Nikolai Pavlov: biography and creativity. Copyright handmade dolls

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Often the dolls that children of different ages love to play with attract the attention of adults. Such creations include handmade toys, sometimes representing a real masterpiece. It is these Teddy dolls and toys that the famous master and artist Nikolai Pavlov creates. Let's talk about him and his work today.

Brief information from the biography of the puppeteer

Nikolai was born in the city of Kursk. There he lived, grew up and graduated from school number 30. He received his specialized education at one of the oldest universities in the city - Kursk State University (KSU), where the future master studied at the Faculty of Artistic and Graphic Design.

At the moment, Nikolai Pavlov lives and works in Voronezh. There, in one of the city's small galleries, he organizes handicraft workshops and regularly participates in various exhibitions and presentations.

How did the creative path begin?

After graduating from university, Nikolai tried many different creative options. But most of allhe enjoyed making dolls. At that time, no one could have imagined that an aspiring artist would be seriously interested in this occupation. The master made his first doll in 2006. She became a magnificent fairy with angelic eyes, whom he named Fiona. Photos of the master's dolls can be seen on his page "VKontakte" and on our website.

According to him, it was not at all easy to make it. Through trial and error, he made first the face, then the torso, arms, legs, feet and hands. And then I put it all together, painted it with acrylics and dressed it.

The complexity of the work, says Nikolai Pavlov, was not only that at that difficult time it was almost impossible to get any materials, tools and accessories for decoration, but also in the absence of a good training video or printed publication. Therefore, the master had to learn the basics of puppetry himself. At the moment, Nikolai has ten years of experience working with polymer materials and has been creating unusual fluffy Teddy creatures for more than five years.

How it all began: the artist's first doll

Nikolai's collection still has his first doll, which he periodically takes with him to exhibitions and simply shows to people. According to his stories, such a demonstration is not only an excellent advertisement, but also provides an opportunity to compare the level of his skill. “Looking at my first and recent work, you can immediately see what I have managed to achieve in more than 10 years in the puppet business,” says the author himself.

Where can I seeartist's work?

Many handmade dolls by Nikolay can be seen in private collections both in Russia and far beyond its borders. For example, the master's toys have found their home in Italy, France, England, Japan, etc. The talented puppet master also cooperates with many other masters, together with whom he arranges personal exhibitions, creative evenings.

Nikolay also has his own page "VKontakte", where photos and videos of the master are presented. Here, everyone has the opportunity to order exclusive products of the artist at affordable prices, as well as ask questions in personal correspondence.

Sometimes Nikolai Pavlov (artist and puppeteer) arranges a prize draw and gives toys to his fans.

What works does the master make?

Among Nikolai's products you can see articulated dolls, as well as fluffy bunnies, bears, mice and other Teddy animals. It is interesting that initially the master himself was far from enthusiastic about the hinges themselves used to connect the arms and legs of the toys. According to him, the visible joints were embarrassing. But since it is the hinges that give the products mobility, in the future the author simply stopped noticing them and focusing on this.

What types of techniques does the artist use?

Nikolay Pavlov is a puppeteer, artist and sculptor, as during his creative process he is forced to use a variety of techniques used in various types of applied art. For example,baked or self-hardening plastic is always present in his workshop. Most often he uses "prosculp" and "fimo".

In addition, the artist also has to be both a fashion designer and a seamstress in one person, because Nikolai makes clothes for his products himself. Moreover, Teddy selects a certain image for each doll or animal. For example, among the ready-made toys of the author, you can find blue-eyed angels with snow-white wings, pensive wizards with sad eyes and a sad smile, unusual fairies, elves, huge and kind giants, tiny gnomes and other fabulous and mythical characters.

What is special about Pavlov's toys?

Most of the master's works are not just beautiful toys. They are made with love and warmth in the heart. That's why they look so realistic and bright. They have bright and kind eyes, an expressive smile, detailed facial features and other parts of the body.

Deserves great attention handmade dolls made in retro style. These are unusually positive and at the same time mysterious products in hats and top hats, in lace and camisoles, dressed in velvet, satin and distinguished by accessories in muted pastel colors.

Besides, many of the author's creations turn their heads and other parts of their bodies. They can be placed, hung and put on a shelf. They have removable clothes and hair implanted in the same way as wax figures.

What tools and materials doesmaster?

During master classes and when creating new works, Nikolai Pavlov (the dolls of this master are very famous abroad) uses a variety of materials and the following auxiliary tools:

• plastic;
• styrene foam;
• wet wipes;
• sandpaper;
• slate pencils;
• cardboard knife or cutter;
• PVA glue;
• acrylic paints and primer;
• flat, thin and wide brushes;
• finishing varnishes for fixing;
• hair to create a wig;
• special sculpting tools;
• thread and needle;
• different types of fabrics for making clothes;
• fasteners for fixing hinges;
• rubbers for assembling parts, etc.

And, of course, first, the future model must be thought up and drawn. Therefore, Nikolai Pavlov first carefully thinks through the image, and then makes a light sketch on paper, and only after that he creates.

What can you learn from an artist's master classes?

During the master classes of a talented artist, you can learn the basics of working with plastic. Everyone can make dolls, bears and other Teddy animals from scratch.

Participation in exhibitions and photo dolls

During his developing creative career, Nikolai managed to organize two solo exhibitions. Next year, the master plans to invite everyone to the third memorable event for the artist - an anniversary exhibition, which willfavorite toys are featured, as well as brand new characters.

Besides, the artist does not miss the moment and always participates in various events dedicated to the holidays. For example, he participated in an exhibition of dolls called "Breath of Spring".

At this fair, the works of a wide variety of Voronezh craftsmen specializing in felting, embroidery, knitting, decoupage and other types of arts and crafts were presented.

And recently another Voronezh exhibition of dolls "Moon Dream" was held, where the designer and artist demonstrated his unforgettable creations with great success. During this event, Nikolai showed his dolls and soft toys made in his unique style, talked to journalists and gave valuable advice to budding puppeteers.

October 16, 2015, Nikolai, an artist and designer rolled into one, also took part in a popular project called "Doll's House", where he held a series of exclusive workshops on creating doll headdresses. Everyone could learn a few secrets from the puppeteer's work, ask questions, chat with like-minded people online. At the end of the conference, all participants were given a certificate.

Future plans

As Nikolai Pavlov admits, he plans to open his own school of masters, where he will train and produce real masters of puppetry. At the moment, Nikolai has so far only managed to realize part of his plans and to engage in close training in puppetry.skill. However, there is no talk of opening their own school yet.