Hand Sculpted Dolls

Vickie Arentz’s gorgeous portrait dolls are so lifelike you may think they are real people.

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Filed under: Sculpting, Handmade, Polymer Clay, Materials and Supplies

Beginning with painting portraits, Vickie Arentz moved into doll sculpting when someone commissioned her to create a portrait doll. From there she began designing her own dolls, which covered all kinds of incredibly realistic and mythical looks.

Vickie begins with 16-gauge wire that she forms into a skeleton, affixed to a base. She works the skeleton into the pose she wants for the final position of the doll. The head, sculpted out of clay, is a very detailed process that involves hours of intensive concentration.

The faces she creates are amazingly realistic and detailed. Clay is then added to the rest of the body until it has been filled out completely. This clay is then covered with another layer of clay that has a flesh-colored tint to it. For some pieces, the skirting needs to be supported with clay, an addition that is built into the body. The entire body is then fired standing as one piece, including the base.

All the clothes are designed by Vickie, as well as the shoes. She cobbles and tailors everything to the exact proportions of that particular doll. Hair and accessories are also selected. Once the body is ready, all of these elements and embellishments are added, and the facial features are painted on.