Sculpting a BJD from Scratch? D:

[solitary agent]

I'm probably insane for even trying this, but I'm going to try anyway.
Started today with a torso.
Pre-baking and sanding:



Any suggestions/critique? I thought of posting on DoA, but it seems they don't have a subforum for sculpting, only for mods...hmm. I'm probably not really confident enough to post my attempts on there yet anyway.

Anyway, it's a slender male MSD-size body I'm going for. I eyeballed my Dollzone boy for basic reference. I plan on making skinnier arms and legs, though.

This was actually easier than I expected, so far. It's sculpting the head that really scares me!

[famedglory]

Hey! That's a great start! Here are a couple of places you can look for info:

This is where the old DoA forum on doll making went:
http://denofangels.com/joints//index.php
The forum might be of help to you. A lot of the topics are pretty dead but it's good for reference.

Also I found this book invaluable: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041COKSQ
...although not for those prices. It's all in Japanese but the photo illustrations are fantastic and beyond helpful so I would keep an eye out for it at a lower price.

Don't be too worried about the head. That'll develop itself on its own. The jointing tends to be where most people(self included) get hung up but an MSD will be a good size to learn that on. Not too big like the SDs but not as infuriating as the tinies. Let me know if you get stuck and I'll try to help troubleshoot.

[1/6andtinylover]

Whoah! That's a great start! It's nice to have a doll at your side so you can reference the joints. I honestly had no idea how the joints should look or work before I got my first BJD.

[kittyasauras]

Den of Angels used to have an artist subforum a two or three years ago, but they took it down because they wanted the forum to 'go in a different direction'. Before they closed it down, I saved the link in my bookmarks!

http://www.denofangels.com/forums/forum ... -%28CLOSED

While you won't be able to post, there are still a ton of very exciting posts and threads. There is also the joint which famedglory has posted. The joint is still a very active forum! Good luck on sculpting! : )

[DollyKim]

Good job but it's kind of easier to start with the full body then cut it in half.

This day and age the easiest book to get hold of is Pop Sculpture, http://www.amazon.com/Pop-Sculpture-Fig ... 715&sr=8-1 it's new and covers sculpting, joints, and modern casting. After/with that I'd say look for Learning to Be a Doll Artist, it's more 'valuable' than the Yoshida book http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Doll-Art ... 760&sr=1-1

And because I'm feeling generous here's where I keep posts someone else made years ago from the GLB crash course in something very similar to the Yoshida method. Feel free to save them. Start here http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u270 ... m/bjd1.jpg
And my blog posts about starting and half finishing one http://dolfielittles.typepad.com/blog/2 ... -doll.html Look for Ladoll Doll in the title.

[solitary agent]

Thanks for all the information, everyone, it's really helpful!
I did think of making a one piece torso - I may do it that way yet. We'll see how things go!

[DollyKim]

With Polymer clay can't you pop it in the freezer to temporarily harden it up? So wouldn't it work to make a one piece torso, harden it up a bit, cut it in half for joints, then touch it up an bake it? I've done heads out of polymer but not a whole doll.

If you can figure a different solution I'd be interested in seeing how it works out.

[solitary agent]

That's a really good idea actually. I may work on it tonight.