OT/General Does asymmetry bother you?

I don't like asymmetry, but I think a little is fine if it's not too noticeable (and it's pretty much inevitable). Incidentally, around the time when I'm sculpting a face, I start to see asymmetry in lots of professional dolls that usually look fine. But sometimes I see asymmetry in certain professional dolls on a regular basis ^_^;;; I have this vague fear that if I get too good at sculpting I won't be able to enjoy most BJDs anymore D:

 

A lot of dolls are slightly asymetrical, esp handmade ones from early days. And actually a little bit of assymetry is crucial for realism. A face that's perfectly symmetrical (even highly stylized faces) look a bit off to our eyes. Even DD faces (the really good ones) have asymetry built in on purpose.

I think that for useful discussion you have to distinguish shoddy sculpting from artistic asymmetry. One looks bad, but the other one looks very, very lifelike.

 

Coming at this from the opposite angle... I actually turned symmetry off to introduce a tiny bit of asymmetry to Kit's smile.

But yes, unintentional asymmetry in sculpts bothers me, especially around the eyes. It's the only thing that saved me from buying one of Asella's otherwise gorgeous Raspberry girls.

 

I absolutely hate it in my own sculpts, but it doesn't bother me at all in anyone else's. Right after I put my latest head down and swear never to attempt sculpting again, I pick up my lovely, crookedy Volks Megu, for instance, and say "Why doesn't it bother me here?" The symmetry thing slows me down more than any other factor.

 

I'm not very bothered by it in my own dolls, unless I use a mirror to check and it is horribly horribly off. Reason being I used to obsess over getting them perfectly symmetrical and it set me back weeks when I could have been creating more dolls!

RE forum activity I also noticed that, but haha I am part of the problem and I will get back to posting here more.

 

It doesn't bother me per say, but I don't want it to be too obvious. I have a souldoll kid whom's boobs aren't symetric. One is bigger than the other and I find it beautifull On another note, the eyes and nose must be symetric in my opinion. The mouth depending on what you want to do. Even if it's asymetric it shouldn't be obviously in your face that it bugs me... It should take like a triple look at the face or something beforr you see it for me

 

I realized I didn't respond to this... I decided to stop working on the symmetry on my head when it was more symmetrical than the one I was comparing it too. It looks symmetrical both at a glance and upon closer inspection (from my perspective anyway). Any more and I might drive myself crazy! The head I was comparing it too (My dollfie dream 01 head) is a little off from the top view. When sculpting, don't forget to check symmetry from all angles, not just front, side, and 3/4 angle ^^

 

Yes yes yes. I hate when it's asymmetrical and it seems I never know when to stop. Well, I stop perfecting it when it has gotten to that point that I don't want to continue because it's boring and it's time to move on with the next step of the doll :P

 

I'm very very new and I struggle hard with symmetry. I also am new to this board but I did notice how slow it is. I hope that things can liven up around here. I need to learn from others as I have a lot of learning to do.

 

I prefer to do everything by eye. I rejoice in slight asymmetry unless it's a jointing issue. My favorite BJD's and ball jointed action figures are more human looking. Imperfections and asymmetry create insecurities that are beautiful to me. I agree eye symmetry is very important. Even if they are squinting, winking or what ever it's important the eyes look symmetrical. They are the first thing looked at if not the most looked at feature. Aesthetics rule of course. In my humble opinion, as long as the greater aesthetics overwhelm minor asymmetry it's cool.

 

I agree with mykeangelo. I think that most perfectly symmetrical dolls are missing something. They have less personality and interest. And I would have to add that asymmetrical eyes are not all bad either. They are simply all too easy to do wrong. Van Gogh's paintings of the postman come to mind. Van Gogh painted a series of portraits of his postman, all facing straight ahead. He didn't try to hide the asymmetry in the faces, and they are perfect. Van Gogh understood the beauty of imperfection, and he did it very well.

That said, I love the haunting look of complete symmetry in some art. It all comes down to knowing which method to use and how to use it.

 

I find that when I'm sculpting as long as I apply an equal amount of clay to both sides and work on both sides my symmetry gets a lot better. Using a mirror of course also helps and if i need to reassure myself i turn the sculpt upside down to see any imperfections like maybe an eye is slightly higher or lower.
As long as I do all 3 of those things I'm happy and I can move on to other sculpting things. I also think asymmetry is nice because it makes things look more life like and organic, but when making dolls I strive for symmetry. ^_^

 

I try to make things symmetrical. It never comes out perfectly symmetrical. I stop trying to even things out when a) the asymmetry stops bothering me or b) I start to get worried that I am going to make things even less symmetric if I keep going.