Miniature Artist Makes Her Mark In History

Published in Dollhouse Miniatures magazine

Miniatures are an art form and they're also a part of our history. Just ask Canadian miniaturist Jean Day of Victoria, B.C. After a twenty-year career creating miniature dolls, furniture, and paintings for enthusiasts and collectors around the world, Day had the chance to share her miniature work with the public inside a national museum, and "It was a complete thrill," she says.

A letter arrived in June of 1998, inviting Day to include a miniature doll for a doll exhibit in Canada's Museum of Civilization near the capital city of Ottawa. The exhibit would showcase the history of dolls in Canada from Inuit dolls of prehistory to dolls of today. Guest curator, Evelyn Robson Strahlendorf, asked Jean Day to be part of the section called "Original doll artists."

For Jean, it was truly an accomplishment. She says, "I had worked in a museum here in Victoria before I started with miniatures. So, I really appreciated all of the work behind the scenes and what an honor it was to be asked."

The challenge was choosing a doll for the exhibition. Day had produced most work on commission and didn't have many of her own dolls in her collection. Fortunately, Day did have one very special doll; Marie a 1"-scale portrait doll representing a woman from the turn of the last century.

"I sculpted and made my own head mold, poured it with porcelain and then sculpted more detail into the features at the greenware stage with a wet paintbrush," says Day. "I dressed her very simply like the photo in brown silk with a decorated trim. I added a ribbon to her hair."

Marie was crafted from a vintage photograph that Jean loved. The back of the photo simply said "Marie." Jean says, "She had such pleasant and contended features."

Alongside Marie, Jean included two miniature watercolor paintings, also in 1" scale. The paintings were taken from sepia portrait photos in the same era as Marie. The pictures were of two young girls with their dolls. Marie was displayed with the two paintings.

Jean never saw the exhibit in person, since it was happening across the country. However, one of her unsuspecting friends visited. "She said she was so amazed to see my name in the museum. So, that was exciting," says Jean.

The successful exhibit ran from March 2000 until September 2003. In fact, the show was so popular it was extended for an additional six months.

The artist's history

Creative inspiration wasn't hard to find growing up in Jean's family. "Mom loved figurines like Royal Doulton," she says.

Jean was only four when she sat at the salmon colored kitchen table to watch her mom make chalkware figurines from rubber molds. "Rather than buy the molds, she made her own molds," says Jean. Her mom then sold the completed pieces at their family antique store.

Although it was difficult to get work done with a curious child around. "In later years, she complained that I had to get right in there and find out what it was all about," says Jean, who's interest only grew with age. "When I was a bit older, she made china figurines and it used to amaze me how well she painted the eyes and fine details. I always wanted to be able to do that."

The Making of A Career

Despite Jean Day's early introduction to dolls, establishing a career did not happen overnight. She began by studying fine arts at the University of Victoria. She got married and taught high school art for some years. It would later prove to be good training for an artist. "Being a teacher helped me be organized," says Jean.

It was the trips to the miniature shop in Victoria that caused her to make the leap into miniatures. During one visit, she remembers seeing a tiny meat grinder, an exact replica of the real thing. Day describes this as the moment that she was bitten by the miniature bug.

When the store later went up for sale, Day bought it and turned the operation into a flourishing mail-order business. She became very busy buying, selling and crafting her own miniatures. Day started with mini pincushions, teapots and teddy bears, but soon she wanted to do more: She wanted to make miniature dolls.

Emerging Doll Artist

Traveling to miniature shows and trying new things would eventually lead Day to doll making. She began making plastic miniature dolls, then started crafting portrait dolls made from porcelain. "I had made them when my two sons were babies. I thought it would be nice to make them for others." Jeans says. "It turned out that many people wanted them."

Families wanted to display portrait dolls of their babies and children. The artist soon had lots of commissions and received recognition for her work. She had two grown sons, a long-time, supportive husband and a rewarding career. Day seemed to have it all, but everything was about to change.

Taking The Past And Making A Future

Before the museum exhibit began in 2000, the accomplished artist had to retire from doll making. Standing over a magnifying glass was taking a toll on her back. "I just couldn't do it anymore," says Jean. It was unfortunate, but her creative spirit soon steered her in a new direction: making miniature books and photo albums, which are designed and reproduced on the computer

A true doll maker at heart, Jean has also managed to find a way to work with dolls and doll makers. Using a computer program, she designs mini clothing kits, which come with fabric panel pattern ready to be stitched or glued artists. They're designed to hang in a dollhouse or room box, but they can also be adapted to dress dolls. It's a concept that has become very popular with her customers.

It seems a new chapter has begun in this artist's history. "It doesn't have to be my dolls anymore. I enjoy seeing my outfits on other people's dolls," Jean says. Creating something and seeing what other people will do with it is what makes this miniaturist feel a sense of accomplishment today. The rest is history.