Header
 
 

All Dolled Up

Madison’s public library
offers December art exhibits

Artistic creations
started with Christmas gifts

By Maddy Greves
Contributing Writer

(December 2011) – Madison, Ind., is known for its architecture, river history, festivals and art. But some artists show their talent in other ways.
For nearly 15 years, Mae Watson has dedicated her spare time to creating miniature dolls and figurines made out of polymer clay.
Watson has entered in the 4-H Fair and won grand champion a few times. She has been featured in local newspapers. During November, her creations were on display in the Hanover Public Library.

Mae Watson Dolls

Photo by Maddy Greves

Sculptor Mae Watson ‘s display at
the Madison-Jefferson County Public
Library will include four nativity
scenes, angels and Santas all
made from polymer clay.

The first week of December her dolls will be displayed downtown at the Madison-Jefferson County Public Library. For the Christmas season she is making four nativity scenes, Angels, Santas, Angel pendants and Santa pendants.
It all began in 1996 when her nephews received clay kits for Christmas and created snakes, bugs and other creatures.
“Years ago she came into the library looking for books about polymer clay. She checked a few out, and began creating dolls from books she had read,” said the library’s Interim Director Virgie Dowell. Dowell added that Watson had made a figurine for the library as a “Thank You” gift.
“About five years later, she made us another doll that had a lot of improvement,” said Dowell.
Each of her figurines are different, and several details are applied to each of them. She applies buttons to jackets, shoes with laces, bows and hats, figurines holding figurines or other objects, and creates different faces for each of them. “Majority of the time I’ll ask someone what they like,” says Watson. “Otherwise, I’ll begin playing with clay and show whatever comes of it.”

Mae Watson

Watson has been able to create several doll figurines and with more color choices available and more practice to apply her skills and create more complex displays.
“It’s interesting to compare the ones back in the day to the ones I’ve made recently,” she said.
Her goal is to eventually have her own Internet website and display her dolls and figurines, which will be for sale. Practice makes perfect and that’s true for Watson. She started out with some of clay and has created masterpieces of her own in hopes to achieve high goals she has set for herself.
Her spirited dolls and figurines will be displayed at the Madison library for the entire month of December.

• For more information, call the Madison Jefferson County Public Library at (812) 265-2744.

Back to December 2011 Articles.

 

 

Copyright 1999-2015, Kentuckiana Publishing, Inc.

Pick-Up Locations Subscribe Staff Advertise Contact Submit A Story Our Advertisers Columnists Archive Area Links Area Events Search our Site Home Monthly Articles Calendar of Events Kentucky Speedway Madison Chautauqua Madison Ribberfest Madison Regatta