Your Company Name: Angels Unawares
Email Address/Web Page: angelsunawares@geocities.com
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Studios/3543/
City & State: Garrettsville, OH
Type of Craft: Sculptor/ Multimedia Artist
Tell us in your own words, how you discovered polymer clay and how long have you been using it?
I first discovered polymer clay in 1995 but have never had much success with
it until recently thanks in large to Karan Schneider who I met via the old
Polymer Clay Central.
Are there any special artists that you can attribute your interest to or that have inspired you?
I would have to say that Rotraut Schrott has been the greatest inspiration
to me in polymers. Her ability to create realistic faces in this medium is
something that I aspire to.
What is your specialty?
My specialty is really porcelain. I enjoy polymers for the freedom of
expression and no worries about undercuts or moldmaking.
Can you tell us why you find polymer clay the expressive medium for you?
The possibilities are limitless as to form and design. The only constraint
for me is learning how to better control the clay itself.
Have you published any polymer clay books or do you have any in the works?
No, I will leave that to someone with more expertise as I am very much still
in the experimental stages with polymers.
I know it is very difficult to express, but have you won any awards for your polymer clay work?
Not yet, but I would look forward to that possibility someday.
What are your expectations for the future? Where do you hope to be 5 years from now?
I feel that I will always be in the process of learning. I hope to create
more and more realistic faces as my skills improve over time.
Do you have any advice for the beginning polymer clay enthusiasts?
Never give up!
Are you a member of any Polymer Clay group,or any other craft
organization?
Currently, I am an artist member of The Professional Dollmakers Art Guild.
Once I actively begin doing shows, I hope to join other groups as well.
What brands of polymer clay do you prefer and why?
I would have to say that Cernit is my favorite for its translucent
properties and ease of manipulation.
Last and most important can you tell us all about you? Your family, your
training?
Kelly Lynn Smith began her original dollmaking career after attending a
local doll sculpting seminar in July 1995. Since that time, she has worked
extensively towards creating realistic child and baby dolls from various
ethnic backgrounds; as well as exotic adult ladies in porcelain. Summer 1997
marked her first original work in cloth, creating lifesize child dolls and
tongue-in-cheek soft sculpture animals. Professional credits include
publication in Contemporary Doll Collector, the February 1997 cover of
Dollmaking, upcoming articles in Soft Dolls & Animals in addition to
publication in various online ezines. Kelly is an Artist member of The
Professional Doll Makers Art Guild and one of her latest creations is
featured on their homepage in the Gallery. Inspired by her children,
imagination, real life events, and the Bible; she hopes to create dolls and
toys that have appeal to a wide audience. Currently, she works in porcelain,
various polymer clays and cloth creations in her home studio--Angels
Unawares.
