Artist Bio

~Her Story~

"Award winning" doll artist "Julie Draper" has been doing art all of her life.  It wasn't till January 2005 she came across Fairy art dolls on ebay, and the rest was history...well at least so far! 

In 2002 Julie and her husband Mike found out their youngest son Dalton had Mental health disorder, ( Bi-Polar, ADHD, and ADD) just to name a few. This scary situation sent Julie into a downward spiral of depression and self doubt. Julie states, "I began to feel like my world was crashing down and caving in. He was my little boy". She continues, " I didn't know what to do with myself". "I felt I had to keep busy to keep my mind and body in check". "I found these dolls on ebay and was so taken back by it that I had to try it for myself".

When Julie realized she could make Art Dolls, she continued and never stopped. She started out teaching her self by using DVDs that teach sculpting and watched them religiously (over and over again).  She has no formal education on the subject but is considering holding off on Radiology / MRI ("in the medical field") and getting a degree in Art.

She now works here in Independence Missouri in her studio doing commition work and free lance Art Dolls and is available for sculpting subjects such as, The likeness of your child or baby, characters like Goblins and fantsy creatures, full body sculpts of mermaids, Fairies, and pixies.  In the larger sizes she is available to do highly detailed and embellished, poseable type fairys, pixies, goblins, wizards, or what ever you have in mind or just something to put a smile on your face. Julie is also available for teaching private classes or large group classes. Contact her for more info on times of availabillty.

Some of her influences are as follows:

"Wendy Froud"  Award winning artist.  Her way of teaching doll making is a no non sense way of fabricating a figure.  Wendy has worked as a sculptor and puppet fabricator on "The Muppet Show", and feature films "The Dark Crystal", "Labyrinth", and "The Empire Strikes Back" "(Wendy designed Yoda)"!  Julie still gravitates towards Wendys work for it's more fun to use fabricks and special embellishments because the dolls are larger.  And she teaches that "If it looks like it could be real then it is", and Julie likes that.

"Patricia Rose"  Another Award winning artist.  Her way is in a totaly different way. She sculpts the entire human form from head to toe.  She also demonstrates easy words to remember the body parts as you sculpt.  Like "nostrils" would be "Nose wings" She makes sculpting very interesting and fun.

"Jack Johnston"  Yet Another Award winning artist and Master in his feild.  His way is simular to Wendy Frouds way of teaching, but his way is totaly by the book as far as all the correct names of the body parts.  He can get you to know those teeth better than the dentist.  He also demonstrates proper sewing technique's for dolls.  He is a very nice person indeed.

 

Note:  I've heard that "The Dark Crystal 2" is in the works and dont know yet when it will be out.  Wendy Froud remade the characters to be older.  Thats about all I know for now.  Good luck with your productions Wendy!