Tatiana Baeva. I am fascinated by the process of bringing a piece of clay to life
Tatiana Baeva is a master of art dolls, a member of the National Institute of American Doll Artists NIADA.
- For as long as I can remember I have enjoyed drawing, gluing and modelling, but most of all I have been interested in making objects that look like dolls. One day at school we had a writing assignment called 'What I would like to do when I grow up'. I wrote that I would like to work in a doll factory, painting dolls' faces and eyes. I believed that with small differences in brush strokes, the expression of a doll's face could magically change.
- Eventually, I forgot about the doll factory for a while and after graduating from school I entered the Moscow College of Fine Arts, specialising in the restoration of icons and oil paintings. I worked as a freelance artist in various directions, creating illustrations, design, television projects. In my spare time, I became interested in quilting and continued making dolls.
- My first collection of dolls as art objects was created in 1982, which I exhibited at various art exhibitions in Moscow. It was very innovative for that time, as I was trying to promote the idea of the doll as an art object to be looked at and enjoyed. I explored different materials and styles and it took some time until I found the most appropriate way to express myself. Finally, after a few years, my artistic interests centred completely on the art doll and became my main passion.
- I am fascinated by the diversity of human faces and forms, and my dolls, made up of a mixture of different cultural and ethnic traits. I am fascinated by the process of bringing a piece of clay to life, even though it is the most time consuming part of every project. Drawing is also the most exciting part as this is when the look and more importantly the soul of the doll is created. My goal is to express the character of the doll through body posture and eye expression. I use different techniques and drawing styles to convey the mood I am trying to achieve in the piece. Costume making is in a sense a secondary step in completing the character. I often process and dye vintage fabrics and use vintage accessories, enjoying the way textures and colours magically combine to complete the creative process.
- I strive to give the figurine a timeless and universal look; to help viewers focus on the present moment. I always try to give my works emotional depth and make them speak without words to convey my deepest thoughts and feelings.
Українська