LaJuana

LaJuana's Originals
Art Dolls by LaJuana Dyke
Featuring Lil Darlin's
from the Enchanted Forest of Willow Hollow

Artist Profile

     Hi. My name is LaJuana Dyke of Lil Darlin’ Originals, and creating has always been a large part of my life. I have worked in many different media … it’s hard to remember them all but, as time is finite, I needed to pare down all my art endeavors allowing more time to concentrate on what I really enjoy the most – my creative passion for SCULPTING! Being a self taught clay artist, it’s been relatively easy to find my own style. My Lil Darlin’s help that process along as they seem to evolve into their own unique look with a whimsical personality to match no matter what I may have in mind. I’ve tried to tame their physical outcome but they always win in the end – sometimes with an attitude letting me know they will not be manipulated to please me! And so goes the adventures in sculpting.

    Fantasy, especially elves, trolls, all manner of whimsical creatures, have always featured prominently in my sculpting. Creating these one-of-a-kind, enchanting Lil Darlin’s, whether Santa's, Santa's Elves, Old World gentlemen or the Lil Darlin's of Willow Hollow, and watching as they develop their own personalities and quirky style during the sculpting stage, is always the most exciting part of their creation. When I am working on each unique story that is developed for these characters it’s ever so easy to imagine these lil’ creatures peeking at me from behind a chair leg or playfully running amuck through my studio (and there’s oh so much they could get into there!) or even playing hide and seek with a fellow elf out in the garden.

    I began sculpting around 1996, just after a move to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. After about a year on the craft show circuit I was fortunate enough to be noticed (thanks to a fellow artist) and given a one page write up in the Neighbors section of the Cedar Rapids local newspaper, The Gazette. It was a wonderful boost to my art career and helped to let me know I was on the right path with my Lil Darlin's. Several years and a couple of moves later found my husband and I in Andover, Kansas where we currently enjoy the slower pace of the midwest.

    Given the chance of sculpting on a full time basis - at least for now! - I'm thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to create my own, sometimes less than traditional, line of Santa's and Santa's Elves which range in size from, approximately, 18" to 24", and are created with a padded, wire armature body. Developed with this same body style are Cowboys and Old World Gentlemen. But with ever more ideas in my head there will soon be other styles of Art Dolls available - with no doubt their own degree of eccentricities.

     Even though sculpting is my favorite form of expression, I felt the creative urges rearing its, sometimes annoying, little head and the idea of starting a line of teddy bears and bunnies began to take shape. Before the end of our 4 ½ years in Cedar Rapids was up, my original line of Teddy Bear Folk and Friends was born. But would sculpting and Teddy Bears be enough of a creative outlet? Unfortunately no!!

     After two years in Andover, my great fondness for hand bags and purses (maybe that's an oversimplified description!) forced me, yet once more, to expand my current repertoire to include that ever important accessory that we women are always on the search for! With my first series of felted handbags and purses actually designed, sewn and completed, my mind is in a whirl with ever more designs for future series!

     I may have to begin, yet once more, to attempt to pare down my art endeavors. The term “time is limited” never seems so true as when I think of all the creative ideas that have yet to be developed still running rampant through my mind!!

   With each purchase of one of my pieces, whether it’s a Lil Darlin’ Art Doll, a Santa or Santa Elf, or a purse or tote, or even a teddy bear or bunny, you can be assured of its’ quality of craftsmanship, its’ uniqueness and its’ collectability – all things fine art should encompass.

     I hope you will enjoy my creations as much as I have enjoyed creating them!

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