ROSALIND McKissock takes pride in the fact that she begins with little more than an empty mould and an idea and finishes up with an exquisite piece of work.
McKissock first pours and fires the porcelain, then paints, then fires, and then paints again.
The repetitive process concludes with the making of costumes and clothing from material that often has its own sentimental attachments.
The process of painting and firing is necessary to get the right depth of colour in the features of each doll.
McKissock said a doll head alone could need about eight firings.
“I love to see the faces evolve,” she said.
Having loved dolls all her life, McKissock took up the trade when introduced to it twenty years ago.
“As I created my first heirloom, I wanted to paint more and more of them. I was hooked - not satisfied with just one or two, I wanted to paint them all.”
The talented artist said she also took up the craft because she wanted to dedicate more time to personal recreation.
“I got to a time in my life where I needed something for myself,” she said.
Given her experience in the craft, it is no surprise that this Robertson-based artisan has been acknowledged as among the finest doll makers in the world.
McKissock has earned herself the Triple Crown of Dollmaking - the highest level of proficiency in the craft - after working through the earlier levels of Teacher, Master and Grand Master.
Each Monday, the teacher passes her craft on to students at a Robertson studio.
“My youngest student is a 13- year-old boy, and my eldest a 72-year-old grandmother,” she said.
“I have some students who say they will do one or two dolls for a special purpose and are still with me five years later.”
Despite the wide range of students, McKissock laments that few young people are taking up the craft.
“It’s quite sad,” she said.
Dolls and teddies are among the most popular hobbies in the world, but it seems few of the enthusiasts come from younger generations.
McKissock has also been recognised with The Magge Award and The Millie Award, both named after influential doll makers.
These two awards are only given for work of the highest quality and are the top honours from the Doll Artisan Guild, a prominent worldwide non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting and supporting the craft of doll making.
The Triple Crown holder offers her time to other artists by judging doll shows in and around Sydney, something she said also builds her own skills.
“You are always learning,” she said.
Choosing a favourite doll is a difficult task for this artist, who said it is akin to choosing a favourite child.
“The one I’m working on at the moment is always a favourite,” she said.
“But the doll that secured my Double Grand Masters is one I am very proud of.
“It won the Magge award.”
McKissock said different people have different reasons for being attracted to the art of doll making.
“The intricacy of the costumes attracts many people,” she said.
For the Highlands’ very own Triple Crown Grand Master, it was the personality of the dolls themselves.
“All these little porcelain faces looking at me, smiling and sad, as if they wanted to tell me a hundred stories about themselves!”