E-Mail Address: JuneDolls@aol.com
Home Page Web site: June Goodnow, NIADA Doll Sculptures
Location: Oklahoma City USA
Birthday: June 25
Media used: I sculpt in polymer clay and then make a silicone mold and cast in resin.
Type/style of dolls: Native American; Character dolls; fantasy dolls; angels.
Professional Credits: artist member of the National Institute of American Doll Artists (NIADA) since 1976.
Comments: I began my doll making career in 1971 while living on a ranch in South Dakota, near a Sioux Indian reservation. I was fascinated with the faces, costumes and culture of those people, and chose them to portray in doll form. I photographed and studied the various tribes at local and National pow-wow celebrations. I also researched artifacts and apparel housed in museums all over.
In 1976, I was voted into the National Institute of American Doll Artists, (NIADA), which consists of gifted artists who create completely original dolls to strive for the finest realization of their talent. Each artist captures the diversity of life in different materials...each has an individual point of view. Some specialize in historic personages, others capture appealing children, and some do forceful adults or humanistic forms from another realm.
In my beginning career, I specialized in portraits of Native Americans. However, in the past few years, I have expanded my interest to include characterdolls, angels and fantasy folk.
I also began teaching doll sculpting to other doll enthusiasts, both in my Oklahoma studio and seminars around the world. (In a 3-day seminar, the students complete a doll and take it home to costume.) In 1994, I taught sculpting at the Dunedin, New Zealand Doll Conference.
I also teach silicone moldmaking and resin casting seminars. In 1996, I gave a series of workshops in Australia and New Zealand. My work is in private collections everywhere. One of my pieces, "Nez Perce Woman", is owned by the Musee' des Arts decortif, which is a section of the Louvre museum in Paris, France. In 1996, my "Happy Birthday, Grandma!", was on exhibit at the Museum of American Folk Art of New York City. In 1995, Scott Publications' DOLL CRAFTER magazine ran a 12 month issue of my 'How to sculpt an African-American Lady Doll'.....(a ' how-to' series of text and photos.)
"I love sculpting. I love being around doll people. And, even if I won a huge lottery, I would STILL MAKE DOLLS!!!!" June Goodnow (with a smile on her face)
Tee Hee.....female elfkin. 14 " tall resin head, hands and feet. Cloth body with wire armature. Copyright 1995 LE 25
Return to Dollmakers Bios main page.