Dolls Actresses by Noel Cruz
Filipino artist Noel Cruz is one of the most versatile and distinguished repaint artists in the doll community. He is most recognized for his character and celebrity based dolls due to their uncanny resemblance to the people they portray. His realistic Hollywood doll-stars are derived from several models like Gene, Tyler, Sydney, etc, by various doll-makers such as Robert Tonner and Franklin Mint. His repaints as well as his portraits are done with intricate detail to the point of being naturally lifelike in essence. Noel Cruz was born in the Philippines and currently lives in California. His website www.ncruz.com

Born into a very poor family, Noel Cruz had to work since childhood, doing cleaning in the clients’ houses. With no toys or even the possibility to play with other children, Noel found another outlet for his energy and imagination. In particular, he began to draw. At first, it was common scribbles which he covered the paper in his free time. 12-year old boy first saw the TV show “Miss World” and has since focused his attention on creating portraits. Passion for Noel was so strong that at 16 years old – without having behind any drawing lesson, a young painter draw portraits on order.

A few years later, Noel Cruz and his wife moved to the United States, where his wife began collecting dolls. The artist completed her collection. Once in search of the next doll for wife’s collection he saw an exhibition of dolls, hand-painted. Their painted faces so struck Noel’s mind that he decided to do something similar himself. He soon realized that the paint on the small and bulk plastic faces – not the same thing as painting portraits on large-scale flat canvases. But it was too late to retreat, and portraits have become the main occupation of Noel.

After eight years of training and hundreds painted people, Noel Cruz became a recognized master in painting dolls. He buys a regular Barbie doll (or unusual – from limited edition) and draws the facial features, and his wife picks or sews clothes to complete the image.

LAID ASIDE (by Crystal Elizabeth Webb)
Some girls
are dolls;
Dressed up,
in frilly clothes.
Yellow curls-
dripping, dancing-
around delicate,
fragile porcelain.

Faces, painted on,
Fixed forever.
Long, lovely
lashes,
never blink-
Lips perfectly parted,
Round cheeks, rose-pink.
No thoughts to think-
No need to drink.
Nothing to lose.
Mindlessly amused.
Loved;
but never loving.
Soulless.
Full of nothing-
fluffy stuffing.
Laid aside;

Beautiful, Glassy
Blue-eyes,
Blindly transfixed
toward the sky.

Dolls Actresses by Noel Cruz