Finishing the Figure

This was the 4th book in series of high quality and comprehensive books about doll making. I finally got around to buying the last one. I highly recommend getting these books before there are no more. The other three are Fantastic Figures, Anatomy of a Doll and Designing the Doll. Susanna was a great doll artist and long time member of NIADA. She was active with her local UFDC and other doll activities. She was a successful teacher and a supporter of promoting all things creative with doll art. She encouraged and gave inspiration to all learning to make original dolls and those that are successful doll artists. She was a prolific contributor to articles in many doll magazines. She was proficient in a variety of media, including polymer clay, paperclay, and cloth. This particular book features many well known doll artists work along with her own. This book has a large variety of styles and techniques depicted. Many of the doll artists were happy to support and show their work in her books because they also believed in promoting original doll art and also recognized the fact that many doll artists can use the same type of technique but each doll will be different in some way. Most doll artists share the fundamental belief that creativity in the hands is the window to the soul, mind and imagination. No two are alike! Mine will be different then yours! If you have never seen a doll challenge, do a search on line, you will be amazed. They may feature one or two doll patterns, a set of rules and parameters, but look at how many different and wonderful creative interpretations are produced! Susanna has done the doll artist world a great favor by publishing so may techniques and styles in her books. Making these public they helped discourage any one artist claiming a certain technique all to them selves or hopefully trying to patent a technique. Her books have wonderful details, tips, examples and fantastic photos. Very high quality, a joy to have and worthy to be in any collector or doll artist's library. This book has a nice index of the artists featured in it along with a contact list. These are "forever keep books"! You will not be disappointed. I was ecstatic reading mine and I very much enjoyed viewing my "Doll Buddies" work! Susanna was a top notch award winning artist, her book "Anatomy of the Doll" was honored by the Scientific American magazine as "Best Technical Book for Youth" in 1997. She also received the award for "Best Dollmaker" of the year for teaching and publication from the National Association of Cloth Doll Makers in 1995. Susanna will be ever so missed and we were all sad to see cancer take such a wonderful person from our doll world. Her legacy of creativity and inspiration will continue to encourage us all. Susanna Oroyan 1942 - 2007.

I design and make dolls! Having said that, I find Susanna Oroyan's books the bibles of "how to" when I am stuck for an idea or when I need to figure out how to make something work in my design.Finishing the Figure offers both wise and practical advise on how to dress and finish a doll. IF you want to know about costuming, shoe making, hats, period costume, display, scale of furniture or objects to be held by your character it is all covered and very well and throughly here. Ms Oroyan offers suggestions on how to judge scale and what you just might have to learn and do to make the item yourself, be it chair or display. The pictures of dolls are wonderful, creative and idea inspiring! The advise is just what you wanted, be it information on an antique costume or a display suggestion.I keep this book along with Anatomy of a Doll and Designing the Doll within reach at all times!

The variety of costumed dolls was so helpful in the myriad of ideas that can be incorporated into making the "story". I am more interested in non-classic dolls, but I found many ideas that could be used in my work as well. Detailed instructions are included. Overall, the book emphasizes quality and is an outstanding example of exceptional work.

I can't recommend the books by this author highly enough. Get this, along with her books "Anatomy of a Doll", "Designing the Doll" and "Fantastic Figures", and you will have absolutely all the information you need to develop your talents at designing and producing almost any sort of finished doll you can imagine. There are more types, styles and techniques discussed in the series than in any other I've seen, and the photos of the exanples are stunningly beautiful. Highly recommended.

Great help in taking your dolls to the next step. You learn to create costumes and it offers techniques for adding embellishments that you can't easily find on the internet without spending numerous hours. However, even if you find the right the right item, usually the size does not work for your doll. You can now create your own embellishments to fit YOUR dolls.

Lots of ideas and information about how to put the finishing touches on a doll to bring it from nice to fabulous. I never gave enough credence to the importance of final presentation, stands, setting, extras, but this book has helped me to see this more clearly, and formulate a plan. I think my work will forever be improved! Thanks!

This is a remarkably easy to follow instructional.

very informative! Its worth a buy if you are into making dolls! and the book itself even if it was used was basically like new!

Brilliant! Very happy with this book, so many ideas - and well written as ever with Suzanna Oroyan.

Loved this book, it gives you so many tips and ideas. If you are a doll maker this is a must for your reference library.

This is a must for anyone interested in doll making. It is well set out, easy to follow and explains everything very well with little diagrams. Would highly recommend this book

Good book!

loved this book