Today we will talk about the work of the wonderful author E. Jay Taylor!

American artist E. Jay Taylor / EJ Taylor grew up on Kodiak Island, in the Pacific Northwest. The Taylor family, like many locals, made their living by fishing. EJ spent his childhood at a cannery off the coast of Alaska.

Studying art and theater in college and then fashion design at the Parsons School of Design in New York, A. Jay became acquainted with the world of dolls. Over the next several years, Taylor worked as a designer in musical theater, film and ballet. He was a member of the United Scenic Artist Union for film and theater in New York.

Moving in 1979 to London, E. Jay, with great success, illustrated a series of children's books "The Ivy Cottage".

For 10 years now, the artist has been an active member of NIADA (National Institute of American Puppet Artists). Exhibits works all over the world.

Seven years ago, at the request of Helen Kish and Robert Tonner, at the NIADA Summer Conference, E. Jay introduced the Puppeteering project into the organization's curriculum. The reaction was so great that it was necessary to double the number of places for those wishing to take this training course.

The idea of the course is to lay the foundations necessary for an artist to develop skills in pursuit of excellence, in the creation of original dolls.

According to Taylor, an author's doll should follow the principles that correspond to any work of art: in sculpture, this is form, movement, balance, anatomy, modeling; in painting it is color, harmony, brush technique, expression of an idea.

Expert quotes:

Christina Leek Goddu, head of special projects at Modern Doll magazine, wrote in 1999: "An unsettling beauty distinguishes E. J. Taylor's work. They have a striking in their mystery, depth and emotional power. The artist's work is deeply connected with the inner world of man, his spirit."

"The work of E.J. Taylor embodies the statements of the French theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1995), who wrote:" We are not human beings with spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings with human experience. With paper, clay, paint and cloth, E.J. gives form to spiritual beings captured by human experience."

Robert Tonner, president of NIADA (1995-1997), recalls how NIADA members shared their impressions when they saw Taylor's work: "We were all just amazed.

Lisa Lichtenfels, artist, NIADA: "When you look at E.J. Taylor's work, through the lens of performance excellence, you see the most important ingredient of great art - Honesty. A clear, pure vision, coming from deep within, is the hardest thing you can achieve. The result is art that speaks its own language, something new, not a shadow of someone else's vision." Contemporary Doll magazine, September 1999.

Michael HinkleThe artist, who presents Taylor's work in his gallery, Figurative Gallery of Contemporary Art, describes the process of the artist's work as "emotionally charged. His strengths are patience and a deep understanding of form, construction and movement. Contemporary Doll Magazine, September 1999.

John Darcy Noble, curator of the Toy Collection at the Museum of the City of New York, wrote of Taylor's early work: "The work reveals a curious stillness, an awareness of self and intrinsic worth." Modern Doll Magazine, August 1993.

Barbara Spadaccini DayThe curator of the department of toys at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris: "Today it is already a cliché to say that artists look like their dolls. E.J. recalls his work not in a physical, visual way, but in a deeper spiritual way. His work is calm and strong, tender and full of life, like the author himself. He is never anecdotal, trivial or aggressive. He is thought provoking, poignant and poetic. His dolls convey a sense of presence. It is the stamp of a true artist", Contemporary Doll Magazine, September 1999.

Viewers say:

• Amazing craftsmanship. The characters are completely alive, each with its own, individual, inner world, full of memories of experienced dramas.
• Amazing and ambiguous, striking with their emotions, vivid characters.
• Very exquisite baroque dolls.
• Just great!!! Such delicate images and magnificent costumes, I want to consider endlessly.
• Expressive figures and faces! Sad, all in oneself, loneliness shines through the eyes.

Taylor is undoubtedly a talented artist and has produced a number of excellent documentaries, The Art of the Doll, which cover a number of important topics in anatomy, statics, dynamics, shape and modeling.

The author, whose name, puppeteer painters, is mentioned with reverence.

The title photo is of the craftsman's work - Christmas Elves

Photos are taken from open sources on the Internet.

With love and respect, Tatiana Kalinina 

Instagram @tatakalinyshka