Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Martin.
Paige, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I am a doll designer whose passion for creating dolls was discovered accidentally. There is no question that I grew up loving and collecting dolls, but creating my own was a craft that I never imagined I would gain such an interest in. I had completed a children’s book entitled Daniel Keep Dreaming some years ago and used photography illustrations as the artwork. I wanted to look at other options for illustrations in my second book that I had completed. An artist friend suggested creating and using dolls in the artwork. After, many fails, I finally started to have some success at making dolls that were uniquely my own and that was the beginning of the Color of Humanity™️ Dolls and Doll Products line.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
The Color of Humanity™️ Dolls are mixed media, luxe soft fabric and paper dolls. Their uniqueness stems from the colors in the faces of the dolls designed purposely to promote that humanity, kindness, and benevolence is present in all races and cultures.
I have received an overwhelmingly positive response to the creation of the Color of Humanity™️ Dolls from people who understand and welcome diversity within cultures. They are intrigued with the creativity that had been fused to create them and the simple materials that are implemented to complete them. What I would like present and future customers to know about the work is that we have something for everyone at all price points. A customer can take away s beautiful handmade dill product at as affordable as $5 – $300 on our higher end doll products.
The sterotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
My advice to artists that are struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns would be to stay the course and carve out time to continue your craft even if it requires that you reduce the amount of time spent on a project. Doing a little bit at a time while you may have to work, will still get you closer to completing your goal rather than giving up.
Also seeking funding through partnerships, arts grants and fellowships is an option for receiving financial assistance while completing projects. Lastly, get a business and artist mentor!
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
The work can be found on our website for sale at paigelackeymartin.com. We also vend at area markets such as Ponce City Market, The Village Market, and the Atlanta Doll Show just to name a few. We conduct doll making workshops for Girl Scouts, youth groups, summer camps, after school programs and STEM/STEAM workshops and welcome inquiries and partnerships.
Contact Info:
- Website: paigelackeymartin.com
- Email: pmartin@paigelackeymartin.com
- Instagram: @pmartinbooksandart
- Facebook: Paige Martin Books & Art
- Twitter: @pmartinbooks
Image Credit:
All photos taken by Paige Martin.
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