From a country and a culture located across the world to a happy home life in Pennsylvania teaching and sculpting, doll artist Anna Maryina has seen and done myriad things. She is truly a woman of the world, and her world is one of artistry and achievement.
Maryina was born in East Germany to a Russian military family. “I grew up in Soviet Russia. Most of my life, we traveled in Russia and Ukraine. I was enrolled in gymnastics, dance, and skating classes. My mom would say I drew well, like my grandma. I wished I had an opportunity to attend an art school in Russia, as they are known for providing superb art education,” Maryina said.
Maryina said she developed her drawing and crafting skills through trial and error. “It came easy to me. Anything that interested me, I would learn how to do by myself. I took a 101 art class in Duluth, Minnesota, where I was exposed to different media. I was extremely fortunate to have Carl Gawboy as my teacher. Carl is a highly respected Ojibwe and Finnish artist. He paints the beauty of everyday life of his Ojibwe people. His work can be seen in museums around the United States and abroad.”
She later attended a class in sculpting and mold making at Bowling Green University in Ohio. Maryina has always respected the power of the classroom and its ability to coax untapped talents from attendees. She has proudly earned her living as a teacher — math and reading — for 16 years in Ohio, and now English as a Second Language in a Pittsburgh charter school.
Today, she resides in a suburb of Pittsburgh. “My home is situated in the woods, where I enjoy the beauty of nature right through my windows. This year, I was lucky to see a mother deer nursing her two fawns, as well as a red fox,” Maryina said.
While sharing her academic knowledge with students, Maryina has also been sharing her doll visions with collectors around the globe for 20 years. “Most of my dolls are miniatures for a 1:12 dollhouse scale. I prefer working in porcelain. It is a long process that starts with sculpting, making plaster molds, and finishing the porcelain. I made two bride dolls as commissions for the Ashton-Drake company.
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