Judging isn't a...

Here I am, just finishing my first competition for porcelain dollmaking in 20 years.  It is always scary entering a doll competition as we worry what the judges will think of our work.  Is it good enough to win or can I handle the criticism of the doll judges as they analyze my piece?

​I would encourage all of our dollmakers to enter a doll competition whether it is an IADR Jury Show or any type of doll competition.  They truly are a learning curve - as one needs to remind one's self.

Doll judges or judging should not be a matter of choosing 'a who is popular' type of an event.  Doll judges have chosen to be judges because they have the skill level that we desire to achieve and they are willing to share their expertise with us.  In most competitions, and the ones I have submitted an entry into (as well as in the IADR Juried Shows), entries are sent to the judges without names.  The judges don't have a clue who they are judging, they are just looking at the body of the work.

Polymer judging is a little different than Porcelain judging too.  Overall, the appearance of the doll is always going to make the biggest impact but then comes the tie breakers.  Tie breakers are the additional details that are added by the artist to their creations.  It is those tie breakers that the judges will look at that will help them decide on one doll over another for skill level.  In the competition I entered, porcelain doll makers aren't judged on a full body sculpture unlike in a polymer competition (porcelain doll makers are required to use molds to pour in our liquid porcelain).  More often than not, it is the sewing for the porcelain doll that will be the tie breakers as well as the China-painting skills.  That is why it is nice to know what is important to the judges for their scoring.

Since the IADR Juried Shows are open to all type of medias from polymer, porcelain, cloth to fiber art - what is it that the IADR judges are looking for when scoring?  There are three areas that the IADR judges take into consideration.  Each area has a value of 1 to 5 points with 5 being the highest. 

Those three areas are:
(1) The Skill Level in creating your doll (how well it is sculpted and is the doll in proportion/well formed);
(2) Interpretation of Theme of the IADR show you are entering in; and
(3) The Overall Appearance of your doll.  The big impact look as I like to call it.

​Knowing what the doll judges are looking for helps the artist entering their submission for the competition to focus on for those tie breaker judging elements.

Not to say it isn't fun when our entry wins a category or achieves a win at a certain artistic level, but also if we don't win this time to remember - dust yourself off and start again.  Don't take it personal, instead take what the judges say into consideration for improving your skills for next time.

As I leave the doll convention this week, my doll (Faun) as a sculpted OOAK (one-of-a-kind) doll, did win in it's category.  Faun will go home with her ribbons, but I'll be dusting myself off for my attempt next year.  Without trying I wouldn't have learned what I have learned and would like to think that next year's submission will even be better! *Smiling*