Local Artist Spotlight: Forlorn Dolls

Lakewood resident and graduate Samantha Meyers will be hosting a trunk show, called "The Hollowed Gathering," at Crafty Goodness on Oct. 22. 

Her new line of Forlorn Dolls will be unveiled at the show. 

Art was first and foremost in Samantha's household. As a child, she considered going into criminal justice, but her mom instead suggested a courtroom sketch artist.

Her brother, a digital artist, helped created the infamous dancing baby from Ally McBeal. 

Samantha started out studying Fine Arts at Lorain Community College where she contructed her first sculpted art doll for a class assignment. 

She says, "it was a project I absolutely hated." Later she transferred to Virginia Marti and switched to Fashion Merchandising. 

Textiles and Costuming were two of her favorite courses, both of which would later be instrumental in the creation of Forlorn Dolls.

After graduation, art was put on the backburner. 

But while honeymooning in Salem, Massachusetts in 2009 inspiration finally struck in the creepiest of places: Lizzie Borden's home. 

While touring the home, a doll in the likeness of Ms. Borden was on display and caught Samantha's eye. While the doll was not for sale, a search online led her to the works of Joyce Stahl, the creator of this inspirational piece. Further investigation lead to the Art Doll community. 

The rest, as they say, is history.

Fast forward to 2011, Forlorn Dolls have been featured at quite a few local galleries around Lakewood, including & . 

These unique one of a kind dolls are all hand sculpted from polymer clay, with intricately detailed handpainted faces plus elaborate handsewn clothes. 

No sewing machine, just old-fashioned needle and thread create the costumes.  Each doll takes between 20 to 40 hours to create. An upcoming line will feature fairy-tale themed characters such as Little Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf, with a Forlorn Dolls twist of course.

When asked why choose Lakewood, Samantha responded, "Lakewood has a unique culture and feeling. When my husband and I first met at Virginia Marti College in Lakewood and started dating we grew a deep attachment to the city,you could call us Lakewood obsessed."

"We found our first apartment on Cook Avenue," she added. "Two years later we searched through forty Lakewood homes until we settled upon our dream house on the North end of town. We have decided we just cannot leave this city. It's history, the architecture, the arts and community events that hold it together have wrapped around us like a cozy blanket. The kind of blanket most people search their whole lives for. It's called home."

See these exquisite dolls in person and chat with the artist on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Crafty Goodness, 15621 Madison Avenue.