Shawna Clymer

Interview by

MacPherson Arts & Crafts

1. Where are you from and where do you live now?
I am from Washington State, I've lived here for the past 29 years.

2. Have you always been interested in dolls?
I do think that I have always liked dolls, although I did not have a lot of them growing up. I only remember a few, like a brand new Whoopsie Daisy dol
that I received one year for Christmas. As the oldest of 5 girls, most of mine usually ended up with one of my younger sisters.

3. When did you first become interested in sculpting?
This was in January 2001, I was hooked!

4. How did you first encounter reborn dolls?
I was looking on online for *Lion items to add to my collection. I ran across a doll that looked similar to one I had just bought for my daughter for Christmas.
The doll had been changed somehow, which I quickly learned was called Reborn art.
At that time NOBODY shared any information back then, most people were rude when anyone asked about the process. This was in the beginning of the
art when there were only a handful of reborn artists at the time. At that time when you would search on Ebay for the term Reborn, you MIGHT get 200 listings which
also included clothes.

5. Have you sculpted dolls from the time you started sculpting, or did you start off with something else?
I use to sculpt little Animal figurines, tree characters with whimsical faces, & witches for fun before I found the reborn art.

6. How long have you been sculpting?
I began sculpting in 2005, my seventh sculpture was picked up by Masterpiece dolls for production in the USA and Europe. I had a few dolls in production with the company before
going off on my own to create my own reborn kits.

7. What medium do you use to sculpt your babies with?
I use Prosculpt clay for the most part.

8. What inspires & motivates you to sculpt?
Normally I will work on a piece until I see a face emerging from the clay as I add to the sculpture to create each feature. When I sculpt the smaller mini's
I like to make a few forms so that I can work on a few faces at a time.

9. Do you sculpt full time & do you have other hobbies?
I sculpt full time, I truly am a self employed artists. I have been working from my home in the reborn art since 2001. I am thankful for the art that has allowed me
to spend so much time over the years with my family. It has been a blessing in many ways, for that I feel very fortunate.

10. Do you only sculpt for kit production or do you do custom ~ portrait orders too?
Most of my sculptures are either sold as one of a kind dolls, or for kit production.

11. When did your first kit come out and what was the baby's name?
I had my very first kit produced on my own in 2006 her name was Klarissa there were 250 in her edition. I have always wanted to sculpt FAIRIES so my second reborn kit was a fairy kit. the first reborn fairy kit to be offered to reborn artists :)

12. How many kits have you produced to date?
Since that time I have created and produced over 34 reborn kits from 8 inches to 22 inches on my own; 17 of those kits were Fairies, 14 kits were baby kits and 3 were mermaid reborn kits

13. Do you have a list of names of all of your kits you have produced as we would love to have an archive directory for your sculpts?
Kits I have made and produced on my own are - (in no particular order)
1 Klarissa
2 Raven Fairy
3 Raven Awake Fairy
4 Faye Fairy
5 Felicia
6 Lacey
7 Cherish Fairy
8 Nina Fairy
9 Brandon
10 Erika
11 Jewel
12 Angel
13 Cameo
14 Bliss Fairy
15 Faith
16 Violet Baby
17 Violet Fairy
18 April
19 Melissa
20 Trista
21 Twinkle Fairy
22 Treasure
23 Shaylee Fairy
24 Summer Fairy
25 Rose Fairy
26 Serenity Fairy
27 Whisper Fairy
28 Clara Fairy
29 Laila Fairy
30 Shylynn Fairy
31 Opal Fairy
32 Pearl Mermaid
33 Mishell mermaid
34 Nerissa Mermaid

14. Which baby of yours has been your all time favorite and why?
I think that Shaylee Fairy has been on of my favorites, perhaps because she is a fairy ♥ it's hard to pick just one

15. Do you plan to continue sculpting babies for kits?
I hope to keep creating sculptures for production on one form or another, as long as I have customers asking for them :)

16. How do you feel about the reborn doll industry? What excites you and what upsets you?
It has been heartbreaking to see that there is so much theft in this art. I realize that it happens in nearly every art field. It is still sad just the same.
So many work so hard on their art, only to have a thief steal your art, literally copy it and reproduce it to make a living off of a true artists work.
I have to admit due to this I have stopped sculpting as much. I have been fortunate (so fart) to not have any of the counterfeit thieves steal any of my work.
I have watched several artists post in frustration over their work being stolen. In the past I did contact a company that stole a fellow artists work..their
reply was as expected and uncaring, stating they didn't care as long as they were making money.
Its heartbreaking.

17. How do you feel about the progression of the art of reborning over the past 10 years?
What makes it all worth while is to see how amazing the Art has progressed over the past 18 years that I have been in the Reborn Art world. The realism and artistry of
SO MANY artists worldwide is phenomenal..often these works of art pass for the real babies the artists hoped they would be. (in my opinion) I am often in awe of the
artists and their dedication to the art. I am also thankful to be a part of it.

18. Do you think that this industry has a long term future or do you think its just a fad that will blow over?

19.What are your plans and hopes for the future?

20. Do you have something new in the works?