Fantasy Sculpture of Lana Quenneville

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Once upon a time I was an English major at Suffolk University and a dabbler in any artistic endeavor I could find. I never imagined that all that dabbling would actually lead somewhere, nevermind that it would take me traveling all over the world and dreaming all over the spectrum of imagination. Figurative fantasy sculpture (what some call "Doll-making") was a completely new venture inspired by that age old phrase that has gotten me in more trouble over the years - "I can do that!" Three years later I find myself still happily transversing the paths of my imagination with no inclination to stop.

Much of my art training has been informal save for a few sketching and painting classes and the lucky chance to take some sculpting seminars with Marilyn Radzat and Wendy Froud. I am otherwise completely self taught and am inspired by each new day with its new ideas and new learning experiances. As a full-time English teacher, finding those moments isn't as difficult as one might think! I am a firm believer that if you want to do something enough, you will find the resources and drive to accomplish your goals. It's something I try to follow as well as instill in my students.

I prefer to work in Prosculpt clay, which cures in a home oven and has an amazingly realistic transparency, like human skin. I also tend to make my figures with a combination of soft bodies and sculpted portions for extra posing possibilities. I prefer fine fabrics, painted eyes, and genuine mohair and lambs wool following the maxim that you get what you pay for and the extra money in materials means a much finer end result in one of my pieces. My inspiration is drawn from everything - the people around me, music, movies, nature, old stories - anything can spark an idea.

Some individuals ask why I choose not to label my work "Dolls." A doll is something that, for me, is posable, bendable, dressable, and something a child is able to play with. My pieces are not any of those things. They do share one important quality however - the ability to be a vehicle for a person's dreams and wishes. If anything, I hope that my work retains that dream-like aspect.

Thank you for looking and I hope you enjoy the site.
~Lana Quenneville
April 16, 2006