Meet Anna Allen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Allen. 

Hi Anna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
For many years I collected corn husk dolls, and I always wanted to learn how to make them. One sunny July afternoon, a dear friend showed me and my mom how to make a very basic style of corn husk doll. I am a self-taught artist, and I have always liked the idea of making something from nothing, like in the old story where she spins straw into gold. I soon realized I loved making corn husk dolls and spent many hours creating them and working on improving my technique. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In the beginning, it was hard getting my dolls to look the way that I wanted them to look. I struggled with proportions, and sometimes the head was too big for the body, or one arm was longer than the other. Corn husks are very hard to control. You have to soak them in water to soften them. There has been a lot of trial and error in my learning process, and it has taken me years to develop my style. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
There aren’t very many people who make the more detailed, artistic corn husk dolls. It seems to be a dying art, and that’s what I think sets me apart from other artists. I sometimes refer to my dolls as narrative corn husk sculptures because I feel that each doll tells its own story, and the story it tells depends on the person who is looking at it and what it says to them. I also love the vibrant colors in my work. My dolls also have painted faces, which is not a common feature of corn husk dolls. I put so much of myself into each doll I create that I always hate to see them go when they’re sold. I believe my very essence is in each doll. Inspiration for my creations comes from my Appalachian roots and my love for that old-time culture. I am currently focusing on Halloween and Fall dolls. Traditionally, corn husk dolls were made in the fall, given that fall is the time of year the corn is dry enough to use. However, you can save husks and use them any time, or buy husks at the grocery store that are packaged to make tamales. 

What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is helping my mom make my handmade Halloween costumes. 

Contact Info:

• Facebook: facebook.com/awshucksanniedolls

Image Credits
Holly Amerine Photography