Each week I like to feature an OOAK (one of a kind) artist of the week as a way of allowing doll collectors a peak into the world of highly sought after exclusively limited edition dolls.
This week I am featuring the very talented artist Christine Koja.
Christine has been practicing the art of OOAK (one of a kind) doll art since 2003. Christine comes from a very artistic bloodline, as her mother owned her own doll business back in the 1980’s.
Christine’s inspiration to become a doll artist (outside of her own mother’s doll business) was found as she discovered other artists in the doll world. She explained her transformation into a doll artist to me, “I initially began by costuming the doll and only lightly enhancing the dolls original faces. As I gained confidence I decided to try a complete repaint. That was a moment I’ll never forget, staring down at a completely blank doll face. However, I took the plunge and with each repaint I gained confidence and soon I was completely repainting every doll. My personal theory is there is not a Barbie doll in the world that could not benefit from some form of repaint, even if only an enhancement, you would still imbue the doll with a personality and character.”
Most artists have a favorite type of doll to create. It generally is a way of expressing their creativity as well as what they faithful customers love to collect. “I love to create a variety of dolls and if I was pressed to choose a particular type of doll that is my favorite to create, I would have to say Gypsies. I just love my little gypsy girls!! That being said, I find I am currently focusing on repaints almost exclusively. I still create the occasional costumed doll but the painting aspect of the dolls is beginning to consume my interest and energy more and more. I truly desire to create dolls with real life in their eyes and facial expressions. That is my goal, to bring my particular vision of beauty to the world.”
You can see Christine’s past dolls as well as her current dolls available for purchase on her website.
If you appreciate this article be sure to subscribe (link above, below my picture) so that you get instant updates. Your e-mail address will not be shared, not even with me.
Be sure to follow me on Twitter for instant updates!
