Artist:

Carol McBride



Where do you live?

In the beautiful mountain community of Magalia California.



What do you make?

I create fantasy sculptures and dollhouse figures in polymer clay.



What scale do you enjoy working in?

I really enjoy and do best creating the tiny 1:12 sculptures, I can get some really fascinating detailing in the tiny ones.



When did you first become interested in miniatures or how were you introduced to the hobby?

Years ago I was surfing through eBay's Doll category and discovered OOAK Fairies. One artist in particular caught my interest, Julie Mansergh of FITA fairies. Thereafter, I wanted to create tiny beings for myself.

After buying many books and studying other artist techniques for sculpting toes, fingers, hands, etc. I have arrived at where I am at today. I am always looking to improve and find it challenging to do so.



What does your family think of your art?

My husband and son are my best critics and of course love everything I do. I have two sweet nieces, Abby and Laney who are my #1 fans!



Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in the faces of children, photos, paintings, books, a simple giggle fest at my nieces house, a walk in the forest, a day of yard selling or antiquing.

Creative energy is everywhere!



Where do you sell your products?

For many years, I have mostly sold on eBay. This past June, I signed with Ashton Drake Galleries for my fantasy dolls.

I have found a great new venue here with CDHM, in the gallery setting which is really where I would like to sell my work. In classy gallery settings and it helps that CDHM has many close ties with miniature and doll magazines. I see a promising future here.

I have a CDHM Gallery that I hope you will visit also.



What is the price range for your products?

$125.00 USD and up for fantasy fairies and $45.00 USD and up for dollhouse figures.



Do you belong to any groups or clubs?

I belong to of course, CDHM, Global Fantasy Dolls, and One Of A Kind Fantasy Sculpting Guild.



Do you run workshops? If so, please tell us about them.

No. I have not done any workshops or tutorials, seems like I am ambitiously working on my sculpts always. I have been asked many times to create a sculpting class and maybe that will be in the future.



Have you ever been published?

My work has been displayed for sale in magazines and flyers for Ashton Drake since June of this year. I had a full page layout in our local paper last March and will have an upcoming article done in Dolls magazine. More on that when I know when it will be released.



What do you love most about miniatures?

I love how so many artists can create such true realism in such tiny detail. It is marvelous!



Do you have any formal training in your miniature field?

No training at all, I saw, I studied, I did! I am always looking to improve. That's the beauty of it there is always room for improvement and this can bring great joy and discovery to the artist.



What is your most valuable tool?

My most valuable tool is my imagination!



What's the hardest area of your work to create?

I would say the most difficult area to create would be a faces. Sometime I can picture what I want to create, but 9 times out of 10 it will take on its own look as if in defiance of my intentions ...LOL... although I have been happy with all of the outcomes and sometimes surprised!



What's next for you and your creations?

I would like to try and learn to sculpt beautiful larger scale children in air dry clay. I have been working with this type of clay, but it will take some getting used to. A life sized standing little girl fairy is my dream.



What's your favorite holiday and season and why?

I am in love with the Fall and Winter seasons.

I love the rain and snow and the changing of the leaves, the cool crispness energizes me. It is a time of cozy indoor family and friend gatherings. I love to sculpt at this time too and watch the rain or snow out the window and occasionally step out with a hot cup of coffee or tea and smell the freshness of it all.



Favorite guilty pleasure?

I love chocolate and I love to sculpt into the wee hours of the morning! Eccentric artist pleasures.



Biggest pet peeve?

This has nothing to do with minis... LOL, I have a problem with people who leave their Christmas lights up all year round!

Arrrghh...



If you could go back in time, in which time period would you live?

I loved the Renaissance period, so many artists, ideas and creative energy during that era!



What your favorite saying?

"There's no point in being grown up, if you can't act childish sometimes"

This quote reminds me to always play and sing like nobody else is watching.



What's in your CD player right now?

Whalesongs!

Their songs just touch a mystical chord with me; I love to listen and often wonder what can they be singing for and to whom?



What gets you out of bed in the morning?

My family, pets and of course my passion for sculpting!