Pantovola is a textile artist from Edinburgh, Scotland. She worked as a singer, performer, illustrator and printmaker before establishing her doll-making business. I really admire her dolls and think they are beautiful products.
“Pantovola” was born in the spring of 2015. "I had graduated from art school 10 years prior and worked as a singer, performer, illustrator and print maker. After traveling around for years between jobs and tours I moved onto a canal boat in London. There I simply could not afford to create the work I used to; the living space was small and dark (however cozy it was though, painting by candle light didn’t seem to really work) and studio space was too pricey in London.
Though one evening sipping some natural wine by the little wood burner, I had a vivid memory of the child I once was, creating her own magical dream world with not much more than a sock and some cotton wool. Something magical sparked inside of me and the next day my first ‘grown up’ doll was made (not a very good one however, but a welcome beginning of something new..)
Two years have past, I moved from the south to the north and have been sewing like a maniac. Currently I work as a full time textile artist and doll maker from my home studio in Edinburgh."
What do they do?
Pantovola creates one of a kind art dolls imbued with narrative and inspired by mythology.
She also makes bespoke dolls for customers called 'Heirloom dolls', inspired by memorial art of the Victorian Era.
"As Pantovola, I create dark and dreamy art dolls (ooak) and textile art and soft sculptures, using mainly second hand materials. I make animals and otherworldly creatures by hand with cloth, clay, discarded scraps of fabric, vintage and antique lace and secondhand haberdashery collected from thrift stores and markets. I decorate each piece with natural dyes, water colors and handmade embroidery. I prefer to work with old materials that show wear and tear, incorporating its own history and narrative into my work. My work has a narrative that is rooted in a life long fascination with folklore tales and mythology, fairy tales, the occult, animals and the natural kingdom. But I also translate personal stories into my work. I hope my art engages with people on an emotional, subconscious level, without being too obvious, leaving room for individual interpretation.But also adding beauty to the world, much like the old folklore stories do, using suggestive, often archetypal symbolism and metaphors to touch on tougher issues."
How do they relate to my practice?
She makes and sells completely handcrafted dolls, like I do. She uses different media and processes to me, but I think they are so precious and unique. She does this full-time, as I have been considering doing after I graduate too. She sells her work through Etsy and will have similar customers to my own. She sells her work for a LOT of money...
What can I learn from them?
Her product photographs are elegant and smart. Black backdrops work with her gothic tone. Real flowers and strung tags add interest and balance the composition. I could learn a lot from how she composes these photographs and improve the quality of my own by doing so.
Pantovola's website design is magical and inviting, but still quite simple and easy to navigate. A big photo of a doll as the banner/homepage. Doll laid sideways to fit the format.
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