Olga Pervuninskaya - Empiria Dolls
Fantasy Friends That Flirt with the Heart

by Pam North
Sometimes one must take a circuitous route before finding the perfect avenue. Olga Pervuninskaya had worked as a graphic designer, while at the same time painting pictures, engaging in computer animation, and doing wood carving, but none of those activities gave her that feeling of complete satisfaction until she discovered teddy bears and dolls. She was completely captivated, and started making her own creations in 2014. “This kind of creativity combines several areas for me - modeling, painting, sewing. and more,” she explained. “It is very inspiring to me, especially when I can employ several different techniques, to reproduce in reality the images in my head.” Her career in graphic design was a definite help to her new pursuit.
Olga is the creator of the brand Empiria Dolls, and as she explained, “The basis of the name is the concept of ‘empiricism’, the primacy of sensory experience that one gets by materializing one’s creativity. I create the unusual in my dolls and sculptures, translating my visions into reality. I try for realism, giving each item individuality and character, along with life and movement. I'm also interested in combining cute creatures with frightening shapes. Each product of my work is made entirely by hand, from my original patterns and from quality materials, and including different techniques. I love to complicate the work, so most of my dolls are made with great detail. I am infinitely pleased that my works resonate with connoisseurs of puppetry around the world. I'm always ready for new challenges, because the work process is no less important and pleasant than the contemplation and feeling of the result.”
She creates jointed characters - naturalistic animals, as well as fantasy creatures. While there is a basic cute charm in all of her animals, sometimes she has a  desire to create something out of the box with more shock value, “Not all people are ready to accept my monsters, but it is the unleashing of my creativity, rather than restraining myself that is the most satisfying and fun.” Her monsters are less frightening and more heart-stealing in actuality – they are appealing, lovable creatures with charismatic, comical charm, beating the “monster under the bed” rap, and instead taking up residence on the bed and in our hearts.
She uses high-quality materials in her craft, primarily working with alpaca, but occasionally using German plush and mohair, depending on her idea of the character and how it should be translated into reality. Glass eyes, a skeleton, and joints with pins or bolts for mobility, also are employed in her craft.
Most artists find some aspects of their craft more challenging, and for Olga it is the creation of the smallest moving parts, such as fingers, which she finds the most difficult. What she loves the most is
the process of creating a character, as she finds each stage interesting and exciting. “The birth of the idea and the creation of the final photos are the most pleasant moments,” she remarked.
Olga’s family is supportive; her parents like what she creates and encourage her, and her husband often helps to tighten the pins on her larger characters.
She sells her creations through Instagram and BCA online shows
Inspiration is the foundation of every artist’s work, and Olga has her own. “I study insects, animals, and birds, their habits, structure, features - they are my source of inspiration.” She also  described her workplace. “It is a small, uncomfortable table currently, but in the coming winter we are moving to a new apartment, and there, in one of the rooms, will be my workshop.”
As for what’s  next for her and her creations, she has a plan of ultimately developing three master classes in the future, but in the meantime, because of her passion for creating her characters, she hasn’t yet found time to implement that idea. She had visited classes in the first year of her creative birth, acquiring the knowledge for the first steps forward in her new endeavor. “I attended classes on felting wool (Glushkova), creating a pattern (Gemma Kaj), teddy technology (Alena Kulichkina), and sewing clothes for bears (Larisa Perelygina). In that process I got acquainted with many good people with whom I communicate to this day!” She plans to launch one global online project that she has yet to reveal.
Because many collector venues have dwindled in interest as our technological world expands, artists must think about the future and direction of their endeavors in relation to that factor. Olga shared her thoughts,saying, “Many more artists are creating absolutely realistic creatures! Teddy's world is changing as the artists come up with more interesting and complex mobility technologies. Toys turn into real works of art, and some definitely should be in museums. We need to develop, keep up with the times, and then we will win the hearts of collectors with new concepts. We are evolving with the rest of the world.”

Contact Information: 
Email: opana666@yandex.ru
Website: instagram - empiriadolls; http://empiriadolls.tedsby.com/
Instagram: instagram empiriadolls
Telephone: +79265482985
Address: Russia, Moscow region, Lyubertsy, street 1-St Pankovskiy proezd, building 29, apt 96