Life-Sized Soft Sculptures

A mother and daughter work together to create life-size soft sculptures.

More from Carol Duvall Show
Filed under: Sculptures, Sculpting

Using some easy-to-find materials, a little mother/daughter ingenuity, humor, and dedication, Susan and Kelly Nolan make fun life-size soft sculptures. Their work literally takes on personalities of their own, since the sculptures are of whimsical characters Susan and Kelly create; like Martha the Maid and Maxwell the Butler — a kindly older couple there to serve you. All of their work is interactive and lively decoration for your home or workspace.

Using PVC pipe, cables, and a selected pair of cement-filled shoes, the base of the body is created. The cable that is pulled through the PVC is used as an ankle and a point of adjustment for balance; the cement provides bottom weight support. The arms are attached using a flexible, unbreakable cable that allows the arm position to be adjusted later. Hands are formed using wire also and attached to the arms — each finger is also bendable and can support objects.

The body is fleshed out with strips of batting wrapped and layered until the right girth is accomplished. The body is then covered in nylons (pantyhose) to achieve a flesh color. The head is also batting material and nylons sculpted using needle and thread. After two to three hours of detailed sculpting, the facial features are complete — but they need a little dressing up. Using fake eyelashes, doll eyes, wigs, powder blush, and magic markers for the lips, the face is enhanced until it looks almost lifelike. To finish off the doll, it is dressed in appropriate attire that fits the personality of the character.

Susan and Kelly share the passion of creating people, working side by side, perfecting their craft. They have won awards for their work at art shows across the United States, and their attention to detail is evident in everything they do, not to mention their creativity and sense of humor.