Galashia Holman

Lounging Around

Artist Statement

My work is scaled within the range of 15in to 26in. The shapes are mostly organic, and the faces are the stylized part of my project. These faces are carefully painted to give the viewer a feel of the sculpture’s personality. They are mostly anatomically correct with a limited range of motions. The pieces are sanded until smooth and either painted or under-glazed then fired. The process is like sculpting out of polymer clay but with stoneware clay instead. Instead of letting the clay air dry, the clay I use needs to be bisque fired. Other materials include fabric and fibers to create accessories or props.

I first discovered this form of art via videos in 2014. In these videos, the artist would paint the doll faces to bring the intricate sculpting to life. The featured dolls were made from resin and bought from various companies overseas. A few companies I admire are Loong Soul, Switch (BJD), and LutsDoll. I seek to replicate this art by sculpting my own dolls, painting them, and sewing their clothes. By choosing clay as the main material, the sculpting process is easier than casting resin.

The overall theme of my work is to show the beauty and mobility of ceramic arts. These dolls are crafted to be posed and dressed in whatever. The visuals work to show the craftsmanship of the individual dolls. The stitches, paint strokes, and sanding lines all show that someone made this by hand.

Lounging Around, Ceramic, Fabric, Wood, Paint, Size (25in each), 2023, $550 per doll

A photo of the artist. A photo of the artist creating the head for a doll as two dolls sit in the background. The artist is giving one of her dolls a pat on the head. The artist using a sewing machine. One of the artist's doll is sitting atop the sewing machine as the artist is working. Two ceramic dolls decorated with different styles. One is an elf and the other wears punk attire. The elven doll is holding a pouch. The elven doll seen with a pouch.