whats wrong with Izzy?

I like her, she's very distinct. I think you're already working on the areas that will make her just right. Evening up the eyes might be all you really need. Making the nostrils smaller (which you're already planning to do) will make her more feminine. I like the profile -- I like interesting noses and she's got that so don't make the nostrils too small. I like her partially closed eyes. With dreamy eyes and that full mouth, she has a lot going for her to inspire a face painter. She has a very aristocratic face -- Like a woman in a Sargeant painting. I don't think you're missing anything in critiqueing her. The things you said you're already working on are the only things I can see that would improve her. She'd look great on a Twigling body. Can't wait to see her next stage!!

 

I have some kind of teacher-student awkwardness feelings and doubted what I saw, but I think I the mouth lacks some symmetry. I noticed the eyes as well but didn't really think about the nose. I think she's pretty, but I see you as a professional, NIADA person and just expect your work to be pretty, which is why I don't get effusive when you post.

 

Pat,
I think the her proportion is correct for the torso that you have her on. I personally like her nose and nostril size. Robbins analogy of the Sargeant painting is very good, when I read the comment I though she was very accurate with that statement. She could be dressed as Madam X I think maybe some refining of her right, (picture the left) eye might help her a bit. And as far as the face-up... maybe a stronger brow and lip color to go with her strong features. This is just my opionin.

 

I agree, once you're done with with all the parts you already know are wrong she will be perfect ^^ I love the shape of her face, its just that small un-symetrical details are whats throwing you off ^^

BTW I love her choker!!

 

She's very pretty. It's sad if you haven't been getting much positive feedback because I like her! She has a lot of personality. The one thing that's bothering me is something no one's mentioned, and that's that I think some hair needs to come down in front of the ears a little bit. Most hair lines reach down there so it looks almost as if she's had parts of her hair shaved off by her ears. Also at the base of her head in the back, the hairline needs to come down. I think these things would make a really big difference. If you can't get the hair to come down right in front of her ears, you could even draw it on, but it needs -something-.

And then of course, darker eyebrows would help a lot too because light to no eyebrows automatically make someone look a little bit unnatural (they shaved Wormtongue's eyebrows in the Two Towers just to make him more 'creepy'). I personally don't see a whole lot off about the symmetry of her face...it looks very natural.

Her nose reminds me of Christian Bale xD

 

She looks sort of like a girl I knew in high school...

Evening out the eyes will help, I think. Her eyes are what's bothering me, I think... I like the one on the viewer's right better. The one on the left is larger (as you mentioned), but the eyelid is also more ^ shaped where the other is more of a gentle curve.

The nostrils being open doesn't bother me, it suits her larger mouth and stronger jaw. I'm not sure if it's the lighting, but it looks like the shape of the nostrils and sides of the nose are different - viewer's left nostril is more round and the outside part of the nostril (seriously, what is the part of the nostril that's not the hole called?) is also more round and "full" as it goes up onto the main part of the nose. The right nostril is more comma-shaped and doesn't seem to have the same connective fat-pad shape above the outside-of-the-nostril part (it looks like it cuts in more sharply than the other side). I think that gives the feeling that the nose is not lined up properly.

Beautiful mouth, gorgeous jawline. Interesting eyebrow ridge... it's being higher coupled with the slightly quirked lips gives her a bemused look. I do think she's beautiful, you're right about that! I don't think any of these are big fixes, and nothing that'll really even slow you down.

Re: aesthetic... I think part of what you're struggling with is that your style is more emotive than the average BJD head. Your sculpting is more like capturing a movement or an expression.... which is really awesome and very enviable. I don't know if you really should try to overcome that because it's sort of part of your signature style and it's truly beautiful. You also tend to put in more bone definition than the average BJD has in the face. BJD do have anatomical suggestions of bone structure, but less of a distinct "this is where the skull is."

You might also be more successful pitching it as a boy... people in this hobby tend to like girly boys rather than strong women. Might try a more natural faceup, too... give it more of a traditional BJD "feel," rather than an ethereal art doll. I'm surprised your work doesn't get more comments on DoA - it's very very good. I think it may be because people don't think you need as much encouragement because you're so talented and already so far along. (As opposed to the people who post their first attempt and need some petting to keep going.)

Sorry if this is long. I'm just trying to be specific.

 

Yes! Armeleia's comment is very insightful and I agree that it's your special style.

 

I think she's lovely, but she has much stronger features than the typical ABJD-style girl... and less of the big-eyes-small-mouth-and-nose "cute" aesthetic. I'd guess that's why people aren't enthusing over her, sadly.

 

Hi Pat, Along with what the others have said, I really think that given the strong features you should try presenting her as a He and then see what kind of feedback you get. I think she'd make a great male once you've worked on the little things like the eyes and the nostrils. I'd love to see what she looks like as a he, can you pop a male wig on her and then re-picture? She has a lot of character and I think most people look for gentler features in their female sculpts, but you know I personally love a lot of character.

 

I also agree with what has been said and think she'd make a better "he"
Her face is very strong and pretty masculine...in my opinion.

 

ah nooo I like her as a girl waaaay more. I'm with you, it's nice to see a strong female! I didn't think she looked scary or creepy at all, she struck me as more regal, like she's not afraid of who she is. As a guy he almost looks like someone you can't quite trust... I don't know if I can explain it. I think the features in general worked way better on -her- face than on -his-. Kind of surprising since they are prominent features.

What you might be facing though is a slightly different audience than the average BJD crowd. I could see someone who is more interested in classical european dolls to like Izzy more than fans of ABJD. There's nothing wrong with that at all of course, and you never need to paint yourself into a corner of making only a particularly genre of doll... Variety and originality are great things. Perhaps you should try posting pics of her on a different kind of doll site and see what reception you get.

 

I like! I think it looks much better as a he. Do go with your gut though. My friend Meyari is always telling me that maybe a lot of people won't like my creations as they're so different, but there will be people who do and I should create for myself first. If it were me, I'd make a male and female version of this head (I think the lips are fine for a male btw) I'd keep the angle of the nose, but narrow it in the center and down and then make the bulb of the nose a little smaller/less wide as well as the nostrils, but keep everything else the same and then see how I liked it.
Okay I have to ask.... where are you posting that they're saying he's scary? He's beautiful.

 

I didn't think I was going to like this head as a guy -- it was already implanted in my brain as a girl. I like the look in the blonde wig though very much. That shape with the wisps coming into the face is very complimentary. I like the full mouth though and wouldn't change it to make him a guy. I would just do whatever fine tuning you still have planned and keep the features as you have them now.

I love the concept of a "fop" as Meg says. Wouldn't that be fun to costume? But, somehow he looks genuinely masculine now and not so foppish as I would have expected. I can't believe that with a lick of paint and different wigs, she/he changed so completely.

 

Is that a family picture? That woman is so beautiful.

 

I like the blonde haired one, but only because it looks slightly female I love the edwardian picture very much, and the wig would work very well with her. Just remember to put a tiny whisp of hair before the ear I personally like the doll as a girl, as a boy its too feminine ^^ I really like the light blue eyes, maybe a light pink? *depends on the hair?*

 

Been away for a while and just saw this post. I think Robin is right on the $$. She really doesn't have much to critique, but I'd like to see her on a full body and dressed as a Old Western Saloon babe with feathers on her head.... maybe a Smith & Wesson tucked into her garter belt.

 

I'd really like to see this sculpt finished as a woman, although she does look pretty neat as a man also. A realistic mature female sculpt is almost always going to look masculine, so it's up to the application of faceups and the like to give her a more feminine look. But the pics you posted on DoA earlier which shows this sculpt blank actually look better and more feminine than the later painted photos. I think the main issue for me with the photos where she's wearing a pink wig, is that the eyes seem to be too small to fit properly in the sockets, which is really distracting. For a mature sculpt, you also might want to move the wig further back on the head to give her more forehead and a more oval/elongated appearance.

You've already had ample feedback regarding nostrils, lopsidedness and eye shape, so I don't have much to add there ~ I think she's got loads of potential and you need to keep working on her!! I hope you can find the time to fix up the things you're unhappy with so she can be fulfilled as a sculpt!!

 

I've always been told that most really attractive people can look good styled as a male or a female, and I really like the sculpt both ways. I think what Armeleia was trying to say originally was that the Den of Angels abjd-collecting crowd might appreciate her better as a male, and I think that's probably true. She definitely looks more like an Asian-type bjd as a male. Only you can decide if that's a good reason to style her that way. My advice would be to trust your own instinct.

 

I love her only i saw is her nostrils..but still she is beatifull..i dont know why people dont like the things that out of the normal canon..if you like is enougth

 

Wow! I prefer her as female :XD

But, in my honest opinion, there's something a little disconcerting about her eyes. It could be the positioning of the glass eyes, maybe they could be a little lower, so that the iris has more contact with the lower lid. I don't think the fault is necessarily in your sculpting (and I'm not just saying that!), but there's something lacking in her eyes...

In the left eye, the white of the eye is showing underneath the iris. I think I remember someone saying that this is a symptom of some kind of illness :confused: I think she would benefit from some eyelashes, I imagine they would really add to her beauty.

Also, as previously mentioned in the thread, the hairline in the first wig is a bit awkward around her ears and neck.

Hope you don't mind my comments, they are offered with the best intentions!

 

She's gorgeous. The planes of her face are just so graceful and mature! ) I'm gonna go against the general consensus here and say that I just love "her" as a "him" She's lovely as a woman, but she just seems so sultry as a man.

I personally love the slight assymetry of her mouth, it's like she's smirking. The biggest thing I noticed was the eyes. The left eye (my left, her right), the inner curve of her upper lid is much sharper than the other eye, and looks like it could be filled in a tiny bit to match the other.

Her nose has a lovely shape, but I think maybe her nostrils might be a little large.

 

She's lovely Pat!

The only thing I see is a little inconsistency between the eyes. I tried to nail it down to the lids, but actually, after looking--it seems to be an eyewell issue. Not sure without direct lighting straight into the face. Could be nothing at all. Her mouth is a bit asymentrical, fractionally. But I assumed that was her expression. LOL! I smile that way. More on one side a bit. I like her that way.

She's a gem!!! I love what she's saying with that gentle smile. Delightful!

 

I won't go into critique so much, just because everyone has made the same points already, for me the uneven eyes are the only thing that really seems off. Anyway, I love her as a female much more than as a male, though she seems to have potential either way. Like others have mentioned, she doesn't quite fit the ABJD "big-eyes, small-mouth" aesthetic, but I think that makes her unique in a sea of the same boring faces. It's the whole reason I don't collect female dolls, since they are so much carbon copies of each other. We get that enough in the media with enforced visions of beauty, it's fantastic to see a woman who looks like she could be a real woman. And I don't mean "female", I mean like a person who has some kind of history and personality. Of course, not everyone agrees, but if anything, you could just offer two versions with slightly different faces.

 

I think Isadora is a gorgeous woman! I tend to think women are beautiful that the rest of the world sees as 'ugly'(Janis Joplin, Wendy O. Williams, Chrissie Hynde, Joan Jett, Souixsie Souix). I think the world is scared of strong women.

The only critique I have is that her right(my left) inner eyelid is square and not rounded like the left.

 

I LUV her, I guess I am one of those weirdos who like 'realistic looking' dolls. And in real life (where humans are concerned) I am very fond of large chiseled noses and strong bone structure. So to me personally she's gorgeous!

Don't fix the mouth, WHATEVER you do! Please... That mocking expression is so alluring!

Yes, company dolls ARE VERY cute, I grant you that. But... They also all look like one another, 'stamped' industry standard you know. I prefer artists' dolls, because they are unique. You should try to emphasise your own style and the doll's charisma. Breaking convention is the realm of an artist, so my advice - stick to your guns. And anyways, by the sound of other ppl's replies, you certainly have a niche for your dolls.

I prefer her as a female. She seems to possess a strong character, which she is cleverly trying to hide under her feminine charms. But we are not deceived!.. (it just wouldn't look right if she was male). I imagine her as a Shecherezade...

The only thing that bothers me is the drooping eye, correct that and she'll be perfect!

 

Just the nose. It's hard to critique your work, Pat -- I love all your stuff!

 

I think she is really really beautiful! she kind of reminds me of Linda Hamilton in the first Terminator movie, maybe try to make her eyes more symmetric and a little work on the nose (the profile is magnificent though), but don't change her too much!! cos that'd be a crime, specially the mouth, I don't think the mouth should be symmetric (that's my opinion at least). I also think if you haven't received too much feedback is cos most of people in this forum seem most influenced by anime style and so they like that type of look in dolls too, while your dolls would appeal more to a different people, she looks more victorian more artsy.

 

wow she looks lovely ^_^, i dont see anything wrong with her whatsoever, the only one thing that is not right in my opinion is her hair is too close to her eyebrows making her look like she doesnt have enough forehead. Maybe move the hair back a little? just my suggestion, besides that its just unbelievably gorgeous