A photo of a horror doll found by chance on the web was enough to make me lose my mind. Curiosity to know the artist's name grew as my eyes delighted in looking at other works that were both dark and fascinating. I lost myself in the macabre world of Donna L. Marian, a talented woman from Pennsylvania who graciously agreed to grant me a small, glacial-toned interview for DarkVeins.
In the gallery at darkcreation.com, her official website, it is easy to be fascinated by the photos depicting her horror dolls divided by genres such as vampires, zombies, mummies, and ghosts. The collection includes paintings but also stuffed animals, puppets and even mannequins, which Donna Marian transforms into the wonderful protagonists of a dark world. Cloaked in pain, grace and horror, the beautiful creatures that the American artist creates with extreme attention to detail portray the dark part of life, the part that everyone hides or pretends not to see.
D. L. Marian leads a fairly quiet life, living in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with her husband and her two dogs to whom she is very attached.
Q: How do you work and where? Do you prefer to work during the day or at night?
A: I work at home. My workstation is my dining table. I always work in the company of my dogs lying at my feet and surrounded by artwork. I generally produce in the morning and do everything else in the evening.
Q: What art do you identify with?
A: With Gothic art.
Q: What are the themes you deal with in your art?
A: Human suffering and religious themes.
Q: What was your scariest experience?
A: I was 18 years old and was with my father in Covington, Virginia. While I was sleeping I was awakened by the cold fingers of a ghost that stroked my right cheek. I turned to see who had touched me but there was no one there.
Q: Who are your favorite artists?
A: Giger, Chris Mars and Scott Radke.
Q: Can you describe a real situation that inspired you?
A: A death experience from hitting his head in an automobile accident.
Q: What jobs did you hold before you became an artist?
A: Musician, antiquarian and engineer.
Q: Why did you choose art?
A: I always need to bring my nightmares to life.
Q: Why did you focus on dolls, puppets and mannequins? Describe your obscure creations.
A: I love working in three dimensions. This allows me to give it a more realistic feel.
Q: Your dolls are divided into Gothic Dead, Vampyres, Ghost Girls, Victorian Mummies, and Sideshow Freaks, but paintings and stuffed animals also appear in your gallery. Are you also a taxidermist?
A: I paint but I am not a taxidermist. I rework and recycle old stuffed animals.
Q: You said you repurpose and recycle old objects--is this the same process you apply to dolls?
A: Yes. I use a lot of antique dolls or parts of them.
Q: What is the first thing you do during the process of transforming a doll?
A: I create it in my mind.
Q: What memorable responses have you had to your work?
A: Numerous ones. I am always humbled by people's remarks.
Q: What food, drink, song, movie inspires you?
A: Food: chocolate; drink: coffee; song: old and new love songs; movies: Stigmata, The Exorcist, Dead Zone...
Q: Speaking of movies, what is your favorite horror movie?
A: The Exorcist.
Q: Have you ever been approached for a film? If so, which one? I hope to see your dolls in a horror doll movie!
A: I was contacted and accepted several proposals--for a French film whose name I can't remember now, then for a TV movie and even the title of that one escapes me.
Q: What don't you like about your work?
A: Nothing.
Q: What do you like about your work?
A: Everything.
Q: What is your dream?
A: Working with Stephen King and M. Night Shyamalan.
Q: Speaking of these two characters, what are your favorite works of theirs?
A: I love everything King has written, but my favorite works are Dead Zone and Carrie. By Shyamalan I think The Sixth Sense is a brilliant film.
Q: Name three artists you would like to be compared to.
A: I hope to be completely original and not compared to anyone.
Q: What is your latest work and what is your favorite?
A: I work on five to six pieces at a time. I have no preference for one work over another.
Q: What do you think about this interview? Would you like to leave a message for the DarkVeins community?
A: It's a reflective interview, thank you Lady of sorrow. A big hello to the people of DarkVeins and thank you for your support!
Q: Thank you Donna!
