Paola Zakimi Studio

Hi there, today I am sharing with you one of my best seller story. The Custom Silhouette Portraits The Story Behind My Silhouette Portraits It all began with my love for the elegance of Victorian silhouettes . I was fascinated by the way a simple cut of paper could capture someone’s essence — the curve of a cheek, the tilt of a chin, the shape of a hairstyle. But I wanted to take it further. I thought: what if these silhouettes weren’t just shadows in black, but living portraits full of softness and color? So I began to experiment. Instead of paper cutouts, I started painting them by hand, using watercolor to bring out the delicate features — the roundness of cheeks, the sparkle suggested in an eye, the fine line of eyelashes. That’s when I realized: these portraits aren’t just outlines, they’re stories in color . Each one preserves a fleeting moment of childhood — a baby’s soft profile, a child’s growing features — and turns it into an heirloom. Every silhouette I create car...

          It’s been a while since I updated with new dolls. Recently, I did two dolls—one little art doll, Josephine, and one bigger doll, Madeline. Madeline is truly special. The difference between these two girls is not only the size. Her body was made with fabric, while only the extremities—like the head, hands, and feet—were crafted from air dry clay. I love working this way, trying something new. And of course the fabrics are vintage.     I recently saw Orlando, and far from the customes in the movie, I kept the image of the protagonist using a big bowl, so I decided to go for it—and I really like it. The good thing, though, is that Madeline has a little basket I made from scratch. I’m proud to have achieved something so tiny and intricate. It may not be the best woven basket in the world, but I’m pretty happy with the result. And of course, Madeline is happy with her sun cap and the big, big bow on her neck. The fabric bow is very special. It’s...

I t's a pretty, pretty short list, but it is a list. I'll just mention the important stuff: Finishing a picture book: I'll be starting to work on the final details! YAY! I love this project so much. I'll be showing bits of it as soon as I can. Art Dolls: I have 3 in progress: The "Moth Girl" is around 30 cm tall, the biggest girl of the year so far! A project for a special person, I'll see how it turns out. Ceramic Sculpture and Other Ideas: "Las Flores" is the title for my little women with flowers. This project comes from some sketches I made that I wanted to sculpt. Planning some events at my workshop: I'll tell you more about them later. As you can see, I have a lot going on. The most important thing is the book, so everything else is on hold and moving slowly.

Part 2: Meet the New Crew! Alright, enough about me – let's get to the fun part, the dolls themselves! Boxed Up Beauty: Dollhouse or Nah? One of the most important things about art dolls is the chance to craft a whole artistic experience, you know? It goes beyond just the doll itself, and that often gets me thinking about packaging.  For some dolls, an elaborate box feels like a natural extension of the whole piece. Imagine a fairy in a forest-themed box decorated with tiny mushrooms and flowers. Together, they tell a whole story, right? But where do you draw the line? Can the box become its own artwork, maybe even stealing the show from the doll inside?  This is a question that keeps popping up for me. Take Sam and the Spider, for example. Her dark dress  and spidey friend called for a unique presentation. A German-style box, like a miniature house, felt perfect. The little details on the box itself became part of the story. Choosing windows, a tiny door, even the floori...

  Returning to Art Dolls: A Nostalgic Look Back Many years have passed since my last  blog   post. Back in 2007, I used to   blog   almost every day! Work started to pick up and my dear  blog  was abandoned. So much has happened since then.I still remember the connection with other bloggers, my daily visits to their posts, the way we could interact with readers through the comments, and so much more. It was such a tranquil and beautiful way to share and connect. Now, social media apps have become more popular, but I want to get back to  blogging . In fact, I need to get back here, I find it more personal and intimate. Let's not mention that  blogging  helps me practice English and you will be able to aid me, as well! It is easy to write words incorrectly or make up weird sentences! So, this year I started a new Picture Book. If you don’t know I already illustrated six picture books ( My Books ) and I began to work on Art Dolls, too. Thos...