Island artist Kathy Johnson became fascinated with dolls at an early age. Not the typical baby doll with a cherubic face or a Barbie doll sporting infamous body proportions. Rather Johnson’s focus landed on dolls from around the world, dolls she understood to be cultural icons. As one of six artists commissioned by Vashon Allied Arts to make a special piece of art for the nonprofit’s annual auction on Sept. 18 and 19, Johnson created her three-dimensional figure one bead at a time.

“I had an aunt who traveled the world and always brought me back a doll from the countries she visited,” Johnson said, adding that the vintage bead work, embroidery, textiles and antique artifacts on the dolls fascinated her. “I start with those (kinds of) materials as a focal point, then I improvise as I go along, with beads sewn on one at a time.”

Johnson calls her work three-dimensional mixed media with beads and embroidery. Her figures are described by some as dolls; others say they are sculptures. They range in size from 2 and 1/2 inches to her largest to date, the 9 and 1/2 inch figure “Odalisque,” which she made for the auction.

Some of her pieces don’t have faces while others do. For “Odalisque,” Johnson bought a ceramic face from another artist, Lyn Belisle of Earthshards. In her typical mode, Johnson did not have a specific vision in mind, only that she would use material reflective of the French theme for this year’s auction, Vive la France. It was a good fit for Johnson.

“I am fascinated by the turn of the century, the 1900s, in North Africa and Europe,” Johnson said. “Mattisse was inspired by North Africa, and he has a series of Odalisques.”

The artist used a lot of vintage beads, labradorite and pearl gemstones and Indian Kuchi tarnished brass gilet ring links, as well as silk embroidered fragments from the Silk Road.

Johnson said she is always surprised to see the finished art, that the pieces tend to go their own way. She wanted to wrap “Odalisque” in a garland of beads like a belly dancer, but said Odalisque was having none of that.

“A friend once said that ‘art is bossy,’ and yes it is,” Johnson said. “It is clear that each figure has its own personality, and I have to do it their way.”

Johnson, who grew up in West Seattle and has lived on the island for over 25 years, began her art career as a painter. She said her paintings, like her figures, have a multicultural and textural feel based on being inspired by textiles from around the world.

“My paintings and dolls go together,” Johnson said. “Sometimes I think I should paint dolls or bead paintings. Maybe I will. I think it is coming.”