BIOGRAPHY

Hello, my name is Pat Lyon, and thank you for visiting my Web site. I would just like to take a moment to tell you a little bit about myself.

I grew up in Chicago, Illinois and attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, taking classes in commercial art plus the study of anatomy with life drawing classes. Later, I continued life drawing at the Art Institute of Chicago.

My first job was working for an advertising agency as a fashion illustrator. The illustrations were primarily for newspaper reproduction.

After marriage and children began filling our house, my illustrating came to a halt. Sewing and embroidering took over, time permitting. My husbands career took our family to Munich Germany where we lived for twenty eight years.

During those years I painted in oils, specializing in portraits. I also taught classes in beginning oil painting. I participated in shows in Germany and Switzerland.

One day a friend invited me to view a collection of reproduced antique dolls. I was intrigued by the whole procedure of modeling a head in clay, making a mold, pouring the porcelain, etc. So, excited with this new experience, I took a hunk of clay and some photos of my granddaughter and tried to sculpt a head. It was a challenge! Portraits in oil on canvas are two dimensional. Sculpting a head, arms, and legs is three dimensional. I had slipped into another discipline entirely.

I am very happy I began this work while still in Germany. There are so many fine doll artists there. I attended several shows as a viewer and participated in a few before returning to the United States.

Learning this art form was exhilarating and maddening, fascinating and frustrating. However, in time skills are acquired and the delight in all the aspects of doll making has kept it's glow. The dolls on my website are all portraits with a small measure of “doll look” to complete their pose.

I encourage you to browse my site and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I will be delighted to answer any questions that you may have.

Sincerely,

Pat Lyon