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"The white water-lily (Nenúfar Blanco in Spanish) has always been my favorite flower. An extraordinary plant, it takes root in cold, stagnant waters and thrives in shady, challenging conditions. Yet, despite the adversity, its flowers bloom gracefully through the mud toward the light, radiating serenity and purity. This is how I like to imagine my dolls: delicate and melancholic beings, with strong passions hidden beneath their apparent calm ."
My name is Rosa and I'm the doll maker behind Nenúfar Blanco.
I create one-of-a-kind (ooak) Art Doll Sculptures inspired by Fairy Realm and Nature.
Born in Barcelona (1980), I spent my early childhood with my family in a 17th-century house nestled on a misty hillside, surrounded by beech and chestnut forests in the Montseny Natural Park (Catalonia, Spain).
I can still remember the road leading up to our house ~ it was such an enchanting place: splendorous ferns, giant toadstools, eyes in tree bark, tiny salamanders sneaking out from under fallen leaves, the fresh, earthy scent, and the perky symphony of frogs and birds by a nearby stream. Surrounded by nature, my mind would freely soar through unseen worlds, imagining magical little creatures fluttering and hiding among the trees.
Years later, back in the city, all that earthly and ethereal imagery remained within me, growing into a deep need and desire for self-expression. A lifelong daydreamer with a vivid imagination and heightened sensitivity, I developed a strong interest in various forms of visual art, as well as poetry. But modeling and sculpting have always been my true passion. Working with clay brings me calm and a profound sense of fulfillment.
I grew up captivated by the mythic and fantastical illustrations in the fairy tale books I used to read. They fueled my imagination back then, and to this day, my work is clearly influenced by those artists: Arthur Rackham, John Bauer, Kay Nielsen, Edmund Dulac, Elsa Beskow ~ and later, as a teenager, I discovered the wonderful art of Brian Froud. His mind-blowing work truly captured my heart, as it felt deeply connected to my own visions and daydreams.
My work also reflects a secret childhood fascination with all kinds of dolls, puppets, figurines ~ any anthropomorphic, inanimate object with a face and the suggestion that it might come to life. Whenever I passed by one, I would wait for a quiet whisper or a subtle movement. I used to gaze into their eyes, searching for a spark of soul, always open to hearing the story they might want to tell.
I began my journey into Doll Art and Figurative Sculpting in 2005. I became completely obsessed after stumbling upon the 'ooak doll world' by sheer chance while browsing the internet. Sometimes I feel the universe conspired to place it before my eyes just when I needed it most ~ and goodness, this art form was truly made for me! The idea of turning a simple lump of clay into a being full of life and meaning captivated me instantly. From the moment I picked up a piece of polymer clay for the first time, I’ve never looked back.
To date, I’ve created around 400 dolls. All of them are now part of private collections around the world, and one is on display at the Orkney Faerie Museum in Scotland.
I’ve written three eBook tutorials on how to make polymer clay dolls and fairy wings. I am also a mentor, generously sharing the knowledge and tips I’ve gained over the past 21 years with a growing community of doll-makers worldwide.
Currently, I split my time between my apartment in Barcelona, where my main studio is located, and a stone cottage in the countryside near my mother’s hometown, in the Matarraña region of Spain. This rocky landscape, shaped by rivers and olive trees , is a very special place with ancient history and telluric energies ~ a place of restoration, where I find peace and inspiration.
I am deeply thankful to all fellow artists and customers who have supported my work over the years. It fills me with joy to know that my little creatures are appreciated and loved in their new homes.
It’s interesting to notice that, although I spend many hours creating each doll and pour all my love into their making, I do not feel materially attached to them. Instead, when I let them go, I experience a sense of relief and renewal ~ like the feeling you get after climbing a hill and screaming at the top of your lungs .
⋆ Art is such a healing and mysterious force! ⋆
⋮ CREATION PROCESS ⋮
My creative process involves designing, sculpting/modelling, painting, costuming, and photographing.
Every one of my dolls is entirely handmade by me and is OOAK (One-of-a-Kind), meaning each piece is unique and will never be replicated. I do not use molds during their creation, nor are molds made from the finished dolls.
My primary medium is polymer clay.
My dolls are quite small, measuring around 18 cm tall when standing ~ small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Each piece is carefully crafted to capture intricate details at this charming, small scale.
I enjoy working at this size because it matches perfectly how I like to imagine fairies!
I start with rough sketches to capture the initial idea. Then, I create a wire armature to provide support throughout the sculpting process. After that, I make the eyes using polymer clay and resin. Once the eyes are done, I sculpt the head and bake it. I then attach the head to the armature and spend a few minutes adjusting it until I decide on the final pose of the body.
Once the doll is fully sculpted and baked, I paint it using Genesis oil paints or pastels. For the hair, I always use natural fibers such as sheep or alpaca hair, and occasionally tussah silk .
I create wings and fins using wire and iridescent cellophane, rice papers or organza.
For their costumes and details, I use recycled vintage fabrics, mulberry paper, and little treasures I find and collect from the woods and seashore.
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