Discover the allure of the Harmony Cloth Doll – an exclusive creation by artisan Charlie Patricolo. Meticulously crafted with love, this masterpiece embodies unity through diverse colors, patterns, and textures. Expertly stitched and stuffed, it stands gracefully on a wooden base. Bid now in the John C. Campbell auction to own this exceptional work and support art education.

Material(s): Cloth doll on wooden base

Artist Name: Charlie Patricolo

Artist Bio:
Charlie Patricolo
CharliePatricolo.com
CharlieClothDolls@gmail.com

I currently live in western North Carolina, up on a little ridge, I am lucky enough to get to spend my days making dolls! I was raised and spent the first 50 years of my life in Michigan and still have strong connections there (family and others). I travel there regularly.

I have a background in the computer industry and found after years, I wanted to spend my life and time doing something else. My job had me traveling and left no time to be creative. I left the corporate world in 1990 (at 40 years old) and have been so thankful for the opportunity to pursue this creative path.

I do not have an art background (training). My formal education was in computers, marketing and management. So, all of my dollmaking skills are from my childhood sewing (thanks, Mom) and then casual classes or (mostly) me just stumbling thru trial and error.

In 1997, I found myself at an arts and crafts school (with a friend) taking a doll class that got me started on creating my own designs. I returned to the school (John C. Campell Folk School) for 3 months and then later for 6 months, participating in the operations of the school in exchange for classes. I found my community of likeminded folks – making our lives with our hands! In 1999 I moved to the area near the school. I now teach dollmaking at the school once or twice a year.

Along my journey, I have been juried into 2 organizations. Both help me in different ways. ODACA (Original Doll Artist Council of America) keeps me connected with other dollmakers in all forms. We share techniques and support each other in our efforts to bring dolls to the public. The other is Southern Highland Craft Guild which is a guild in the Appalachian Mountain region that is made up of all craft mediums. We have annual sales events (usually in person and lately, virtually). This gives me a supportive community of craftspeople who can help me make items that I don’t know how to make. Chairs, bases, stands, etc. Both groups are important to me.

I am happy to be back to teaching on a more regular basis. Some of the classes I offer are designed to have on the students making a doll using one of my patterns and it is interesting to see how, even though they start at the same place, their skills and ideas for ‘who’ they are making always provides a wide variety of personalities in the end. In other class, (Design Your Own) the students are free to create anything and we explore the process of starting from blank paper, designing the pattern and then creating a figure and clothing. This provides an opportunity for understanding how the doll goes from an idea to an actual figure! I love watching the transition in the students.
They often doubt their ability at the start and then marvel at their doll at the end!

For my own work, ideas come from a wide variety of sources. Sometimes I hear a song lyric or a line in a book and begin to consider how I would make that ‘thought’ come to ‘life’ in the form of a figure. Other times, I see a fabric and things take off from there. With my marketing background, I am always considering what might appeal to others and how things are interpreted. Given that I find the most successful pieces are those that really appeal to me and seem to be calling me to the studio to keep working on them until their voice is fully realized.

I use cloth for my work and often dye the fabrics. I like to incorporate other fiber skills into my work; knitting, felting, weaving, embroidery, beading, as well. Doing this provides for a lovely mix of activity in creating each piece.

I like to change the sizes and form of the dolls, to keep it interesting for me. Sometimes I make dolls that are on a base and their pose is fixed and other times I make a form of ‘rag doll’ so that their position can be altered. I make children, fairies, adults, angels, holiday figures and

Usage/Care Notes:
Not a toy

Authenticity and Condition of Items:
Items listed in this auction are described to the best of our ability. However, please be aware that colors, sizes, and other details may vary from what is displayed on your screen. It is your responsibility to carefully review item descriptions, photographs, and any additional information provided by the seller before making a purchase. If you have any questions about a product, please contact marketing@folkschool.org before you begin the bidding process.

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