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, Special Projects Manager for Contemporary Doll magazine, wrote in 1999: “Disturbing beauty distinguishes the work of EJ Taylor. They have striking in their mystery, depth and emotional strength. The artist's work is deeply connected with the inner world of man, his spirit. "

“The works of EJ Taylor embody the statements of the French theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1995), who wrote:“ We are not people with spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings with human experience. E. Jay uses paper, clay, paint and cloth to shape spirit beings captured by human experience. ”

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

Lisa Lichtenfels, artist, NIADA: “When you look at the work of EJ Taylor through the prism of excellence in execution, you see the most important component of great art - Integrity. A clear, pure vision that comes from the depths of the soul is the most difficult thing to achieve. The result is art that speaks its own language, something new, and not a shadow of someone else's vision. " Contemporary Doll magazine, September 1999

Michael Hinkleexhibiting Taylor's work in his Figurative Gallery of Contemporary Art, describes the artist's work process as “emotionally charged. The author's strengths are patience, deep understanding of form, construction and movement. " Magazine "Contemporary Doll", 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 Day, Curator of the Toy Department of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris: “Today it is already a cliché to say that artists are like their dolls. E. Jay reminds his work not in the physical, visual plane, but in a deeper spiritual one. His works are calm and strong, tender and full of life, just like the author himself. He is never anecdotal, trivial or aggressive. It evokes thoughts, piercing and poetic. His dolls convey a sense of presence. This is the seal 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 shows the work of the master - Christmas elves

Photos are taken from open sources on the Internet.

With love and respect, Tatiana Kalinina 

Instagram @tatakalinyshka