After 30 years designing stage & character
costumes for every type of production imaginable from opera & ballet
to musical theater to “Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey’s”
Completely self-taught, and in 2010 became a member of
ODOCA. I bring my experience in
costume design, knowledge of pattern drafting and love of historical
clothing to the discipline of the Art Doll. It’s all about the pose and
the costume, the former complimenting the latter and combining to tell a
story, capture a snapshot in time or create an attitude. And
“attitude” is the word most often used to describe my figures. I pay
particular attention to recreating the period cut of the costume,
including the appropriate underpinnings, to get an accurate representation
of the garments.
In short, I view my work as fiber sculpture. A
fascination with high-end department store mannequins, my discovery of the
“Theater de la Mode” exhibit and an interest in the fashion dolls of
the late 18th and early 19th centuries combined with my admiration for the
work of Antoinette Cely, Lisa Lichtenfels, Arley Barryhill and Susanna
Oroyan prompted me to try creating art dolls. I have been pursuing my muse
since 2006.
To see more of Stephens work go to www.sar-designs.net
