Art-dolls

I have made three, actually. I used bisque and painted them with acrylics.
here's a link to one:
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/19680714/

 

Oh wow! that's awesome!



does anyone have links they could post of the sites for the japanese ball-jointed artist's dolls? I have this one:

http://dolly.vivian.jp/gsn_doll/index.html this is the really disturbing one with the doll that's the violin. Not for the faint of heart~~

 

I love that cute little guy!!

I don't think I would ever make a one of a kind. I would always be thinking about the little guy, you know people like me who fall in love with dolls and then find they can't have them because there is only one, that's so frustrating. One of a kinds usually sell for more. I guess it just depends on why your making it, and if you want to cast it. Casting is a lot of work. I think I'd like lots of people to be happy to have my doll, instead of just one, but that's just me.

 

Thank yous^^

I am sculpting one right now that I am hoping to cast at some point. He's far more anatomically aesthetic than the other's I have created and the joints are also a lot more practical (seeing as I had no idea what I was doing when I did the first ones XD). The only thing that is getting in the way is time (graduating this year, so it's like constant anarchy). I finally saved up some cash and I think I have enough for my supplies. When i am farther along I think I may post a few pictures.

 

If I were to make a site of art dolls, would people buy them? I was recently hospitalised with breathing problems, so home resin casting will always be a no-no for me... But I like making dolls, and I'd like to sell them too (to buy more clay! ) My ambition is to make a three foot doll and then... even taller!

*sigh*

 

That....is.....the coolest thing I have ever seen. I would give my soul and a few important limbs for that doll.
*insane I know*

 

Verbana,

I prefer the one of a kinds to the large runs - I really, really love the resin dolls - but I love making bjds, and make the little polymer or apoxy sculpt ooaks for the fun of it. ---- just posted pics of a dorky little beetle boy in the photogallery but you can see him at
http://shadows.4oni.com/doa/walk2.jpg

i generally sell enough to have enough money to buy a few bjd's a year - but i just do it for the fun of it --- I think that if you work at it, develop the skills and do the marketing - you should be able to sell. even if you don't sell many, i think its worth it just for the fun of it.

 

You can also join the doll making forums... but I can't remember what the url is. I'm rather a recluse when it comes to anything but ABJDs.. XD And there are several art doll magazines too. People seem to really like one of a kinds on ebay as well. I think you should try it. :3 I was never able to sell my ooaks because my mother would take them from me. =_= I felt even worse when she wanted to PAY me for them! yeesh. :S

Patl's dolls take the cake though. I still love your mantis lady.

 

I'm pretty sure these links to Japanese doll artists have been posted around here already, but anyway:

http://doll.mda.or.jp/~naruto/
http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/hizukidoll/
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/kayuli/hiina/
http://koitsukihime.cool.ne.jp/
http://cipango.typepad.com/cipango/japanese_dolls/index.html (a series of pictures of doll by several different Japanese artists, linked to their websites)
http://www.ki.rim.or.jp/~miho/
http://art-tong.com/

Also- patl! Where can I see more of your dolls? I didn't know your work and I think I'm gonna love it. And thank you for your words about fun and selling and... fun. Becoming a doll artist is about my golden dream right now, and reading you was inspiring ^^

 

I do prefer amking OOAK dolls. now I'm finishing my first one, I only nead to make legs ^^. she'll be a part of my bigger art realted project. the designe is basing on my art style, so it won't be an "usual" doll
I think, that she'll be finished within 2-3 weeks, so I'll post photos here

 

Actually, I used to sculpt OOAK fairies and such, paint them, wig them, and sew clothing for them...just before I got into BJDs. I found myself liking the sewing part the best, and once I found BJDs, I knew I'd rather do that. I still dabble occasionally though. Plus, the money for them is pretty good if you're half decent and sell them on ebay.

 

hey Erinna and Batchix,

thanks! very kind words, much appreciated. I have pics of ooak's up at
http://shadows.4oni.com

but I haven't posted pics of most of the bjds - i tend to think of them more as for fun, for play ---- hmmm - actually, i'm not really sure why i don't post pics of them. maybe its time to update the site a little.

I know folk who make their living selling ooak dolls - some go the ebay route - there are all kinds of issues there - but it works well for folk doing the faes and miniature dolls. It doesn't seem to work as well for folk who do figures that are a little stranger - similar sculpting skills, but stranger visions don't seem to get the high prices that the more mainstream static figures do (this is based on observation only, haven't tried to sell there)

you can join the online dollmakers list
http://www.dollmaking.org/

it would be wonderful to have more bjd makers posting there - gets off topic sometimes, the occaisional flame war, but Dawn steps in and calms things down pretty well. and you get the opportunity to see a broad spectrum of sculpts, and access to info about classes and shows and opportunities. Nita Collins (brushwithlife) and Diep (Fancypants) have belonged there - but neither post their bjds there --- wonder why?

big thing to recommend - give yourself time - don't get disappointed if you don't have many sales the first year - and its complicated - get advice on your sculpts from people whose skills you respect - but remain true to your own vision.

I love this group - love seeing everyone's bjds...way more fun than the big bjd company sites - love their dolls too (the reason i'm perpetually broke) - but ooaks are more exciting.....

 

Hey Patl... didn't you make that lovely little angel BJD that was on here awhile back? I've been to your site before, and its damn cool :P That beetle doll pretty much sums up why I like art dolls, its the unusual and expressive peices that interest me. Its the sort of thing a mass producing company wouldn't do...

Right now I'm still trying to decide which clay I like using best...I've tried polymer (argh), air dry (yum, but heavy) and paperclay...which I'm not sure about yet. So I have three uncompleted dolls on my desk.. :P

koitsukihime purty

I got the gothic lolita bible extra edition with the doll tutorial in it! Its so cool! I highly recommend!

 

I'm currently in the makes of my own one-off.

Mostly because I don't have the money to get molds done and actually make the doll in resin. ?___?

 

Isn't Diep "Fancyboots" ? However, I like "fancypants"

Ant patl, you are an AWESOME artist!

 

I think Fancyboots is just really busy, so she doesn't come on all that often. She had posted pictures of her work in progress, but I think it got deleted or moved...

 

<snork>

and now you know why I don't post too often - the whole brain/hand thing just never quite connected up ....

sigh.

hey Batchix - yeah - she has posted here, but I dont' think I ever saw her stuff in the dollmaker's list gallery. She would absolutely wow them with Liebchen. I'm hoping to get one of the next liebchens - small happy dance.

hey Verbana - how cool that you remember the grouchy angel. she is currently sitting naked above our fireplace glowering at us all.... (clothing is another one of those things I don't seem to get around to)

I like polymer (prefer fimo and cernit for strength - prosculpt for no moonies), and premiere - haven't done much in paperclay...
would love to see your sculpts?

 

i SAW THAT VIOLIN IN A LOLITA MAG I HAVE, WHOA WEIRD!!!

 

heyyy~ you're in jacksonville? Hee~ next time i'm down to visit my best friend I should stop by and see about getting a tattoo. I promised myself one for graduation, but didn't end up having time. XD


on topic... here are the one of a kinds I've done, they sort of got buried. XD

http://www.g36.net/ocdesigns/originals/

 

http://www.miudoll.com/
http://kaulardoll.jugem.jp/?cid=5
http://www.hisaba.com/index.html
http://www7.ocn.ne.jp/~dollcity/
Those are some I know...

 

Lithe-Fider's Nixie, Jaquel, and Arwen head are one-offs. She was also working on a tiny centaur last time I checked.

I think a lot of the really interesting dolls are one-offs, because you don't have to worry about getting a doll "perfect" or think about how you would cast it. You can have all kinds of random shapes, wires, inserts, etc., so there's a lot more range for what you can do... That, and I also find one-offs very inspiring for my own work. Gehe. They make me want to make dolls all the time, but I have no money and only 2 boxes of Super Sculpey, oh noes! xD

OT, but Girlytattoos is in Jacksonville?! I have just moved to Orange Park about 3 months ago, wow.

 

i never figured out how to buy those dolls and how much they are worth~~

 

Interesting that you are asking about this... beacuse that is exactly what I do. One-off ball joint dolls in polyclay. It works for me, but it sure isn't easy... As a matter of fact, after over eight years and a few frustrating forays into the toy industry I'm ready to pack in the art doll thing and hook up with a manufacturer (or ditch it all and go back to illustration), but more power to you if you choose that route.
Um, my dolls-- this a-way >>> http://members.aol.com/angeldevildolls

 

Patl, I'd love to see more pictures of your Night Running[/b] dolls . . . so gorgeous!!

-- Andi

 

hey Ashbet,

thank you for your kind regard!!! hmmm, I haven't updated there for awhile. I"ll try to put up some more pics this weekend and repost the link.

I am fortunate to be part of a couple of communities of artists, many of whom make their living by their art. So I know you can do it. But I also hear about the stresses and see these incredible artists worrying about how they will be covering costs that more traditional jobs cover for you - for example health care and retirement.

I know some people who are making good money selling regularly on ebay - I know some other artists of equal ability who can't seem to make a sale there.

I think you need to be good at marketing and money management, and good at long range planning as well as comfortable working under high stress for a number of years while you build your skills, reputation and market.

being independently wealthy wouldn't hurt either.

take care
patl

 

my mu
ttp://www.geocities.com/dollranran/MU.htm
hyuu, i will enter in the list^_______________^
on line dm

 

All my homemade dolls are OOAK and I have no intention of casting them.
There's Zev:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/Wolfie_Pie/Dollfie/doll_group_pics002.jpg
Trey-Nayan:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/Wolfie_Pie/Dollfie/dolls_in_art_show008.jpg
P-kun:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/Wolfie_Pie/Dollfie/pkun_knife_5.jpg
And Kyubi:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/Wolfie_Pie/Dollfie/shiwoo_and_kitty008.jpg

And I currently have a completed MSD-sized head that I need to make a body for.


And that violin-doll-thing, along with that music, was like something straight out of Silent Hill.