My People Indian dolls, The Journey

 

The Artistic Journey of Linda Rous: From Gypsy Artist to Creator of “My People” Dolls

The story of Linda Rous is one of resilience, creativity, and a lifelong pursuit of art. Starting as a determined young artist with a scholarship to the Columbus College of Art & Design in Ohio—a path she ultimately did not pursue—Rous carved out her own self-taught journey. Embracing the life of a “gypsy artist,” she spent 45 years on the road, showcasing her oil paintings at art shows and craft fairs across the United States. This nomadic lifestyle was filled with workshops, summer children’s classes, and adult classes at junior colleges, driven by her deep-seated passion for art.

A Sudden Shift and a New Beginning

Rous’s career was abruptly halted by a major illness that forced her to take a step back. Three years into recovery, she found herself retired from the fast-paced world of shows and exhibitions. But the quiet of retirement did not suit her spirit; boredom set in, and the desire to create returned stronger than ever.

The turning point came in 2005 when Rous explored three-dimensional work, spurred by her fascination with Kachina dolls. Lacking the hand strength to carve traditional cottonwood, she experimented with balsa wood, finding herself captivated by the craft. However, the artist’s respect for cultural boundaries and authenticity led her to realize that selling Kachina dolls was not an option.

The Birth of “My People”

In 2007, Linda Rous’s exploration took a meaningful turn with the birth of her unique collection called “My People.” These works drew inspiration from her own Iroquois heritage, where Great-grandmother’s traditions of crafting No Face Dolls from corn husks resonated deeply. Combining the “no face” concept with her admiration for Kachina forms was an organic evolution in her art.

Crafting “My People” was no easy task. Guided by intuition and trial and error, Rous carved each doll by hand with sharp knives, eschewing power tools in adherence to tradition—each piece imbued with its own spirit through this process. These dolls, born from blocks of wood, symbolized not just creative expression but a reconnection with ancestral voices and folklore.

The Challenges and Allure of Wood

Although Linda Rous initially thought porcelain would be her medium, she found herself enchanted by the unpredictable nature of wood. Wood, with its one-directional grain, has a life of its own. It can reveal hidden hardness, throw unexpected knots, and challenge an artist to adapt. These elements kept the work engaging and alive, shaping her dolls in ways she often didn’t anticipate.

Years of meticulous research into museum and auction records ensured that Rous’s creations upheld authentic design and color. Each doll, whether inspired by Native American folklore or history, became a bridge between cultures, crafted with care to represent the diversity of North American tribes.

The Legacy of “My People”

Today, Linda Rous’s “My People” is recognized internationally as more than just a collection of dolls. It is a testament to resilience and heritage, an art form that reaches across cultural lines to foster understanding and appreciation. Each figure carved from wood embodies a story, a spirit, and a connection that invites collectors and admirers into a world where tradition and creativity meet.

From the art shows of her early career to the quiet yet profound work of carving dolls, Rous’s journey reflects the enduring power of art to heal, evolve, and bridge divides. Through “My People,” she not only found her way back to creating but discovered a purpose that pays homage to her roots and celebrates the artistry of storytelling through sculpture.

Reprinted from the Original Doll Artist Council of America Blog with permission, 2025 (www.odaca.org).

 

2026 UFDC Doll Luncheon

 Tallgrass Prairie Doll Club  (Find us on Facebook)
- N E branch of Oklahoma,

United Federation of Doll Clubs

30th Anniversary Luncheon, "Tomahawks & Teepees"

(We are getting many inquiries already)

As residents of Oklahoma, we are proud to give our luncheon this fitting theme,

Oklahoma is called "Indian Territory" and our state has more resident Native Americans from a larger diversity of tribal affiliations than any other. We hope to honor our theme.

* Seating is limited to 100 attendees.

 

 

DATE ! ! !

June 13, 2026

Mark your calendars; you won't want to miss this one. 

Cost:  $100 includes luncheon doll and lunch.

Application w/ Invitation:  Will mail in July of 2025.

 

LOCATION ! ! !

We will hold our event on the compound of the Bartlesville First Church of The Nazarene at the intersection of Hwy. 75 and Hwy. 60 in Bartlesville.

 

More:  We will have sale tables available for rent, an auction for table center pieces, a raffle, displays and a raffle for a special antique doll.

 

Luncheon doll:  My People by Linda Rous

Linda is a member of Bartlesville Art Association, United Federation of Doll Clubs (UFDC) and Original Doll Artist Council of America (ODACA).  

Cost of the doll is included in luncheon reservation. 

"Companion dolls" will be available at her sale table.

Table center pieces, to be auctioned, will feature her dolls.

Her dolls are one of a kind, hand carved, no face dolls, signed & numbered with certificate.

www.lindarousartist.com 

 

 

Speaker:  Linda Rous

How her dolls came to be, the step by step construction, why they have no face, Indian folklore and history, Indigenous cultures of the United States and a question-answer period will be opened. 

Food:  Indian Tacos

We have signed contract with a Native American caterer from Pawhuska who will provide the lunch.  Desert will be an Iroquois strawberry corn cake.

 

We are so excited. 

Details will follow about cost, menu, area motels, events and when you can register, contests, sale tables and more.

 

Lots to do so stay connected to the Facebook page for updates:

https://www.facebook.com/tallgrassdollclubok/

 

 

 

 

Assemblage Dolls

 These are a new item in my etsy shop.

They are born of extra supplies that just won't work for other dolls:  not enough, one time use, to hard to carve by hand or something I found and like as unique.  A particularly interesting fabric (I am fond of textiles), charm, thread, yarn or artifact.

They are a recent addition and I use them as characters from folklore and miniature cradleboards fashioned after museum and auction records.  They give me a break from carving and I get to use my imagination in a different way.

 

Among the first Assemblage dolls, I incorporated some paper air dry clay to create the head of a crow which is significant in the Indigenous culture.  His eyes were pistachio shells.  They were sold out within a month.  I would like to do more animal heads.

The cradleboards average 8" tall and have a hook on the back so they hang on the wall.  The dolls are 8" and 14" tall, on average.  The sky is the limit when it comes to construction; whatever works for the character or historical accuracy.

* An issue that I feel needs to be improved are the arms when applied.  Right now my braided pipe cleaners are not sturdy enough to support most of the fabrics used; they want to droop.

These could evolve into something/anything.  I am still experimenting and enjoying the break from the carving routine.

Doll Characters

POPULAR CHARACTERS

My People no face Indian dolls consist of characters from Indigenous folklore of various American tribes.  Some dolls document historical clothing, dance regalia and a few are portrait dolls of historical characters.

Hours on hours are spent in researching characteristics, patterns and colors to be as accurate as possible in portrayal of actual Native America.  I am constantly looking to broaden the number of various characters.

There are some that are more popular than others and seem to dominate my work.  Maybe because the general public is more acquainted with their title or because of the story they tell.  Below are listed just a couple of those characters.

EARTH MOTHER Everyone seems to be able to relate to this white hair elder who sustains us and brings blessings of wisdom, health and long life.

 CHEROKEE ROSE Because of the "Trail of Tears" many can relate to the story of this maiden and the tear on her cheek.

 

SKY WOMAN  Another entity that seems to capture people is the story of the maiden who fell through the sky to create the North American continent. 

 

And they range in size from the 4" ornaments, 6" cradle dolls, 6" shorties to the 12" maidens and 18" princess dolls.  

*To see examples, visit my web site: www.lindarousartist.com

and my etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyPeopleDolls?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

Grandmother Doll

The great Indigenous nation of the Sioux Peoples are known among some doll makers for a highly beaded leather doll with no face.  She  is called "Grandmother" and is a long standing tradition.

 

It is common in the culture that toys not be made to last.  The idea is that children grow up and leave these childhood things behind.  The grandmother doll was made so well, with great love, that you can occasionally find a vintage doll in fair condition.  These are prized among collectors of dolls and Indigenous art and craft collectors.

The meaning behind Grandmother, with no face, is: she has no ears to hear a child's bad words, no eyes to see their bad deeds and no mouth to tell a child's secrets . . . a child's best friend is Grandmother.  This concept teaches the value of elders in society and respect for the "white hairs". 

This is such an amazing right of passage for the young and the old, that I  have created my own contemporary version that is washable and soft sculpted - for cuddling.  Another variation from the Sioux doll is that I paint mine to replicate various North American tribes, including the Sioux.

Each is approximately 10 -12" tall

 Early on, I tried various fabric, including felt and leather, and skin colors.

They then evolved to use brighter colors of non toxic, washable paints.

Presently, my dolls are made with earthy colors to replicate leather clothing or  bright colors to represent various broadcloth and beading.  ALL have taken on white hair to show the age represented by the doll. 

All of my dolls are inexpensive, washable, non-toxic and come with a Certificate explaining the meaning of "Grandmother".

www.lindarousartist.com

How To: Miniature Breastplate

 

Recently taught myself how to make a miniature Native American breastplate for an assemblage doll. 

 

I thought "Grandmother Moon" needed one to dress up her lame' and satin gown. (These breastplates were originally designed from bone and/or antler beads made by hand with crude tools, to be used as body armor for protection. Men's breastplates commonly covered the neck and chest area, women's breastplates were to protect heart and reproduction parts.)

 

This tried my patience and dexterity but I enjoy detail work. It wasn't easy and I had to start over - twice but . .  I DID IT 

 

Now I have to get the hand vac and find all the beads that dropped on the floor.

 

 

 

 

Learned very quickly to pin it to cardboard to secure the work. Used satin ribbon, seed beads, pony beads and bugle beads and wove the pattern back and forth.

 

Don't want to remember how many times I had to "unstring" beads because I got the count wrong - focus!

 

                    A close up of the finished product; only took two days.

Not bad for the first time. Actually, anxious to make another - and do it better.

 

Work Space

My People dolls are created all over my home.

Evenings find me in front of a movie in the den, carving with a small waste basket in my lap to catch all the shavings.  (Waste basket is then emptied into the tortoise habitat in the back yard.)  This system does NOT catch ALL the shavings, which is evident when I stand up and as I walk through the house during the day.  Shavings can be found throughout.  Nice weather can take me to the patio to listen to birds and leaves in the trees while I carve and allow shavings to be carried away on the wind.

Before we retired, downsized and relocated, I had a large one room studio where there was a table for carving so shavings were piled on the table and scraped off into a waste basket.  There was a table for painting and another for beading and making the miniature accessories.  I had storage space under tables for plastic storage boxes filled with supplies.  Office was a separate room.

Sanding has always been an issue with the sawdust - as is sawing larger wood pieces into smaller.  It is financially advantageous to buy larger pieces and cut them down.  I have had to use a mask to keep from inhaling sawdust.  I try to reserve my sanding for nicer weather outdoors.  This is not always possible so, with mask, bending over waste basket, sanding is held to a minimum.  Sawdust still finds it's way around the office, which is where my work area is now compacted.

In our "retirement home" my office and work space has been combined.  It is necessary to wall off a corner of the office/sitting space in order to create a convenient work area with supply closet.  I have sorted and labeled many supplies into small drawers to be within reach.  My paints are sorted by color in a swivel stand for easy access.  I kept my drafting table to work on.

Above my work table, is a wall shelf for solvents, specialty paints and glues.  My magnifying lamp is an absolute necessity.  The balsa wood I use is so porous I need to get "up close and personal" for even coverage.

Even though I like the solid look of an even coverage and use varnish for a nice finish, I have come to prefer a more "primitive" look which I achieve by bypassing a satin smooth sanded finish.  Look close and you will see knife marks on a finished doll.  This is preferred because of the culture and history of the no face doll.  They have existed among indigenous peoples for centuries.

In the closet behind my chair, you can find brushes, clay, tools, hardware, leather and various other needs.  

This is not the most ideal work space and I can bump my elbows on occasion.  Rearranging the office is not possible due to location of electric outlets along with the number of and size of furniture in the office.  All in all, there is a window to keep clostrophobia at bay and allow an occasional day dream.  File cabinet and computer offer reference material and I can take a coffee break on the love seat.