Julie Allen Matthews
Artist Bio:
Julie Allen Matthews is a paper doll artist, designer, and digital illustrator whose work combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary tools. She has become a key creative collaborator for Paperdoll Review and Paper Studio Press, contributing artwork, cover designs, layouts, and digital production to many of their publications, as well as illustrating her own paper doll books.
Matthews has been drawing since childhood and began creating paper dolls in elementary school, inspired by fashion figures and early stencil sets. She later earned a degree in art history and continued to develop her skills through drawing and painting classes, workshops, and independent study. Over time, she moved from oil painting and still-life work into graphic design and digital illustration, building a practice that now centers on paper dolls and related projects.
Her paper doll work ranges from original characters to extensive collaborations with other artists. Using tools such as Procreate, Photoshop, and Illustrator, she combines hand-drawn sketches with digital line art and color, then completes each project with tabs, layout, and cover design. She is also closely involved in the visual presentation of many Paperdoll Review and Paper Studio Press titles, applying her design and digital production skills across the catalog.
Matthews’ artistic process reflects a strong interest in observation, structure, and craft. She begins each project by gathering reference materials and sketching poses and costumes on paper, then refines her drawings digitally, organizing complex files through named layers and groups. In addition to paper dolls, she has experience in picture framing and art conservation, and she occasionally pursues other creative activities such as cross-stitch, often designing her own patterns.
Beyond her published work, Matthews maintains an active studio practice and shares her insights into paper doll art, process, and technique through her blog, Paper Doll School. She continues to explore new approaches to digital drawing, layout, and composition while encouraging other artists to draw from life, return to fundamentals, and develop creative habits that fit their daily lives. Julie was the featured artist in OPDAG's Paper Doll Studio, Issue 118 (2017).
This artist entry is part of the OPDAG Paper Doll Artists Index, an ongoing research project. Entries are updated as new information is confirmed. We welcome corrections, additions, publication information, images, and other materials that help preserve and document the work of paper doll artists. Please contact Jenny Taliadoros at info@opdag.com if you have information to share.
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Selected Titles:
Self Published (Lulu)
Goddess Paper Dolls (2011)
Garden Fairy (2011)
A Boy's Adventure (2013)
Ghoulish Girls: A Halloween Paper Doll (2014)
Santa and Mrs Claus: A Paper Doll Book (2016)
Beautiful Angel (2017)
Toddlers Mix and Match Paper Dolls (2020)
Tweens Mix and Match Paper Dolls (2022)
Paper Studio Press
Kitchen Kitsch Paper Dolls (2018)
Fun With Mom (2020)
Paperdoll Review
Josephine’s Wardrobe Paper Doll (2019)
Victorian Mix & Match Paper Dolls (2019)
Rose & Ivy Paper Dolls (2020)
Miss Hollie Day: Play Paper Dolls All Year Round (2022)
Everything Eighties Paper Doll (2023)
Sisters at Heart Paper Dolls (2023)
Nora & Nellie 1920s Paper Dolls in Seasonal Styles (2024)
Timeless Beauty of the Teens (2024)
A Very Flapper Halloween Paper Dolls (2025)
Emma McKay Every Day Paper Dolls (2025)
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Timeless Beauty of the Teens by Julie Allen Matthews
A Very Flapper Halloween Paper Dolls by Julie Allen Matthews
Fun with Mom Paper Dolls by Julie Allen Matthews