Dolls Nominees
Dolls magazine, published by Jones Publishing, gives the Dolls Award of Excellence to the top doll in several different categories each year. These dolls were either nominated for this award, or received the Dolls Award of Excellence.
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Artist: Jack Johnston
The name Akanke is Nigerian in origin and means "to know her is to love her". Here Akanke steps gracefully along a path through the jungle. Dolls Award of Excellence nominee, 2006.
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Artist: Jack Johnston
This life-scale Santa would stand 5' 10" tall. Here Santa is posed in sitting position beside Jack's grandaughter, Syndey.
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Artist: Jack Johnston
This chief in ceremonial dress stands 20" tall and is made of ProSculpt.
Chief Wolfrobe by Jack Johnston is one of three dolls nominated this year for the Dolls Award of Excellence from Dolls magazine at the 2004 International Toy Fair in New York City. This is the 14th year that Jack has received nominations.
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Artist: Jack Johnston
This is a 21" Cernit doll done by Jack for the 100 year birthday party. This doll is featured in the centerfold of the November 1994 issue of Contemporary Doll Collector. The doll is now owned by Franklin Mint. Jack considers this one of his best sculptures to date.
Photography: Russ Robison
Photography: Russ Robison
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Artist: Jack Johnston
If standing, the doll is 18" tall, made of ProSculpt and other materials. Jack has been a musician since he was in grade school. Music has been a huge part of his life, therefore it seemed natural to sculpt the Mandolin Master. It is one of his favorite sculptures. All of the accessories in this vignette were hand made. It is kept in the private gallery at the Johnston Academy of Artdolls in Salt lake City, Utah.
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Artist: Jack Johnston
ProSculpt, 18". Seen at NY Toy Fair, 2002. These two doll were designed after two of Jack's best friends from his childhood. Bill Calloway was one of Jack singing partners in a quartet called the "Medallions" throughout their high school years. Bill was the nephew of the famed musician Cab Calloway. Jack and Bill are still good friends today.
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Artist: Jack Johnston
This 15 inch doll is sculpted of Creall-Therm over a wire armature and has a hand-sewn soft-sculpted body. The boots are also Creall-Therm. This was the last Creall-Therm Jack ever made. Shortly after this doll was made Jack developed ProSculpt clay. Jack made the doll shortly after seeing a Broadway Santa at the Radio City Music Hall near Time Square in New York City. Jack served a mission for the Mormon Church in Manhattan, so it is one of his favorite cities in the world. Photo: Russ Robison.
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Artist: Jack Johnston
ProSculpt and natural exotic furs, 16 inches tall over a hand-sewn fabric body with posable wire armature.
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Artist: Jack Johnston
The Jazz Player was sculpted for the nation's largest doll exhibit, the Toy Fair in New York City. It received a nomination to Dolls Award of Excellence and was chosen as the cover for Contemporary Doll Collector magazine at the same show. There's a three-page article about him in the November issue. Seated, he's about 12" tall, made of ProSculpt Ethnic Brown. His hat is also sculpted from ProSculpt. His trumpet is an scale replica made of brass tubing.
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Artist: Jack Johnston
This is the doll that Jack made for his series of articles for Doll Crafter magazine.
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Artist: Jack Johnston
Jack's favorite, and perhaps most popular doll, is The Aviator. As a multi-engine pilot, Jack spent much of the first thirty five years of his life in the cockpit of an airplane. Jack's busy schedule today only allows him to dream of soaring above the clouds. This doll represents that dream. Photo, Russ Robison.
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Artist: Jack Johnston
The doll is 20" tall, Cernit with a soft sculpted body and surrounded by authetic working accessories. All accessories were hand-made by Dennis Dugan of Alton, Illinois. Jack considers this doll to be one of his finest, even though it was completed in 1994. It is currently on display in the Sedberry Enchanted Mansion Museum of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Photography: Russ Robison
Photography: Russ Robison
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Artist: Jack Johnston
This posable doll stands 21" tall and is made of Creall-therm polymer clay. He was nominated for the 1998 Dolls Award of Excellence competition. Photographed by Russ Robison.
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Artist: Jack Johnston
These two dolls are the very first dolls ever made of ProSculpt polymer clay. Jack has taken his ability to sculpt hands to a new level. These dolls were featured at the International Toy Fair in New York City and received a nomination to the Dolls Award of Excellence. They are now in the private collection of Senator Orrin Hatch (UT).
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Artist: Jack Johnston
While Jack was teaching representatives from six Inuit tribes in the Arctic, he sculpted this doll in honor of these great people. Jack's trip to the Arctic in 2007 was one of the highlights of his doll making career. Teaching the elders of these six tribes is one of the largest contributions he has made toward enhancing doll making. The Inuit elders will likely continue to teach Jack's methods for generations to come. Jack said, "the natural talent of the Inuits for making dolls is better than any I've seen in my travels around the world"
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