I’m scared of dolls. Well, I used to be okay with them, until they began to rapidly multiply around our house – that seems to be a side effect of having two daughters. Their glass eyes seem to gaze into my soul, accusingly, of course, and their heads seem to turn as I shift perspective. Sometimes I see them clumped together while the kids are at school, as if conspiring to do something evil.
Once I saw three in the kitchen. The first had thrown a piece of yarn onto the counter. The second was on top, anchoring the yarn to a coffee cup. The third … well, it was reaching for the cleaver …
Okay, that last part may have been a weird hallucination after tripping over a toy and banging my head, but you get my point. Dolls are evil. They’re hiding something. They seem too smug, cheeks too rosy, a slight grin on their frozen faces.
So what better than to create them as they really are? An artist named Jade Perez has done just that. Her artistic medium are dolls, and she has a company called The Morbid Dollhouse (previously New Age Dolls). She has been creating dolls since 2006 that range from cute monsters, to zombies and horror dolls.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
She invited me over for tea, and we started chatting. It was kind of weird that her zombie dolls served us crumpets, but they were very delicious. Jade said she uses a “special, secret” ingredient. I’m not sure what it is, and I didn’t ask.
HA: Thanks for inviting me over. First off, I must ask. What did your parents think of your artwork when your drawings turned, as you say, “somewhat disturbing?”
Jade:In the beginning they were a little freaked out by my style. I think they might have thought I was crazy, haha …. But now that they are used to seeing my dark art, it doesn’t even faze them. They are very supportive and proud.
HA: Some artists get inspiration from the environment around them. Others find ideas from their dreams or inner emotions. Where do you get your inspiration?
Jade: Definitely environment. I have a torture chamber in the basement filled with victims. That seems to inspire me quite a lot.. Just kidding! I’m inspired by everything. If I see a certain fabric an idea will pop into mind, if I play video games an idea will form, regular day to day conversations …
To answer this simply, I’d say that I’ve always been attracted to creepy things like scary movies and Halloween, so my dolls just naturally come out the way that they do.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
HA: Describe some of the techniques you use to create your dolls. Does a picture come into your mind and you create it, or does a doll just “come to life” while building it? Do you create them from scratch?
Jade:Yes, everything is completely handmade. I start with a lump of clay, new fabric, wire, hair, etc. and build the doll up from nothing. I usually just play with the clay and the doll comes to life on its own. Other times I will get a request with a customers own ideas to work from. I also create characterized versions of customers by looking at their photos.
HA: Has any of your dolls come alive like Chucky and chased you around the house with a knife and maniacal laughter?
Jade:I wish! That sounds like a good time. I think we would run around all crazy together though!
HA: If one of your dolls did come alive, what would be your favorite creation to run around with?
Jade: “Rebecca” is my favorite doll from this year. I just love how her expression turned out with her snarl and how great the blood splats look. Also, she was created as a pair with her partner “Jeremy”. These dolls were for a (real life) couple to have at their zombie wedding and I was more than pleased to be able to create a lasting memory for their special day.
HA: Did the happy couple like them?
Jade: Oh, they were excited! They couldn’t stop looking at the dolls or put them down. I think it was a new level of happy; they loved them that much.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
HA: I love “The Runts” – talk a bit about these “cute” guys.
Jade: I designed The Runts earlier this year. They are kind of like creepy little monster potato heads made out of full clay. I started these as I was getting ready for a convention and wanted something more on the cute side to lure people over to my table. I also wanted to experiment outside of the dolls and to create more of a collectible sculpt. (More will be available for the Christmas season.)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
HA: Where can people buy your artwork? It sounds like you definitely do custom work. How would somebody go about contacting you for that?
Jade: People can request custom dolls or remakes from my website TheMorbidDollhouse.com by emailing me. I also have an Etsy store for people to shop at.
HA: Well, thank you for inviting me for tea. I see one of your dolls is getting antsy and dancing around with a knife.
Jade: Yes, she’s being potty trained right now. Gotta go!
If you wish to stay in touch with Jade and The Morbid Dollhouse, please join her on her Facebook page.
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