Artist delights in quirky dolls

Carmen Simmonds. Photo/Bevan Conley

Glass artist Carmen Simmonds likes making dolls.

But they're not the cute, cuddly type of doll - they're made of glass and crochet, they're mostly bald and they're slightly creepy.

"I do have a fascination with dolls," she said.

Mrs Simmonds is one of more than 100 artists taking part in the 2014 Artists Open Studios Whanganui, which finishes on March 30.

She does cast glass work using the lost wax technique, but also incorporates unusual elements - such as crochet - into her art.

She's returning to Open Studios this year after a couple of years' break.

Mrs Simmonds said Open Studios was in a way "an invasion of privacy" for her because of the open plan nature of her studio and the home she shares with her husband on 8.5ha of bush at Brunswick.

"But it's also cool because I truly live my art. I can get out of bed and walk straight into my studio."

Mrs Simmonds said a lot of visitors to her studio are curious to know about her process, which has evolved over the years.

INTRICATE: Tiny glass dolls by Carmen Simmonds. PHOTOS/BEVAN CONLEY 240314WCBRCGLASS03

She studied for her Bachelor of Fine Arts at UCOL, and also taught there, and recently completed her Masters at AUT.

"It was very valuable for me because it was about renewing my practice. I do a lot more mixed media and installation work now.

"I'm constantly evolving, as you should be when you're an artist. I don't want to do the same thing over and over again."

Mrs Simmonds loves teaching - "I like passing on my passion for art" - and holds regular workshops in her studio.

For more about Carmen Simmonds, and to find out about her workshops, visit carmensimmonds.com. For more about Open Studios visit www.openstudios.co.nz.