Dolls made in the US (NEWS 2006.11.21)

Bumping this up out of misguided nosyness.....
you inspired me to get sculpting again to try a head as i don't know of anyone in the UK that has and has casted.
(my first paperclay one was a complete disaster!)
anyway, anymore news??? *whines like a puppy and bats eyelashes*
i live in hope.....

 

woohooo's
that's what i like to see!!!
what a jawline! a nice square strong jaw!
seriously:
looks very nice, quite versatile in the face-up dep. you could easily make him vampire, elf, historical character or mr badguy! i like strong features if you hadn't guessed. almost feline looking eyes.
all he needs now is a nice cranium and that's brill!!!
(i ran out of clay and money so i've got 1/2 a mini sized head with no jawline )

 

^__^ *love* he has no ears...... I love his profile though. very hawkish... and I'm no good at constructive criticism but can I see him on Sun?
I can't wait to see what else you dream up. Huggles Hakai, "I wuv u!"

 

errr...re read the original post... lol , anyway... yes i think people would buy american BJDs...

*hides*

 

hm...my advice is work with a mirror all through sculpting. If you look carefully his eyes are slightly misaligned. Don't worry we all make this little mistakes just part of the learning curve!

 

-sigh- abs of doom! ^__^ I like it. I'd like it better bigger....-pout- you have to make a big boy body for my vamp boy ^_~ other than that... he's cool! ^__^

 

and a mini head for the hunky torso for me

 

His face reminds me of the text descriptions of Sherlock Holmes, though yes, his eyes are rather off.

 

I completely understand wanting to get your name out there and I know you’ve had experience as an artist, but considering you’re new at sculpting, it will pay off buy an outside caliper, an anatomy book – and MOST very importantly, a mirror. Besides that advice I’m offering some con crit, in which I hope I don’t come off as too ruthless.

That Bastionesque Merrick head hits those drow pictures you had posted actually quite nicely. But there are some problems besides the asymmetry of his eyes. He is in serious need of a cranium. Look at him in profile and you can see that hypothetically, there would be little room inside his skull to put his brain. The nose could use a bit of uptouching - the left nostril-area is noticeably smaller than the other, so beef that up a little bit. I do like those lips, and at a profile the area from bridge of the nose down is le nice - but the lips are ever so slightly off. The bottom and top lip do not meet each other at the same point. Rather, the top lip, overlapping the bottom, is just a notch wider. It’s does no harm to ignore – in fact I never noticed it until another on a BJD forum pointed it out to me - but it also does no harm to follow.

The torso is stylized or needs work, those two phrases seem to be almost synonymous these days, don’t they? Just kidding around. But really, The first thing I think when I look at it is “upside down triangle”. Of course, you gotta remember that your eye views everything comparatively, so if something looks off it may not be that specific something, but something next to it (For instance Merrick’s nose may look too protruding, but really it’s that his forehead is too small and his nose is just fine). So, wasp-waist is an argument of taste, and perhaps even structural weakness (Bishounen house dolls hold up nicely, but they’re larger, so would a mini size be able to handle it?), but I personally think that waist is way too small, the shoulders too big, and the neck too slim and short. You could either tone down the shoulders, which will make the waist and neck appear somewhat larger, or meat up the waist and neck and you might not have to cut down on his shoulders (and you also might end up with an SD torso. How convenient for Merrick!). Don't fret though, that proportion problem is pretty common, I did it too with my first torso, even more drastically. He had this tiny neck, superman pecs, moobs and nipples of death. I threw him away before he could start haunting my dreams.

Anyway, enough about my failures – Now that we’ve taken on the shape of this torso, I want to bring up the details– his clavicle isn’t natural. Take a look at Bishounen House clavicles. They’re a good reference and plain nice to look at, and you’ll notice how collarbones take on S shapes rather than parenthesis. His abdominal muscles look flat and etched-in with a toothpick. Maybe it’s photography that’s flattening it, but that’s what I see. The transition from ribcage to stomach is very sharp, I don’t know if you did that on purpose, but I suggest to make it smoother, as I’ve never seen a well-toned man with a ribcage jutting out like that. Rather, they have ripples of muscles along their ribs – Dollshe Hound is exactly what I’m talking about.

Now if that style is what you’re happy with and you’re sculpting for yourself then go for it! But with your talk of making a line and marketing, I don’t know if being as stylized as that is going to pay off so much, because despite as much as people like to deny it, deep down we all for the most part like things to be normal, safe, commercial. It will appeal to some people of course, but do you want to sell to some people, or most people? Just a negligible word of advice.

 

The torso is rather stylized, so it's somewhat hard to give helpful comments or advice. I would recommend a few things, though. First, looking at an anatomy book might help a bit with some of the muscle details. It's funny but when I draw, I can get away with "fudging" some of the musculature, but when I sculpt any holes in my knowledge become very noticeable. There are many good anatomy books out there. I currently use a book called Anatomy for Artists (it has awesome photos and descriptions) and a copy of Gray's Anatomy.

You mentioned that the body is a mini body... is that head you're sculpting intended for that body? If so, you may have a problem with proportion (that head looks Hound sized!). For the head itself, you may want to work on symmetry - the chin and lips are offf-center.

Otherwise though, it's a very ambitious project! Making a full doll as your first project is definitely a big step!

 

All I can say is that it is way better than anything I can do. Don't give up, do your damndest NOT to hit the refresh button (a refreshed page never posts) bwahaha...And look at this first sculpt as a learning experience, not necessarily the first one HAS to be produced, it is my baby and the culmination of my blood, sweat and ART! I am of the belief that if someone is perseverent, open to (constructive) criticism, has desire, and even a smidge of talent, they can move mountains...with a lot of practice and patience. And yes, I am a fellow artist. I've been doing faceups for a while, and I'm telling you if I listened to everyone when I started, I'd cry-but I practiced, put my heart and love into every face, and listened to friends when they gave tips...and now my work is starting to take off AND I'm actually not cringing going 'oh crap, NOW I see the eyebrows are crooked...****.' So I'm not saying anything to be catty or jealous, ok? I really am trying to help...and I love the torso, just make the lats a bit wider, imo. I think it'll help balance him out.

That said, I liked the strappy outfit on your website-and did you have in red contacts? :O

 

I think they are coming along nicely. I'm not sure if it the pictures and or if they off center a bit. But othr than that they look really well done. I think he torso is reallly really nice. Must see what else you come up with!

 

Given that I've never sculped a darn thing since Play-Doh days I probably have no place to comment... but I have to agree with the brain case issue. That's his primary problem. I LOVE the nose!!! He's so perfectly otherworldly! But he needs a nice big brain case to support all those wonderful vampiric psychic powers. The eyes -- meh, yes, they're lopsided. That you can fix easily.

The body does need some adjusting. However!! I want to point out something that I find exceptionally wonderful, and that's his pecs. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Very appealing. While I agree with the issues mentioned above I wanted to make sure you know that there are some totally stellar things going on here as well!! And a first sculpt to boot... that's pretty darn amazing.

 

hi cookie,
things are really coming along now i lovelove his shoulderblades !
the last picture of the head is stunning, such a difference from when you started, the character has really come out with the symmetry.
is the effect with the torso planned to be that triangular shape? (not having seen a larger sized male doll i don't know these things! )

 

I understand that it's a work-in-progress up until the day that it's casted, if it makes it there (Because you never know), and for some people, it never is finished. The way I see it is that I'd never want to finally call a product finished, only for someone to point out to me its faults, so I call them the minute I see them. I sense a bit of defensiveness (Of course I could be totally misunderstanding because we don't have inotation on the internet), so please know that I don't mean to offend. With that said, I'd like for you to explain to me - when you say "Note that everything is a WIP until I say it's 100% done", Are you saying that you don't want any commentary until it is 100% done?

 

Well, cool, good luck on it. I'm working on simply a head here and trying to finally get the eyes even is driving me crazy D: Well, anyway, if I may suggest something again. He has a hip joint, yeah, but he kind of lacks anything as far as goes actual hips. I dont know if you wanna keep that look going on, but I'd work on defining his hips.

 

mm...yes, his legs look a little off in proportion to the top of him.. But don't worry you'll get it right! ^__^ I'll lend you one of my huskier boys if you want to study him too....^_~

 

He is improved from the first pictures, but I still recommend you have a small mirror while sculpting so you can really work on the symmetry when you are working with the unset (that a word?) clay, rather than relying on sanding later. Another trick is simply to look at the piece upside down, and any assymetry will become clear.
Hope that helps!

 

Wow, here you are, asking people for comments and critiques, and when you get them you get very defensive. They're just trying to help you improve, and it would be good to listen to some of their advice, especially since you said this is your first time sculpting.

His eyes are still off, One of his brows still looks higher than the other. Also, his hips, thighs and calves are awfully small. You might want to make them quite a bit larger and more to scale.

I must say, his shoulders are very attractive, and you did his lips quite well, I really like that little smirk.

 

I liek the look of him so far....

I am a little concerned though that his legs are too thin and short to support his body. They really do need to be longer and wider, unless you never intend for him to stand. ^_-

I liek the torso, and teh face, though.

 

Well progress is just definitely being made, that's all I can say. Once you get it down he's going to be one heck of a purdy thing.

Here's what I see... I see the right side of his head (left side of picture) having an absolutely to-die-for shape of the side of the face and jaw. Like a person who is big and lean, but not emaciated. The *other* side of his head pooches out somewhat, like a nicely-padded DoT doll. He needs that older, leaner look, I think, to live up to the super potential you've got going.

And the eyes are getting there. A whole lot closer than they were before.

I'm clueless when it comes to how you get a body to work, so I'll defer to the judgment of my betters

Keep going!! You're getting closer to having an outstanding sculpt here -- in a remarkably short period of time!

 

I like him so far. He's not really my style since I prefer a more androgynous sculpt, but that said, he's still very nice. And he's really great for your first sculpt! Honestly, I can see why you'd get defensive with some of the critiques...after reading some of the long ones I was just like O___O But don't let it get you down, everybody had really good points to make, and I think if you listen to them it'll help you improve.
Good luck.

 

I'm no expert, but he looks awfully top heavy to me. It might be hard for his legs to support him with such a big torso and tiny legs.

As for links...
Bishonen House
Maya
Ashbet's Head
Fancyboots <- Best I could find for this beautiful doll... Sorry

EDIT: I totally forgot about DD-Anne's Tiny Mero! Now that's a travisty! I love DD's dolls!

 

I would expect that artists to be some of the best people to take criticism, especially when working in a new style or medium. Since an artist's livelyhood is usually directly proportional to pleasing others with their product and not themselves.
(I also don't think that anything I've seen here has been particularly harsh as a critique, I've had high school teachers much harsher. )

I can't critique the head as much as I'd like, since the lighting is very harsh in the stage 8 photos, making details hard to see.
From what I can tell, I do like the jaw line and lips. However, that nose still seems like it is slightly leaning towards the right, but it might be the pictures.

For the torso- personally, I don't like it. Not my style, I avoid dolls with huge amounts of muscle definition.
But looking at it objectively, it is out of propertion the same way that a Barbi is out of proportion. The chest and shoulders are much to large for his waist and hips. While I can admire the skill of the sculp, and the overall muscle definition; I don't know how much of a market there would be for such a styalised doll. Not to mention the physics of getting it to stand and pose.
I do however love the line of the lower spin but this that the shoulder blades are a touch too promenant- they look more like pecs then they do proper soulder blades.

Overall, pretty good for a first sculp, with a few easily fixed problems. =)

 

If he looked really good, like if I liked his face and body I would buy a doll from anywhere! It's not where it's made with how well it's made. Plus it would be nice to see US BJD's around!

 

Very good point.

I'll say something just a little less gentle.

Elegant Destruction, you have to listen to the critique if you want a sellable doll. If your market are telling you how they want the product improved, you have to listen and work on it.

Being overly defensive and appearing to reject in-depth critique and suggestions for improvement is no way to please potential customers.

 

i had to study anatomy and physiology as core modules, and i still have my textbooks and atlas. and i can scan in pics if you need any.

stylized features and body aside, i'm seeing a real problem in terms of balancing and standing--unless you never intended for him to be posed upright, in which case, that's one problem less. let's hope that when you get more clay, you can tweak the proportions a bit closer to normal? =D

 

I don't know if this has been mentioned... but, aside from the body being way to stylized for me (but I'm just one person), the hips seem as if they have very limited motion.

He appears as if he cannot bend forward or backwards at the waist, because of the ridge bordering the ball-joint, where the hips and torso meet. If it were sanded into a sort of smooth slope, where the ball-joint blends into his tummy a bit with only slight ridging to hold poses, I think that would help considerably.

 

Yes I'd buy a US mae doll. . as long as I like them ^_^

 

The doll is looking good and coming along very nicely. I look forward to seeing the finished result.....

 

I am totally new to the forum so please forgive my innocence. I am curious as to what collectors of bjd would be open to as far as a doll on the american market. Would you think the sculpt should be more anime-like, fantasy-like, or realistic? I am currently making dolls that are a mix of fantasy and realistic and would like to try my hand at making a ball jointed doll. Since I am new to the whole phenomenon, I was curious as to what is most marketable. Any help would be completely appreciated!
Thanks!
Elizabeth

 

If it looked really good or cute I would!^^
But, there is something a little special about living in New York and getting a doll from Seoul Korea!!~

But, still I would buy if they were just as nice~ ^^
[& I bet the shipping will be less!! ]