ABOUT
THE ARTIST……
Doll collectors have been enchanted with the original dolls designed by Suzanne Marks since 1980. The warmth and whimsy of this self-taught artist is especially evident in the faces of her Ragbabies and the animated faces of her animal dolls. Suzanne’s unique talents came to the attention of the Original Doll Artists Council of America (ODACA) and in 1980, she became a member. Her first dolls were in miniature, but in 1987, Suzanne began to sculpt larger size dolls and animals.
Many
national magazines including Nutshell News, Spinning Wheel Antiques, Miniature
Gazette and Doll Reader and books such as Petite Portraits, Teddy’s Bearzaar
and Teddy Bear Lovers Companion, have featured Suzanne’s art work.
Both Ragbaby Girl and Nouveau Pierrette were featured in
articles in Doll Crafter magazine.
In 1991, the Springfield Historical Museum in Oregon presented original art dolls designed by eighty-eight doll artists from the United States and England. The show, “Dolls For The 21st Century” showcased dolls that could very well be the antiques of the future! Ragbaby Girl and Boy were originally designed for this show. Another invitation from the Springfield Museum in 1994, “Dolls For The 21st Century II”, led to the creation of Nouveau Pierrette – a doll inspired by Suzanne’s love for the art nouveau and art deco eras. Suzanne's aunt, Lyna 'Lina' Randel, was a very popular artist of the art deco period.
Dollmakers have had the opportunity to reproduce a doll designed by Suzanne since 1987, when molds first became available. Suzanne works on several sculptures at a time until she "sees" one as a new doll, and introduces a new design every few years.