By Stephanie Finnegan
Natalia Fontanel is an artist of eye-catching and exquisite versatility. While many dollmakers excel in the realm of child creations or adult artistry, Fontanel is the rare individual who can usher forth dolls that capture juvenile jubilation and grown-up glamour. She is a talented woman who has the passion for fashion ingrained in her soul.
Born in the Soviet Union, Fontanel migrated to her new home country of France. Residing there for many years now, she acknowledges her Russian roots but also embraces the history and opulence of her adopted land. She began her journey into doll craftsmanship while living in France and credits the loveliness of their antiquities as a motivating inspiration: “I was inspired by antique French and German dolls. I have a large collection of antique lace, silk ribbons, and scraps of old fabrics and beads, which I bought in antique shops and on eBay. I had a definite period in my life when I was inspired by the paintings of artists of the ‘Belle Époque,’ as they say in France. My dolls looked like dolls of that era, in lush dresses with antique lace and silk ribbons.” She also points out a rather ironic fact about her sartorial selections: “France is known for famous haute couture houses, but in fact, the French dress very modestly and discreetly.”
Fontanel’s dolls are all meticulously sculpted, and whether they are nods to bygone extravagant eras or ethereal beauties from contemporary society, she pours her energy and her heart into their completion.
“Now I am inspired by photographs of children, beautiful girls. I watch fashion shows; I see some ideas on Pinterest. I get inspiration from everywhere, and then it develops into an idea,” Fontanel said.
It is quite interesting that it was this combination of the long-ago past (paintings by de Schryver, Helleu, or Boldini, among other Belle Époque legends) and images found on the internet that sparked her second career as a doll sculptor, seamstress, and couturist. “In 2013, I first saw on the internet that there were other dolls — artist dolls,” she said. “I remember that it shocked me so much that since then, dolls have firmly established themselves in my life. I started trying to make my first dolls. They were a bit primitive, even funny. But I did not give up! I learned to sculpt heads and hands. I studied sculpture from an anatomical atlas. I learned to make wigs, shoes, and accessories. I made dolls from self-drying clay with textile bodies stuffed with sawdust. A year or two later, I sold my first doll for quite a lot of money, and this gave me confidence that people like it!”
One of the reasons why Fontanel was able to be so persistent and proficient in her newly forged path is because of her childhood immersion into the world of DIY (do-it-yourself). “My father was an artist, and I probably inherited my drawing skills from him. The women in our family have always done needlework, sewed, knitted, embroidered. That is why, since childhood, I sewed dresses for my dolls from scraps. And when the time came to choose a profession, I did not doubt for a minute that I wanted to create clothes.”
As she matured, and initially left her doll-playing behind, she enrolled in college to further this ambition. She said, “I received an excellent education at the College of Technology and Design in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, creating outerwear. Then I worked in this profession for many years. It was the creation of small collections of women’s clothing, as well as individual sewing. I gained a lot of experience and knowledge. I learned to feel what it means to beautifully combine colors, different materials, use the properties of fabrics correctly, and so on.”
It is due to her solid background from childhood tinkering to collegiate courses to professional fashion designing that her desire to develop dolls and their breathtaking appearances was able to blossom.
“One of my dreams was to create an articulated doll, so in 2020, I started studying 3D modeling. It was not an easy path. I sculpted for hours from virtual clay. It’s a little different than sculpting from regular clay. Sometimes I despaired and wanted to give up. And only in 2022, I released my first 28 cm (around 11 inches) BJD made of polyurethane resin,” Fontanel recalled. Fittingly, it was a smiling baby that marked her newly born change of direction.
“I can confidently say that a ball-jointed doll is a special art,” she said. “It is not only aesthetic beauty, but it is also a precise engineering structure. It’s an accurate mathematical calculation. And I am very happy that I made my dream come true!”
Now that she is recognized as an established purveyor of lovely BJD dolls, gorgeous coiffures, and luxurious costuming, Fontanel is not content to rest on her laurels. Instead, she sees each day as an opportunity to push herself further and to swing open new doors of her imagination. “My dolls, wigs for them, costumes, and other accessories are all made by me. Each of my dolls is unique. I don’t really like to repeat my previous works. Each new doll is a new look! I am currently working on a new BJD doll. The master model is ready and I am currently casting the dolls in resin. It will be a new BJD body, new faces, and new looks. I am looking forward to introducing the new dolls to all the collectors.”
As she works, surrounded by her supportive husband, Didier, and daughter, Alisa, Fontanel knows and appreciates how lucky she is. “The dolls are in my family’s life for a long time. They have gotten used to it, and they know how important the dolls are to me. I am very responsible in my work. I am a bit of a perfectionist, and quality in all details is important to me.”
She also receives admiration, encouragement, and satisfaction from her customers and her client base. She said, “It is always important for me to know how the first meeting of a collector and a doll went, and when I have such news, this is the best reward. Previously, I sometimes made dolls to order, taking into account all the wishes of my collectors. It was an interesting experience, and I am grateful for it!”
Fontanel has a treasure trove of physical material and abstract musings to draw from throughout the coming year and beyond. She is aware of her good fortune and wants to thank her customers personally: “Today there are many artists who create beautiful pieces of art, and I thank the collectors if they choose me. I am grateful.”
Natalia Fontanel Art Dolls
