I stumbled onto a site last night, and I wrote a very bland review of it for a new site I am writing on: www.qwickly.com. I am utterly upset with myself for not doing it a bit of justice.
The site is StrangeDolls.net. I was just doing a search for something interesting to review for qwickly.com, and it stood out. The home page definitely got my attention; a sort of eerie nostalgia which sparked my curiosity.
SO, I began to read…
Beth Robinson began making these dolls in 2003 and has created of more than 300 original pieces to date. Some quite disturbing; all made with polymer clays, delicate vintage fabrics, and some even have human hair or teeth. They have become quite popular with photographers, animators, and collectors around the world. It seems that some collectors will even send her “props” to add to her dolls for special commissions; like dog teeth or even a kidney stone.
I spent hours in her galleries at several different websites taking it all in. The dolls are remarkable; beautifully hand crafted. You can really tell that she has spent hour after hour delicately caring for each personality. Their faces so incredibly fragile and soft, and each expression telling its own story.
The site states that these dolls are not for children, and entering the gallery you are completely aware. Large sunken eyes, and some even nightmarish, definitely leaves a lasting impression. That’s the beauty of it, so strangely beautiful, it leaves you longing for more… well at least me anyway.
Intrigued by these dolls, I wanted to know more about their creator. What is Beth Robinson like? Is she your average everyday mom, is she a “tortured soul” like some of her masterpieces, would she stand out in a crowd, or just melt into her surroundings like most of us?
Nothing… every site states the same as the last, and I am left curious still.
It’s weird, I know… I look into the eyes of those delicate faces in the galleries, and wonder… what’s their story? Would they be upset if I wrote it for them?
If you get a chance take a look and let me know what you think.
~2
