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Jointing When to Work on Joints

Mar 7, 2016

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    1. I am not sure if this is the correct place to post my question. I am making my first BJD and using LaDoll. I am wondering if I should be making the joints when the doll is still in rough form. Meaning, I have cut legs and arms off, not divided the torso yet. I haven't cut legs or arms at knees and elbows. I see many photos of people working on the balls and joints at this point. It seems I should go ahead and put in whatever bones and musculature in arms and legs I want before making joints. I also need to make the collar bone, neck muscles, shoulder blades, shape in arms and legs. It seems to me she needs to have much more work before attempting the ball-joints. I have never seen a BJD in person, but am trying to follow the well-known tutorials and Yoshida books. Any suggestions are appreciated. I have never worked with clay before, so all help is needed. View attachment 755 I apologize if the photos don't get posted correctly. I have not done this before. I guess I had better learn as I would like to post my BJD one day and show my progress.
       

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      #1 greymalkin, Mar 7, 2016
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    2. Depends of how much you plan to alter the doll later on. I prefer to work on the joints once all the pieces are separated because it's easier to check for balance and range of movement that way. I wouldn't recommend detailing muscles and the so before cutting the elbows and knees either. However there's no "right" method, you have to experiment and find what works best for you.
       
      #2 varebanos, Mar 9, 2016
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    3. Agreeing with Varebanos, hardcore that there is no "right way."
      Personally, I dearly wish I'd waited to cut until after I have musculature sculpted and finished (cutting knees and elbows, as her arms and legs were separate sculptures from the start). I'm having a devil of a time getting everything symmetrical while they are in pieces (this is why, years later, Fusuilli's body is still not done). The actual joint balls can't really be done until after the limbs are separated, though.
       
      #3 glyndon, Mar 9, 2016
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    4. Thank you Glyndon and Varebanos for your suggestions.
       
      #4 greymalkin, Mar 11, 2016
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