Teacher Feature-Marta Smith

Marta Smith Cloth Doll & Fibre Artist

I have been involved with women and their images in various aspects of my career. Born and raised in Toronto, I earned a diploma in Fashion Arts from Ryerson; teaching certification from U. of T. and a B.A. from York University. My formal education in fashion, clothing construction and visual arts provided the technical skills behind my art doll & fibre creations. The Women’s Studies degree provides some of the theory behind my ‘little women’ including a basic tenet of feminism, that of deconstruction and reconstruction of the female image.

Throughout a twenty-seven year teaching career in clothing, art and Guidance I maintained part-time businesses in clothing construction, costume jewelry design and creation, and angel and Santa figures. During a two year leave from teaching I owned and operated a business in colour, image, make-up and accessory co-ordination in Toronto.

Creating art dolls and fibre works is a natural combination of my skills in textiles, clothing and jewelry making, and my interests in feminism and images of women. Found objects and materials make their way into the designs and I find it is a creative challenge to manipulate an element and use it for other than its intended purpose. I particularly enjoy working in three dimensions, often utilizing a collage approach. My dolls are images of female existence, sometimes real, often imaginary, that hopefully contain a hint of self recognition for the viewer.

Participating in workshops and courses with several of North America’s top doll artists including Patti Medaris Culea, Julie McCullough, Marcia Acker-Missal, Arley Berryhill and Marianne Reitsma has given me an excellent grounding in art doll creation. Courses with Pamela Allen, Valerie Hearder and Bethany Garner extended my fibre arts techniques.

I am a member of the CDAA (Canadian Doll Artists Association), the Quinte Fibre Artists; the PEC Quilters’ Guild, Arts on Main Gallery (a co-operative) in Picton and a past participant in The Maker’s Hand. Since 2006 I have been Co-Chair/Coordinator of the annual PEC Studio & Gallery Tour. I also enjoy teaching fibre arts workshops, classes on doll making and speaking on these subjects.




Class Description
Cloth Art Dolls 101 -
Explore the creation of cloth art dolls! Learn the basics; the techniques and tricks that make these creatures fun to bring to life. Specialized tools will be provided & only basic sewing skills are required. Use your own lightweight hooking or design fabric for your doll body in class.