About our Trolls and the Family
From that first troll that Ken Arensbak made in 1959, on up to our trolls of today,
they are still handmade by the family using natural materials like rope fibers, wood, and other things that Nature provides.
Many of these cones, seeds, and nuts coming from the nearby forests of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Our trolls have ranged in size from 3" - 10' tall, with many different varieties (see some of them below).
We also make Troll Pets, Gnomes, Unicorns, Woodland Witches and a few others too:)
Each troll comes with a Troll Handbook that includes:
Troll Story
Guide to Field Identification of Trolls
Troll Grooming Guide
Tips for Catching One of Your Own
they are still handmade by the family using natural materials like rope fibers, wood, and other things that Nature provides.
Many of these cones, seeds, and nuts coming from the nearby forests of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Our trolls have ranged in size from 3" - 10' tall, with many different varieties (see some of them below).
We also make Troll Pets, Gnomes, Unicorns, Woodland Witches and a few others too:)
Each troll comes with a Troll Handbook that includes:
Troll Story
Guide to Field Identification of Trolls
Troll Grooming Guide
Tips for Catching One of Your Own
Here are just a few of our trolls...
For a quick view of all of our trolls...
For a quick view of all of our trolls...
For those who are wondering....
"how did we ever get started making TROLLS?"
When Ken and Neta Arensbak came to this country from post war Denmark in 1949, they brought
with them the folk tales that all Scandinavians grew up hearing, stories about those mystical creatures called Trolls.
They wanted their children to grow up with these legends as well,
but the telling of those tales always raised the question...
“What do Trolls really look like?”
Ken was a talented artist who loved to draw and paint (to see some of his art click HERE).
He also had a great imagination and was very creative...
having the ability to take everyday things that he found and create something new.
So to bring his stories to life, Ken gathered up some of these materials and made them a troll!
And here is that first troll from 1959...
with them the folk tales that all Scandinavians grew up hearing, stories about those mystical creatures called Trolls.
They wanted their children to grow up with these legends as well,
but the telling of those tales always raised the question...
“What do Trolls really look like?”
Ken was a talented artist who loved to draw and paint (to see some of his art click HERE).
He also had a great imagination and was very creative...
having the ability to take everyday things that he found and create something new.
So to bring his stories to life, Ken gathered up some of these materials and made them a troll!
And here is that first troll from 1959...
Ken's first troll
When friends and neighbors heard the stories and wanted ones of their own,
Ken was able to make a few of his trolls to give as presents.
Those first trolls were called Ken Trolls, and they looked like this...
Ken was able to make a few of his trolls to give as presents.
Those first trolls were called Ken Trolls, and they looked like this...
Ken Troll- made in 1965
Ken Arensbak with a group of the early trolls
When a gift shop in Gatlinburg, Tennessee found out about these unique trolls, they wanted some too...
but they wanted these for their customers!
So Neta and the kids made up a small group of trolls using Ken's design.
In the spring of 1969, they drove to Gatlinburg to make the delivery.
but they wanted these for their customers!
So Neta and the kids made up a small group of trolls using Ken's design.
In the spring of 1969, they drove to Gatlinburg to make the delivery.
Falling in love with the beauty of the area, they started exploring and came across a mountain top that was for sale
not far away in the small community of Cosby. Being right next to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
it had a great view that inspired the artist in Ken.
On the way home they decided to buy the property and Ken made plans to build a studio where he could
paint full time and the family could maybe make a few trolls (if that shop did well with them).
A studio home was built in 1971 and the family moved in later that year.
While Ken planned to devote his time to painting, the trolls had other plans:)
not far away in the small community of Cosby. Being right next to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
it had a great view that inspired the artist in Ken.
On the way home they decided to buy the property and Ken made plans to build a studio where he could
paint full time and the family could maybe make a few trolls (if that shop did well with them).
A studio home was built in 1971 and the family moved in later that year.
While Ken planned to devote his time to painting, the trolls had other plans:)
Local newspaper article about the family, trollmaking, and their move to Tennessee
The trolls were starting to become popular and the demand for them was keeping the family busy.
But in his spare time, Ken began creating his amazing troll drawings.
But in his spare time, Ken began creating his amazing troll drawings.
Ken Arensbak's drawing "Troll Enclave in the Mountains"
They soon found themselves in the troll making business, naming it 5 Arts Studio (for the original 5 family members).
The family grew along with the business and the studio has now become a real "troll house".
The family grew along with the business and the studio has now become a real "troll house".
Ken and Neta telling troll stories to their grandkids...and to a few trolls too:)
And now over 60 years later, the family is still making their Trolls the same way,
and adding new ones to the collection in the hope
that you will enjoy them too!
and adding new ones to the collection in the hope
that you will enjoy them too!
More about the family...
