A whimsical character doll workshop is bringing creativity and connection to Kawerau, with illustrator and artist Claire Delaney McCleary leading the two-day event.

To be held at the Kawerau Art Society building located at 94 Valley Road, the workshop runs over May 23 and 24. The workshop will guide participants through creating their own sculpted character doll from scratch.

Ms Delaney McCleary lives in Rotorua and is a visual storyteller, illustrator and workshop facilitator who writes children’s storybooks and runs creative workshops throughout the Bay of Plenty. She also holds a degree in fashion and textiles.

The workshops are usually $250 per person, but local artist Sue Gould successfully applied for a Kawerau District Council community grant, reducing the cost for participants to $80 a person.

Ms Gould said the Kawerau Art Society building had become an important hub for artists and makers.

“It’s a really nice place to come and build the art community and learn what everybody else is doing. It allows people to share what they know with others.

“It doesn’t matter if you spill anything on the floor, and it’s set up for art.”

Ms Delaney McCleary said the workshop was designed for beginners, with participants creating a complete doll over the course of the weekend.

“It starts with a ball of tinfoil and wire and ends up as a doll all painted and clothed, and no two are the same.”

Ms Gould said the variety of creations that emerged during workshops was always inspiring.

“Claire’s workshop that I went to was absolutely incredible. Different people’s ideas, and what that resulted in, was really cool to see.”

Ms Delaney McCleary said the dolls often took on personalities of their own as participants worked.

“It’s all about intuition and imagination Somebody will come and say, oh, I was intending to do a little fairy and now she’s a witch.

“I think it teaches people a lot about life as well because the conversations that come up are really funny. It’s about gathering people together and they chat and they laugh at their dolls sometimes, and sometimes they get frustrated with them. I guide them through and they get a result.”

The illustrator said her journey into doll making began unexpectedly during an illustration course.

“I’m predominantly an illustrator and I went on a week’s course at Corban Estate with Sandra Morris and Nina Rycroft. It was an illustration course, and part of it was making a three-dimensional figure.

“When you illustrate you can use the dolls to draw a picture front on, or side on. For a children’s book, you’ve probably got to draw your main figure about 24 times. It enriches the illustration.”

Ms Delaney McCleary describes her artistic style as “whimsical”, inspired by fairy tales, storytelling and emotional connection.

“I grew up in England. I’ve been inspired by very old fairy tales, Alice in Wonderland, and things like that.”

“I think the whimsy just makes people smile. I think everybody needs a bit of escapism.”

She also spoke about the role creativity can play in wellbeing.

“My work is about mental wellness, mental illness, and how art is therapy. I’m not an art therapist, but I believe in art therapy.

“There is a magic that happens when you come to the workshop, you feel it, something happens when it all goes quiet and everyone’s sort of working together.”

Ms Gould said the art space offered more than just learning artistic techniques.

“You talk amongst yourselves and you swap ideas.”

Ms Delaney McCleary agrees, saying many people arrive alone but quickly connect with others.

“It’s quite scary to walk into a room full of people you don’t know. But it’s very organic how the friendships happen.”

“We make it very sociable. It’s all about nurturing creativity.”

Ms Gould said organisers hoped the workshop would be the beginning of more creative opportunities in Kawerau.

“I thought this was a really great one to start with, and then hopefully from this we can muster up enough support for more creative workshops.”

Ms Delaney McCleary said storytelling sat at the heart of all her work.

“I think, as human beings, we are losing a bit of that. Let’s gather people together and tell stories.”

Tickets are selling fast for the workshop; those interested can contact Ms Gould by email at [email protected]. The workshop is open to people aged 16 and over.

For more information about Ms Delaney McCleary’s work, go to her website at https://clairedelaney.com