Roxanna Maria Sullivan

(702) 497-2112. 
(619) 303-9055

“Inspiration breathes life into my art.”
During the past 20 years of my sculpting career, I have been primarily a self-taught artist. I have been privileged to study with such renowned artists as Lewis Goldstein, Jack Johnston and Mark Dennis.
I am keenly influenced by two of my favorite artists, Alberto Vargas and Ron Muick. Alberto Vargas, of course, is well known for his realistic paintings of famous 1950’s pin-up women which he painted for Playboy. Ron Muick is an Australian artist who works in creating realistic life size sculptures made of silicone. I admire both artists for their outstanding work and their impeccable attention to detail.
I am also intrigued by significant moments in life that deserve to be captured, and I am passionate about displaying those moments through my art work. Emotion, personality and sentiment can shine through art when beautifully created by will and passion.
My appreciation for every aspect of art allows me a great depth for exploring the realms of the creative mind. This feeds my passion for my specialty and character art figures and individual portrait sculptures. The range of my pieces can vary from newborn babies to Hollywood celebrities to fantasy wizards. Often I am surprised myself from where my ideas spring. I will begin to sculpt and before I know it, there is before me a unique piece that has come to life!
Today, I reside in the lovely city of San Diego, California. My artistic concentration at this time is in the creation of one-of-a-kind dolls. I am blessed to have my work featured in national and international publications, such as Art Doll Quarterly, Pretty Toys Magazine, Doll Reader, Contemporary Doll Magazine, Doll Making and Doll Collector. I am pleased to be a member of The San Diego Sculptors Guild which is located in Spanish Village at Balboa Park, San Diego, California.
My creations continue to give me great pleasure in life; I have even preserved some treasured memories in my art. I consider it an honor and pleasure to sculpt and create for you your fantasy or preserve a significant and beautiful moment in your life.
Name: Roxanna Maria

Contact Information:
Address: 1700 Village Place Studio 36, Balboa Park San Diego Ca 92103

Email: Roxanna@roxannamaria.com

Website: www.http//Roxannamaria.com

Business name if any: Roxanna Maria       Facebook:  Forever Fairy Tales

A short biography outline of yourself.
Fanciful Figurative Art
Roxanna Maria is a figurative artist who creates full body sculptures in clay, polymer and paper clay. She embellishes her work with antiques fabrics as well as modern pieces of metal jewelry and other textiles to bring her pieces to life. For the past 20 years, Roxanna Maria has been embracing her craft and has become well known in the industry for the realism that her art conveys. A self taught sculptor, Roxanna began sculpting in the early nineties and has been cultivating her talents ever since Her works have been published worldwide receiving high accolades and numerous prestigious awards. Roxanna Maria has exhibited in Orlando, Florida, Philadelphia PA., Long Beach Ca. Anaheim, Ca., Ashville, North Carolina, Tubac, Az., Columbus, Ohio, Puertocito, Mexico.  She is in museums and galleries around the world and is an award winning master artist renown for her realism in figurative art. In addition to creating her one of a kind sculptures, Roxanna Maria also specializes in both Portrait and commissioned work. 
Panenek Museum, Czechoslovakia
Susan B. Quinlann Museum Santa Barbara Ca 
SDSG Gallery San Diego, Ca.
IADR Member International Artist Doll Registry 
San Diego Sculptors Guild  member
Spanish Village member in good standing
San Diego Museum of Art  Member/ board member at large
International Art Doll Registry Member
PDMAG Professional Doll Makers Artist Guild
International Editor for Pretty Toys Magazine
UFDC Member in good standing
ODACA

Do you have a family?
Yes I have 5 Children 3 Grand children 2 Great Grand children

Did you have a different career before?
Yes, I was a medical aesthetician

What specifically do you make? 
I specialize in 8 to 12 inch polymer one of a kind  full figurative dolls. I love fairy tales and letting my imagination flow.

How and when did you get started making your creations?
I started in 1989 making porcelain 26 inch dolls.

Did you have any formal training in your craft?
I have taken two workshops, one from Mark Dennis and one from Jack Johnston

What materials do you use in your craft?
Anything and Everything I can find, most sculptures are enhanced with wool roving and mohair and human hair. All clothing including vintage mink and accessories are by the artist and all have handmade wigging. male vintage mink. 

What do you find the most challenging about what you do?
What I find most challenging is juggling my personal time with my artistic time. Never enough hours in the day.

Describe your workplace.
 I am blessed to have a wonderful studio that has great light and a beautiful 50 year old fichus tree outside one of the windows and I can hear the birds chirping in the morning.

How do you sell your products?
I have collectors and I also do doll shows. I am not big on social media nor do I want to be. The most important thing to me is for my work to touch someone's soul so if it is there to observe and it makes them smile I am good with that.

Do you conduct workshops to teach others?
Yes I do teach usually through Cindy's Dolls she has a convention that is so much fun! I love my students there and I usually teach every two years there in Ohio. I also teach through Skype and private lessons in my studio.

Where do you find inspiration?
As cliché as it sounds and it has been overstated I'm sure, I find it through life itself. Walks on the beach, a drive though my neighborhood and even just walking through a craft store.

What do you love most or gives you the most satisfaction about what you do?
What I find most full filling and what gives makes me never want to give up, is when I see a person connect with my work. I don't do many shows so when I do and a collector finds me they are always happy to see me there. Yet it is truly special when you have someone see your work and they connect with it and even have tears in their eyes. You know that it has either brought a special memory to life for them or it has simply touched their inner child. Then I cry to it is overwhelming some times but it is what I love the most.

What’s next for you and your creations?
I am currently working on a series in Paper Clay called  "The Seven Seas"  I do demonstrations out at the State Fair for the Fine Arts expo and I love when people are fascinated by the work and then I educate them on how Dolls are an art form and it is a fine art not just a craft.

How do you view the future or direction of dolls
Well I know that ball joint dolls are very popular but what most people don't realize is that the first articulated dolls go as far back as 200 BCE and the trend continues, it is not new. It always seems to be the first thing people turn to, what's new and how can I follow that step. While absolutely beautiful and also artistic and very collectible because the medium price is much more affordable than a one of a kind, whether it's a computerized 3D model or a ball joint made in China, I still feel that the one of a kind art doll will never be lost. On the contrary the more scarce it becomes the more it will be sought after.

Anything else you would like to add?
If you are a collector, collect what speaks to your heart and soul if you are a doll artist in any medium don't ever lose your passion and always create from your heart.

Just for your information ad it if you would like to;
Press	
•		Discover Dolls  	2010
•		Doll Reader	2010 …2011
•		Contemporary Doll	2010 …2011
•		Doll Making	1992
•		Doll Life	1994	
•		Doll Collector (Cover)	2011
•		Art Doll Quarterly 	2013
•		Dolls Magazine	2011... 2012 ...2013....2015.....2016....2017
•	
•		Pretty Toys Magazine                           2012....2013...2014
•		PTM Fantasy Books                              Editions 1, 2,3,
Awards
•		2010 DOTY Industry Award
•		2010 DOTY Public Choice Award,   
•	                   2010 Dolls Award of Excellence 
•		2011 DOTY Industry Choice Award
•		2012 DOTY Industry Choice Award
•		2013 DOTY Industry Choice Award x3
•	                  2014 Donor Award San Diego Art Museum/ Fine art expo Del Mar
•		2015 DOTY Industry Choice Award x2
•		2016 PDMAG Lifetime Achievement Award
•		2017 DOTY Industry Choice Award