What size to sculpt?

I'm going to do a 60cm doll; to me it seems small enough to be managable but not so big that I waste all my money on clay etc. etc.

 

Well, I chose to do an MSD because it's supposedly "better to start small." My verdict? Bologna! For me, the smaller I get, the easier it is to mess up fine details. :p (Don't get me wrong-- I think they're a nice size to work with. It's just that saying that isn't really true.) But, anyway, I'm trying to make mine a more mature-looking doll, too. (Sort of like a Dollshe with the longer limbs & whatnot.)

As far as clothes go, I guess it just depends on your personal tastes & what qualifies as "mature" to you. I think if the doll itself looks older, it can make a big difference in if the clothes look immature or not. (Seeing anything on certain MSDs makes the stuff look like kiddy clothes.) Either way, though, there really is *plenty* out there that's mature-looking. Dollmore has cute MSD clothes that look like something a teen or twenty-something (& older, too) would wear (unless you mean retiree "mature" ;D), as do many other places. (I've just browsed Dollmore the most.) Some things may be a little less varied for MSDs, but, at the same time, it's easier to find furniture & such for them. Also, things like shoes are smaller & less heavy, so shipping can be a bit less on them. Perhaps you have fountains of gold at your house, but I like to save as much of my money as possible. ;p Anyway, I think that you shouldn't feel obligated to make a bigger doll just for more selection because the amount of suitable(/mature) MSD-sized stuff is really not that bad at all; if you look hard enough, shell out enough cash, &/or are willing to learn how to sew tiny clothes (or whatever other talent is needed), you can definitely find/make suitable things, so I would choose what I really wanted to sculpt.

They each have their benefits & setbacks in sculpting, I'm sure. You use a lot less clay for MSDs & they take less time, but if you want an SD, it's worth the extra time & money. Whatever medium you decide to use, you absolutely have to meet my best friends: every-other-week (or so) Michaels & Hobby Lobby 40%-off coupons. (Oh, sorry, I just realized there aren't any HLs in Oregon. ) By using that at the local HL, Super Sculpey costs only about 33 cents an ounce, which is really quite cheap for polymer clay. I've found that the BJD-making supplies can add up (though nothing near the cost of a doll, of course), so I love those coupons! (Maybe you have an even cheaper source or already knew about the coupons, but I thought, "Just in case." It's surprising how many people don't know about those things!)

Let us know what you decide on! Can't wait to see what he/she(?) looks like! (Now I'm going to go read your post about realistic dolls!)

*edit: Haha, yeah, what lolipop says is right. I'm sculpting box-by-box, so if I used more clay for each part, I would have to wait longer to make the doll, but a normal person who buys enough beforehand wouldn't have that problem I guess. :p

 

I for one would like to see more mature/older-looking MSD-men! To many boys in my opinion... Something that looks like hound, for instance, would make me very happy! Maybe a little taller than the ordinary MSD, say between 18-19 inches in height?

 

I'd say make which every one you want the most. Both sizes have their pro's and cons which end up making them both balanced choices. Since you are making the doll yourself, you have free reign to make EXACTLY what you want! So if minis appeal to you most go that way, if you want a nice tall tall go that way!

Large Doll Pros:
Easier to get the detail in a larger scale
Make more money if you plan to sell
More wigs available

Cons:
Costs more per f**k up
Costs more for materials

Small Doll Pros:
Not as much money lost in the learning process
Nice small molds
Great challenge for detailing
Not enough mature minis out there, so if you chose to sell, wide open market.

Con's
Yeah details are hard
Not as many wigs it seems or shoes out there

I can't say that a smaller one would take any less time, or not that much less time, because you are still trying to get the same amount of detail on the doll, just in a slightly smaller space. The only thing that I can see bing a time saver is less clay kneading.

For me I worry that a large doll would take up too much room, and I want to build a case like they have for traditional Japanese dolls for her to be displayed in when we aren't hanging out, sooo I'm making a mini! I get torn sometimes and want a big doll, but minis are so adorable!