50–65cm Dolls Project KYU (SD13-sized boy head) [UPDATE 3/24/2014]

Having fallen into the world of BJDs since 2003, I've always wanted to make my own BJD head.
After thorough research and a couple of failures, I've finally gotten around to getting started!



First, here is a sketch of what kind of head I want to make.



He will be an SD13-sized head (60~63cm tall, 9~10 inch head)
I want him to have slightly droopy eyelids, but I don't want to make him look sleepy, if that makes sense.
Not sure if I want to challenge myself to an open mouth yet, but I want the lips to be pretty and prominent.



Next, I drew on grid paper to make the base.



(I'll have to refine the features to match with my image sketch.)



Now, making the base was really hard for me. After a couple of failures, I finally got a base that I really liked.





I also put a neck core to make it easier when making the neck hole.



Next, I rolled out La Doll Premix, using chopsticks as guidelines.





After scratching and wetting the surface, I covered the base.



(I used a mirror to make sure that the center line is symmetric.)





I put on a 9~10 inch wig to see if I had gotten the head size close, and I think it looks pretty good so far!







This was from last night - today, I'm going to be roughly building up the features.
I'll update soon!

 

Major update:

I've been working all week on this head, and I've been documenting each change.
Watch out - a lot of pictures!

1st Round:







I mostly worked on the major features, adding Ladoll clay on the forehead, cheeks, nose, lips, chin lips, chin, and eyes..
I worked on getting the profile line right first and then adding on the clay to fill in the missing spots.



2nd Round:

I decided to take a different approach with the eyes.
I decided to cover the eyeholes and sketch on top.





Then I started opening the eye holes.



I cut open the head to get the base out.



I didn't have an eye sizer, so I opted to use a carving knife.



Then I just widened the eye holes so that I can work on building the eyelids.



My first attempt at the eyelids:



Then I decided to change it a bit:





I really like how the profile is looking:

 

3rd Round:

I refined the eye shape a bit and added on the lips to start making its shape.





But because I found the eyelids a bit too "flat" and not so curved, I added a bit of flesh.





And this is how the head looks with a wig:





4th Round:

I smoothed out the eyelids and started carving the lips,
(Although, I don't like how the lips look so I'll have to make a major operation.)



He looks like he's smiling, but really, he's not... and I need to make it so he's not smiling! =_=;;



But I like this angle on him - the eyelids look pretty smooth, no?



And a shot from the top to see if things are symmetric~



And now, a final shot of him with his wig!



I still have a long way to go, from refining the eyelids and eye shape more to doing his nose and lips...
(Not to mention putting his ears on and making the neck hole.)

Although he's very different from my original sketch, I like how he's turning out,
and I think it's a good first attempt at least

I meant for him to be a SD13 head, but he looks more young... like SD9.
Well, we'll see how it turns out!

I'll keep updating!