and painter Zdzisław Beksiński. In addition to my spooky side, I like to include fantasy elements in my artwork as well. Mythology and folklore have also intrigued me, and I love creating elves, griffins, dragons, and more. The Dark Tower series, J.R.R. Tolkien’s work, and childhood movies like Peter S. Beagle’s The Last Unicorn hold a special place in my heart.

DOLLS: What do you like most about dollmaking?

Hay: To me, the best part of creating dolls and sculptures is the evolution of the character. It really is a form of magic to take some raw materials and shape it into a unique little being. There’s a mo­ment in the process of creating a character when they start to come to life. It seems like there’s a point when I, as the artist, am no lon­ger the one making the decisions, but the doll is telling me what it wants: a smirk across their face, brown hair instead of black, and so on. As much fun as it is to watch each character unfold, it is equally rewarding to see collectors fall in love with a particular doll. There’s something about certain dolls that speak to us — they remind us of a loved one or a significant character in their life.

DOLLS: Who are the intended buyers of your dolls?

Hay: Since this is my first year running an art business full time (I was a public school art teacher for many years), I am dabbling in a couple markets. I still sell my sculptures and crafts at lo­cal shows during the holiday season. The sculptures and dolls I sell at craft shows have a huge appeal with children. In fact, I have wonderful families who collect my work each year because their children always ask for a new pumpkin or ghost. After the holiday season ends, I focus on new dollmaking techniques and complex themes and topics for my dolls. These pieces of art­work are meant for gentle posing and decorative admiration. The fragile nature of the materials I use and the time it takes to handcraft each piece demands a higher price-point, making these suitable for more-seasoned collectors.