Trick of the Eye is the creative world of Armidale artist and educator Fiona McDonald, whose work blends imagination, sustainability, and craftsmanship across drawing, painting, soft sculpture, and doll making. After studying at the renowned Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney during the 1980s, Fiona continued developing her artistic practice while discovering a passion for sculptural doll making and textile art.
Working from her delightfully chaotic Armidale studio, Fiona creates unique characters and figurative sculptures using materials that would otherwise end up in landfill. Worn-out socks, stained t-shirts, old flannelette pyjamas, and discarded fabric scraps are transformed into whimsical goblins, soft toys, and one-of-a-kind dolls full of personality and charm.
Her goblin creations range from tiny baby goblins made from infant socks through to large seated figures that blur the line between doll and sculpture. Fiona also repurposes stuffing from old cushions and lounges, giving forgotten materials an entirely new life through art.
More recently, she has begun rescuing unwanted knitted toys and unraveling the yarn to create entirely new characters. Old trauma teddies and damaged toys are carefully reworked into expressive handmade creations with moveable limbs and distinctive personalities. One current project sees a deteriorating vintage doll being transformed into an elegant Red Riding Hood-inspired figure for display at Granny Fi’s Toy Cupboard, where Fiona’s goblins and handmade toys are also available.
Through Trick of the Eye, Fiona McDonald continues to prove that creativity and sustainability can work hand in hand, turning discarded materials into imaginative works of art.
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