I've been giving thought to creating my own BJDs for years now. However, the more I think about it, the more I realize its near impossibility (for me). Okay, I believe I can handle sculpting, that's the awesome part and if it wasn't the first step I'd probably have no interest at all. Cost and construction of silicone molds scares the crap out of me! That's my first drawback. But more recently I thought, even if I pay a casting service and make all my dolls limited editions... even though I love doing faceups, my work is custom (individual and time consuming); how could I offer a standard faceup like companies do? Many buyers are not interested in blank dolls, they want a standard faceup option. First off, I don't know how to use an airbrush and it's just one more investment and learning curve that would set me back. Is an airbrush absolutely necessary/recommended for this? Do companies use templates or machines for standard faceups? And how do you make templates for each and every doll? AND, what other business start-up considerations have I not yet thought of? thanks
DanceCat i think quite a few people would consider buying a blank doll through it may reduce your overall interest by a little if you can't offer a default face up i think airbrushing is unnecessary, but i would highly advise being able to paint the eyebrows ext. i have never seen a professional face up with them drawn with a pencil the way i have seen it done is having one "sample" face up, you always look at the head with it and repaint all the other to resemble it, maybe take some notes on what pastel and paint colours you used and as for things more to consider: packaging (will there be nice boxes, cushions, dolly "burritos" or no?), authenticity certificates, additional postcards, default wigs, elastic/stringing, hooks, magnets and offering default eyes it depends on how you present your self are you trying to run a doll company or are you offering more limited edition artists sculpts? if it's the latter as long as they are packaged well and safely you don't really need all the bells and whistles as people understand that it's an artist doll an you can't offer all the stuff a more production heavy company can because they have the demand and can buy thing at retail price at large quantities where as you cannot
DanceCat, maybe you could work out a deal with a faceup artist. Free doll in exchange for XX number of faceups?
