In the fall of 1991, twelve artists joined together at Donna's Children Making studio in Westfield, Massachusetts to attend the first Johnston Original Artdolls Professional Doll Making course. The workshop was a tremendous success, the graduating 'Master" students were exceptional artists. They had a strong desire to show their new creations to the nation, but had no way of doing it. It had been a dream of instructor Jack Johnston to form a guild to help beginning artists in their quest to progress as professional doll makers. This seemed like the perfect time and group from which to organize a consortium of professional artists. The "Professional Doll Makers' Art Guild" was formed and a group that has become a 'legacy' was born.

Over the past years the Guild members have had hundreds of professional artists join its ranks and show their dolls across the Nation. The Guild's members have received over 70 nominations to the "Dolls Awards of Excellence" in New York City at the International Toy Fair. The Guild members have had International coverage through over a dozen magazine covers, 63 profile stories and numerous individual photos in magazines. Scores of beginning artists have found their way to the top of the Industry with the Guild's help. Combined, the artists who have been affiliated with the Guild have sold over $15,000,000 in one-of-a-kind and reproduction dolls during these past years.

This 'not-for-profit' organization prides itself in saying "We will help any worthy artist who desires to improve his or her skills as a professional artist". Potential members submit three one-of-a-kind dolls of their own making for a critique. The Guild has a one hundred point critique that they use to grade its new members and to put them into the level for which they are qualified. There are four artist levels depending on the applicant's skill sets: Associate, Apprentice, Artist, and Master Artist. There is a $25 fee for the critique and a $60 annual fee to belong to the Guild, as well as a one-time website fee of $29.

The beginning artists are encouraged to continue to improve their skills through additional courses and help from their fellow Guild members. Once a member has reached the level of 'Artist', that member is welcomed to show their work with the Guild. The Guild shows its artists' work at EXPO in Washington, D.C., IDEX in Orlando and other major shows around the nation. One of the benefits of membership is showing at shows as a group. The cost of the show is divided evenly among the members. The same is true of advertising as a group in major magazines. The Guild uses its resources to purchase advertising and to supplement the cost of the shows the Guild attends.

The Guild does much more than just help its members, the Guild also encourages its members to contribute their dolls to charities. In one auction alone the members gave $16,500 to the Children's Miracle Network. Through one of the Guild's corporate sponsors (ProSculpt Clay Company) they offer an annual educational scholarship program in gaining a Masters Certificate and start in the doll business. Reva Schick was assisted by the Guild in reaching her "life changing" agreement with The Lee Middleton Doll Company. The same is true for Jane Pinkstaff, Barry Cathers, Pat Moulton, and many others. The Guild does not charge to help its members.

Jack Johnston, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Guild says: "Helping others achieve in the doll making industry is why we have a Guild. As a team we all work with the same goal in mind. This allows us to progress much further and faster than we would ever be able to do alone. By helping artists become more successful there will be additional collectors, more successful magazines, the show promoters will have larger shows and as a result the industry will grow."

Corporate sponsors like Scott Publications, Jones Publishing, ProSculpt, Heartland Mint and The Middleton Doll Company and others have been very helpful in seeing that the Guild continues as a driving force in the doll making industry.

We hope our efforts in working together to help each other and those in the industry will continue for many years to come and through our efforts more artists will become 'stars' in the doll making world.

For questions about The Professional Doll Makers' Art Guild call our toll-free number 1-800-949-1334.