FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are Asian Ball Jointed Dolls?
Asian Ball Jointed Dolls, (BJD) are highly detailed, posable and customizable dolls articulated with ball and socket joints. They are made from polyurathane resin, (and in some cases vinyl or ABS plastic), strung together with elastic and come in a wide range of sizes from 1/6 scale to 1/2 scale. Their eyes and wigs are interchangeable and they are usually anatomically correct. One of the best sorces on the web for BJD inforation is Den of Angels: http://www.denofangels.com/
What do people do with BJD?
BJD are as much move-able sculpture as dolls and may be displayed as works of art in and of themselves. However, the BJD hobby also tends to attract a variety of creative people, including writers, painters, photographers and textile artists. Many BJD collectors, (myself included) use these dolls as art models, muses or as the embodiments of characters they've created.
Where can I purchase BJD?
BJD are most often purchased directly from companies in Asia or from the artists themselves. There are a few dealers in the US who carry them, (such as Junkyspot which is on the links page)
What do you do as a BJD artist?
I am a face-up and aesthetics artist. This means that I paint BJD that come blank from the company, (much as one would do with a resin figure kit), or from individuals who would like to give their doll a unique look. It involves a slow layering of pastels and paints as well as sealants and other artistic mediums to give a doll's face a life-like appearance. This can also involve adding color to the doll's body to make it appear more like skin, (and may include the painting of veins, freckles, scars and birthmarks), and giving a doll tattoos or heavy, stylized 'make-up.'
Essentially, I take a doll from this to this:
What products/supplies do you use for your face-ups?
I use artist quality soft pastels, Liquitex paint, water color pencils and gloss medium for my face-ups, body blushing and tattoos. All of my work is sealed with MSC. I use Windsor Newton Brush Cleaner and Magic Erasor to remove face-ups.
Do you do modifications?
At this time I do not offer sanding or modification services.
How long does it take for you to complete a commission?
It depends on how many commissions I am currently working on and other factors such as the weather, (MSC is fickle when it comes to weather conditions). Generally, my turn around is 1-2 weeks depending on the complexity of the commission. I will always let you know if it will be longer than that.