SANDRA VANDERPOOL: Her studio in Colorado may be along way from Hollywood, but Sandra's paper dolls subjects are often movie stars. And of course, she’s working in the 21st century yet she is an expert on the past as evidenced by the authentic details on her many historic paper doll sets. She is one of the leading paper doll artists of today and her very painterly technique makes her a favorite with collectors everywhere. Sandra jokes that the fact that she often forgets to change the water in an old Mason jar she uses may be the “mystic behind the look of my work.” Her many fans view her expertise much more reverently.

Sandra collected paper dolls as a child, an interest she shared with her doting grandmother. After receiving a BFA at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, she freelanced as a fashion illustrator for various clothing manufacturers and for Women’s Wear Daily. When her first marriage ended, Sandy moved to Beverly Hills and managed a clothing store where she met many movie stars. She also worked at a production company before moving back to Denver where she began teaching art. One of her students was attending classes on the GI Bill and they courted, wed and are living happily ever after, two artists sharing their life’s work. Sandy says, “John understands my work schedule and doesn’t get upset if the dishes don’t get done that night or housework goes begging when I need to meet my deadlines.” Her husband specializes in Western, Indian and Victorian subjects while Sandra is focused on fashion.

Researching vintage Hollywood and historic costume is Sandy’s great passion and the results have become an extensive catalogue of paper dolls, mostly self published. Her studio houses an extensive library of materials for research. She also creates miniature doll houses, meticulously furnished. Those two interests often mesh when Sandy creates paper dolls with very detailed settings for displaying them. Paper dolls by Sandra Vanderpool are truly works of art.