NIADA Holiday Gallery 2023

Dollmaking is my mission. Since I visited an art doll show 45 years ago, I was convinced that this was my mission!
I practiced to become a good doll artist.
I love to see in a doll expression and an inner smile
It´s the total impression that counts for a doll to be a good doll: a combination of high standard craftmanship, the recognition of emotional expression and the utility of high quality materials.
That is what I want to achieve.
We love dolls so much because there is an internal connection of the creation with the human spirit.
The doll can give you a smile and a tear on the same moment.
For me the dolls are a 3-dimensional illustration and tells imaginary stories and therefore I think they are pieces of figural art.
The basis of dollmaking is good craftmanship, and art dolls go beyond this.
I love to see the dolls happy, sad, mystic and more, and to have a life and a soul.
And I hope that when people see my dolls that they will stay in the memory. Making art dolls is a never ending story!
Ankie Daanen