OddBody OddBrain - Art Therapy

Hello FairyFindr Fam! I know it's been over a year since my last blog, and for that, I sincerely apologize. I have been going through tons of emotional, mental, and physical difficulties that have made me slip into a deep dark depression as I go through a divorce and many many other transitional times in my life. I'm not sad about the changes, but its still a lot of emotions. I'm happy for my new beginnings.

I want to get back to my FairyFindr blog because it brings me joy and it helps me deal with my mental health in a way that is positive and uplifting, while also exploring art forms and artists who inspire me. Today we have an amazing interview with my friend Maya, whom I had initially met on Reddit in some doll groups! I invited her to join my r/hybriddolls subreddit that I created for Sid Phillips-esque hyrid and monster dolls, toys, and plushies!

Please tell us about yourself, include your name and pronouns, and how you came up with your artist brand name, OddBody OddBrain?

• Answer: My name is Maya Graine, I use she/her pronouns, and I came up with the name because “oddbody” is a term used for transforming a Furby into a piece of art. I have an “oddbody” and an “oddbrain” because of my chronic illnesses, so I relate to weird toys and art.
  

Let's start from the beginning. When did you start collecting and creating dolls, and what sparked your interest in this form of art?

• Answer: I've loved dolls and plushies since I was a kid, but I've become more interested in them since my health has gotten worse. I spend a lot of time in my home, so I like to surround myself with whimsical things. I wanted to incorporate toys into my existing art practice, in which I do a lot of mixed media, video, and performance. Making weird toys brings me a lot of joy, and it's the most fun I've had making art.

Your creations are quite unique- hybrid dolls and other quirky works- what inspired this art style for you?

• Answer: I was really inspired by the long Furby community on Reddit, which is full of a ton of really talented artists. I also have always loved Salvador Dalí and his surrealism, especially his photography. I've made a lot of serious artworks, but I really enjoy making art that's fun and makes people smile.
  

This is an image of Maya in her maximalist clothing and her oddbody purse. It was taken in 2024 in Los Angeles.

How does your art reflect your identity and personal experiences?

• Answer: As a kid, I struggled to fit in, especially with having OCD and health issues. I felt like I was weird, so I decided to be even weirder and stand out more, and therefore when people made fun of me, I had a shield of self-awareness. Now that I'm an adult, I see my weirdness as an asset when making art because it helps me make unique pieces and connect with really cool people.
  

How does incorporating broken pieces of dolls into your artwork relate to your experience with chronic pain and disabilities?

• Answer: I've had 8 surgeries in my lifetime, so I've experienced being taken apart and put back together. My art process is similar to surgery, in that I take parts of old toys and put them together. I think a lot of people see people with disabilities and feel bad for them, maybe like they'd feel bad for a broken doll, but I see strength and adaptability in the face of adversity.

What does magic and a sense of wonder and possibility mean to you and your artistic process?

• Answer: I absolutely love looking at objects and seeing their potential for being repurposed. I think that people often throw things out and decide that they are junk before thinking about their potential. I really do think that you can make anything you want to if you're creative and resourceful. 

This is an image of the Oddbody Babes made with vintage big eyed dolls. It was taken in 2024 in Los Angeles.

Can you elaborate on the connection between your mental health and your art? How does doll creation and making art help you cope?

• Answer: I come from a family that wasn't comfortable with addressing mental health issues, so it wasn't until I moved out and was on my own that I started receiving treatment for my OCD and anxiety. Therefore, art was a really important outlet for me for working out my feelings about my physical and mental health. It took a long time for me to process becoming disabled and losing my able body because I was a pre-professional ballet dancer, and art was instrumental in helping me through that mourning process.
  

Furby dolls seem to be a recurring theme in your art. What draws you to them and why do you use them so frequently?

• Answer: I'm drawn to the original 1998 Furby because it's a weird mixture of creepy and cute. It has human eyes and eyelashes, a bird beak, no arms, and little feet - what a strange combination! I love that someone was so bold that they created such a weird creature, and they succeeded on such a huge scale. I also had Furbies growing up, and I was fascinated by the animatronic component. I would love to make animatronics or puppets some day. 

When you feel burnt out or uninspired, what do you do to reignite your creativity?

• Answer: When I'm burnt out, I like to take a break and spend time in nature. It can be hard with my health issues, but I love to go to the beach or the botanical gardens and just enjoy the sun and fresh air.

This is an image of Louise. She has a three-eyed Furby faceplate and is made

from a vintage windup doll. This photo was taken in Colorado in 2023.

Could you describe the process of creating one of your masterpiece dolls from start to finish?

• Answer: I usually go to the Goodwill or go on Ebay to look for any dolls or plushes that I think I could work with. I also 3D print Furby faceplates for the Furby purses and plushes that I make. Then I see how I could take them apart and maybe combine them. I also do a lot of hand painting and hand sewing. I don't really like sketching, I prefer to just try different things and see if they work.

Are there any artists or individuals who have influenced your work? If so, who are they and how have they inspired you?

• Answer: My grandma collected antiques, and she had really old toys that I used to play with as a kid. She was an artist herself, though she had to stop making art after her husband left her and she had to raise my mom and my aunt on her own. I like to think of my creativity as something I inherited from her, and as a way that I can carry on her legacy.
  

How do you envision the future of OddBody OddBrain?

• Answer: I would love to learn how to 3D model so that I can make molds and try new mediums for my weird creations. I will keep making new artworks and growing my business so that I can support myself with my art. Maybe at some point I'll have a place where people can see and buy my creations in person.

This is Fuggles the Clown. He is a poseable doll. This photo was taken in Los Angeles in 2024. 

Do you have any long-term goals or aspirations for your art?

• Answer: I'm starting an MFA Visual Art program in the fall, so I'll be working on my art every day, experimenting with different mediums. I definitely want to create immersive artworks that engage all the senses and feel more like an experience, and I will continue to address the themes of chronic illness and disability to destigmatize these topics.

In what ways do you hope to inspire others through your unique and unconventional art?

• Answer: I want people to know that it's never too late to start making art and that they should become an artist if they want to. Art is for everyone! We all need to support each other's creativity, and encourage one another to try new things.

What challenges have you faced as an artist, and how have you overcome them?

• Answer: I stopped making art for about 3 years because I had a very negative teacher in high school who hated my artwork. When I got to college, I started painting for the first time and began to regain my confidence. I also face a lot of physical obstacles every day when making art, especially with my chronic pain and fatigue, but thankfully I have a very supportive partner and family who help me with physical tasks.

This is a photo titled “We Fight On Because We Have To.” It is from a series about

ableism on my college campus. It was taken in Los Angeles in 2023.

Do you have a favorite piece that you've created? If so, what makes it special to you?

• Answer: My music video “patient” is actually my favorite artwork I've ever made. It was the first time I broke away from more traditional art and really tried something more wacky and experimental. It also really helped my family understand my experiences with chronic illness better.

How do you balance your personal life with your art practice?

• Answer: It is hard to keep your personal life and art separate as an artist since you're constantly drawing from personal experiences to make artwork. I always try to keep in mind that I'm allowed to make artistic choices just because I respond to them visually, and that not every decision has to have some deeper meaning.

Can you share a memorable experience you've had related to your art or a particular piece you've created?

• Answer: One memory that really stands out is when I first starting painting, I was only painting realistic landscapes. I asked my partner if he had any suggestions about what I should paint and he told me to make something really weird and unique. I made my first abstract portrait and fell in love with making unusual art.

This photo is titled “Invisible Illness” and was taken in Los Angeles in 2023. The monster

in the background is made from abstractions of my MRI images that I painted.

Have you experimented with other forms of art aside from doll making? If so, what were they and how do they compare to your doll creations?

• Answer: I actually only started using toys in my art in December of 2023. I used to do a lot of painting, but now I mostly do performance and photography. I'm planning on incorporating toys into my other artworks moving forward.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting their creative journey?

• Answer: My advice for people just starting art is to take risks and follow your intuition! Art is about trying new things and making mistakes. It's better to make a lot of art and learn from it than to stress over perfection.

Are there any misconceptions about your art or the doll making process that you'd like to address?

• Answer: There are definitely biases against toys in the art world. Many people see toys as frivolous, and I've had professors tell me not to pursue toy-making in my artwork because it's not serious enough. I see deconstructing toys as a way to work through my own loss of innocence that happened when I became disabled, so they aren't just toys to me.

How do you approach the use of materials in your art? 

• Answer: I think materials are an extremely important way of conveying meaning in artwork. I moved away from painting because I felt like paint doesn't carry enough meaning on its own. I prefer to use things that add to the thematic elements of the work. 

Are there specific types of materials you prefer to work with?

• Answer: Unfortunately I can't work with a lot of larger scale, more laborious mediums because of my disabilities, so I have to be strategic about what mediums I choose. I’m drawn to fiber materials like yarn and fabric, and I like to make things that might also be functional, like purses or accessories.

This is Arthur. He was made from a lamb plush and a baby doll face in Los Angeles in 2024. 

This is an image of a TeleTube purse. I made it using a Teletubby doll and baby doll legs in Los Angeles in 2024. 

Do you have a ritual or routine that you follow when working on a new piece of art?

• Answer: Since I have OCD, I definitely think rituals play a big part in my process. I have a particular order that I like to go about making my pieces, and I have an organized set up to make the process quicker. I always like to have a podcast or a TV show on in the background, and I always work from my couch so that I'm comfortable.

Have you ever collaborated with other artists or creators? If not, is it something you would be interested in exploring?

• Answer: I've never really collaborated with other artists but I definitely would love to! I've been hoping to do a project with someone where we work on one sculpture together and mail it back and forth to each other, adding to it each time. I often feel isolated because I can't leave my house a lot, so I'd like to do a project that shows how connections can overcome distance.

Lastly, what message or feeling do you hope your art communicates to the world?

• Answer: I hope that my art makes people think about disability and chronic illness in a new way. A lot of the time people hear those terms and respond with pity or fear, but I want to show how joy can thrive in the face of adversity. 🧚‍♂️🧚‍♂️🍀🍀 ✨✨🧚‍♂️🧚‍♂️🍀🍀 ✨✨🧚‍♂️🧚‍♂️🍀🍀 ✨✨🧚‍♂️🧚‍♂️🍀🍀 ✨✨🧚‍♂️🧚‍♂️🍀🍀

You can support Maya by buying her art here on her website: https://oddbodyoddbrain.bigcartel.com/

FairyFindrs, stay tuned because after conducting this interview me and Maya started a doll together named Mad (she/they) and they are really rad, Maya gave. me a really good start to add on to and my procrastinating ass hasn't done anything with it yet but it will be coming very soon, especially since I am now releasing this blog finally after sitting on it for a few months.

Mad (she/they) after Maya did her magic on them! What should Alex the FairyFindr add. to her?

Maybe some wings and they can be the most unusual fairy around!!

HUGE Thanks to Maya for being so sweet and understanding as well with my time delays and being so consumed in other parts of my life that I've been neglecting this blog that helps me so much. I also apologize to the FairyFindr audience. for getting you all so invested in the stories and then dropping off for a year but I'm back and I'm going to try harder to be more consistent! I have a few blogs and interviews lined up actually! I'm super active on my Instagram @marvelousmagicalminiatures where I post all my mini and fairy content.

✨✨🧚‍♂️🧚‍♂️🍀🍀 ✨✨🧚‍♂️🧚‍♂️🍀🍀 ✨✨🧚‍♂️🧚‍♂️🍀🍀 ✨✨🧚‍♂️🧚‍♂️🍀🍀 ✨✨🧚‍♂️🧚‍♂️🍀🍀

Please leave a comment or message below and let us know how YOU got started in your magical or fairy related artwork or creative avenues! We can’t wait to hear your stories!! If you want to be a part of the blog and do your own magical interview of your dreams. Please feel free to find all our links on our LinkTree or connect on our FairyFindr Website, OR email me at FairyFindr@gmail.com

May the fae bless you,

Alex the FairyFindr // Marvelous Magical Miniatures