ADO Featured Artist: LoopyBoopy

My name is Colleen Downs. I live in the magical city of New Orleans. What makes me tick? That is a big one....many things I suppose. I love life, I love being wacky and having fun.

When did you start making dolls? Why did you start making dolls?

I've been sculpting figures since I was just a wee one. My mom was a potter in the 70s and had a great pottery studio with all the clay and glazes. My sister and I used to make these creepy head beads, I suppose those where my first dolls. I've always been drawn to people, where others are inspired by nature I've always been inspired by people. Emotions and feelings of people are just an endless source of inspiration for me. So much of the way we feel is indefinable in words but is perfectly understood in a painting or sculpture. Through making dolls I've learned to express things I could never fully say and that has been very rewarding and therapeutic.

Who or what influences you? Inspires you?

I'm inspired by many things. Again, people are probably my greatest source of inspiration. The birth of my daughter brought on a huge change of style for my work. Previously I created very large size figural sculptures. I was single and living foot loose and fancy free at the time and my sculptures relayed that feeling of freedom. Since I've been married and had my daughter as any mother will understand your priorities change and I guess your world just gets a bit smaller and more focused. My work became smaller in size for sure. My daughter’s imagination, observations and dreams became a great source of inspiration for me. I also think the experience of motherhood itself brought about memories, good and bad of my own childhood and my main focus of creating has centered around the childhood experience since that time.

As well my beloved city of New Orleans is a plethora of inspiration for me. I love the people, culture, music and vibe of this city. There is a history here that is embedded in the city and the residents know, love and embrace that history and the culture it has inspired. The essence of this city is very dear to my heart and motivates me creatively.

As far as style people always attach names like Edward Gorey and Tim Burton to my work and there is no doubt I love these artists and have been inspired by their work.

Tell us a little about your dolls and your process for making them. Materials, preliminary sketches, inspiration, etc.

Currently I work solely in polymer clay. I used to work with papier mache and the paper clays and would love to get back to using some of those materials. The fact that there is no drying or waiting time with the polymer is probably the main reason this is my current choice of materials. I actually prefer the organic feel of paper and natural materials.

I do not sketch. I just start with a wad of clay and see where it takes me. Once in awhile I will have a preconceived idea of what I am going to create but mostly my pieces come into being as the are being made.

Do you have a favorite doll? It can be handmade by you, handmade by someone else, or even (gasp) mass production.

I couldn't begin to pick one doll as a favorite, mine or anyone else s. When I'm drawn to a piece its usually because it evokes an emotion or feeling that is pertinent in that moment or that time of my life so to pick an all time favorite would be impossible. Currently one of my favorite pieces is Lillian. Unlike most of my work I did have a plan to make a happy or at least contented doll, and when I was finished with her (after many squished, not so happy faces) and she was looking at me with that serene face I just felt a great sense of accomplishment and happiness. Basically I feel our work is an expression of our inner feelings and to know that Lillian’s sense of peace and contentedness are within me is just a really good feeling.

Besides making dolls, what do you do? Job, other creative pursuits, hobbies, etc.

I'm lucky enough to be able to say I get to create as a full time job and it is a full time job. One I love to be sure. I love music and dancing, when I get an evening out to go see a great funky band and shake my booty all night long it is like a spiritual retreat. I like to read and watch a good movie. I love spending time with my daughter and doing girlie stuff together.

What are some of your favorite: movies, books, websites, magazines, foods, tv shows? (Any or all!)

Moulin Rouge

The Alchemist

I'm not really a computer gal and only spend time on sites I have to in order to sell and promote my work

Shrimp Po-Boy

Dexter

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Well, I think that's obvious:) I love exactly where I'm at and wouldn't live anywhere else.

Where do you see yourself in one year? Five years? Ten years?

I always hate the question. I can hardly think of what I will be doing tomorrow let alone next week or next year. I know this is a detriment and I'm told one should look and think ahead but for whatever reason my brain just does not work that way. I of course hope to still be creating and making a living doing so. I hope my daughter is doing exactly what she wants in life and I hope that I'll have given her the right tools to pull that off. I hope that my husband and I are growing old together and loving life.

Where can we find you on the internet? (blog, website, Etsy shop, eBay, et al.)

http://www.loopyboopy.etsy.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/loopy_boopy

http://loopyboopy.blogspot.com