BJD Fascination
As a long-time admirer of artist and OOAK dolls; a former doll convention visitor (IDEX used to regularly land in San Francisco, where I lived); and a dabbler in the creation of cloth and clay dolls myself; I've long been aware of Ball Jointed Dolls, or BJDs as they're more commonly known. But these last weeks have seen my interest in BJD's grow by leaps and bounds, influenced by the fact that a good friend of mine (who owns a doll shop here in Chico) is now carrying these beauties, as well as back issues of HAUTE DOLL (a magazine that features them), which I couldn't help but pick up when I last visited her shop. They're sooooooooo beautiful and inspiring, these dolls -- the best of them, anyway. And of late, I'm really finding myself wanting to own and dress one, or maybe even to make an original, BJD myself. Talk about a project!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yuiinc/1144462019/
I'm interested not so much in beginning a BJD collection (although they do look gorgeous in a grouping, and I'd love to have ONE), but in using them (or more accurately, photos of them) as a source of inspiration -- something beautiful to rest my eye on, in my own creative pursuits; a tangible object d'art in my midst which can remind me on a daily basis to dream and stretch and pursue the ethereal... the unusual... the different... and the extreme. The lengths to which some people go to paint, wig, dress, arrange, style, and photograph their dolls are tremendous, and the end result of all their efforts are scenes and tableaux of breathtaking beauty and exquisite detail and strangeness and magic that I find seriously inspiring.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44053707@N00/494812929
For those who don't know anything about ball jointed dolls, I'll share what little I know --> BJDs as a modern industry originated in Asia (mostly Japan, I think) and have been gaining in popularity as awareness of them spreads west. Some BJDs are available in vinyl (less pricey; very durable) or resin (very expensive; most fragile; more desirable.) They're made by a number of different manufacturers and come in a range of sizes from teensy tiny (four inches!) to truly enormous by any doll standard -- nearly three feet tall!! Some BJDs are proportioned realistically, and others feature giant, round heads and huge eyes on tiny, slender bodies. They're usually sold bald and eyeless (or at least, the eyes aren't installed), and sometimes they're even unassembled, and arrive as a kit you need to string yourself. Many are available with optional hand styles/positions, different torso options (large bust vs. small bust, for example), and removable/interchangeable face plates so you can change out expressions easily. All are strung. Many are willowy and waif-like in their proportions, and very inclined toward a fantasy interpretation. Here's a 60cm "Lucille" from DollsTown, as example.
http://dollstown.com/zboard/data/Lucille/lucille001.JPG
What makes these dolls so spectacular and unique and different from the dolls of my -- and likely, your -- youth is (1) their extraordinary pose-ability and (2) their customization options, even beyond what I mentioned above. The name "ball jointed" says it all; these dolls are jointed at neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, waist, hip, knee, and ankle, which allows for a realism in posing that's truly remarkable. Below, a page from HAUTE DOLL magazine (August 2007) featuring 16-inch resin 'Couture Savage' chalk-white Sybarites from Superdoll, illustrating just how flexible and human-like ball jointed dolls, at the top of their artform and dressed to the nines in beautiful couture designs, can be.
All concepts, designs, and layouts by Charles H. Fegen and Desmond Lingard. Photo by Alex Howe, Charles H. Fegen and Dominique Maitre.
BJD's are generally sold naked and without face paint. You can choose to pay extra for a face-up from the on-site factory artists when you order. If you don't, you're able to create any look you want for your BJD, to apply "makeup" in any color(s) you choose, once your doll arrives. This is done with acrylic paints, pastel (non-oil) chalks, and special resin sealers. If you're interested in viewing a face-up in progress, check out this tutorial I found on YouTube (where you can search the terms "face-up" or "BJD" and find a variety of ball jointed doll videos.)
Of course, there are are professional face-up artists to whom you can send your doll and who, for a fee, will customize it to your heart's desire. A few of the more spectacular face-up artist sites I've found online include this one (French, which I can't read, but luckily the pictures speak for themselves -- check out the face-up and spectacular dragon tattoo on this doll!)... this one (Russian?)... and this one. Just below is a face-up on a Narae Classic BJD that I found at xtremedolls.com, that really appeals to me.
http://www.xtremedolls.com/images/narae.jpg
Doll eyes are sold separately, too. Although most dolls come with eyes, they're considered more or less throwaway by the BJD connousieur, or so it seems. Since BJDs usually arrives bald or with a less-than-ideal wig, you can also choose any hair you'd like from the huge variety of wigs available in wool, mohair, synthetic, or even real human hair; long, short, funky -- you name it! There's an entire cottage industry of BJD wig manufacturers. And since BJDs also arrive naked, you're left to dress your doll in whatever manner suits, too. Seamstresses and designers of extraordinary talent abound and can custom design the attire of your dreams, if it doesn't already exist.
Some people dress their BJDs as gorgeous fashion models or sexy vamps or as "normal" people, often teenagers which is generally the age group represented by these dolls (although some dolls are younger and some, more mature.) For me, though, it's the truly COSTUMED dolls -- the ones dripping with embellishments and folds of glorious, imaginatively designed fabric, or dressed to fantasy themes -- that hold the most appeal; the dolls that are thoroughly Goth or Lolita, or are dressed in period attire, like the gorgeous Marie Antoinettes featured in the August 2007 issue of fashion doll magazine HAUTE DOLL, the cover of which is shown below.
For a heaping dose of costumed BJD eye candy, I encourage you to visit the INCREDIBLE website of ARCADIA DOLLS, choc full of the most sumptuous themed costumes and props -- all designed, styled, and photographed by two Spanish, doll-collecting sisters whose hobby turned into a cottage industry. Some examples of their fabulous work and superb photography, directly below:
As you can imagine, the total cost of owning even one of these beauties can quickly spiral into something absolutely astronomical, with dolls costing $500+ each and shoes at $50; elaborate costumes at $250; and so on. There's even perfectly scaled, exquisitely made furniture -- especially upholstered sofas and chairs -- made especially for BJDs. All those pricey accoutrements are the reason why I, personally, don't yet own one; it's just too, too pricey for my budget to handle all at once. But that day is coming soon... I hope. I'm narrowing my choices and doing lots of research, and in terms of what appeals most, I think I'm settling on either a Narae Classic or a Unoa Lusis. I'm still trying to figure out all the options in ordering -- size, skin, cost, variables, how to (it's not easy!) -- but that's okay. All that background research, all that time spent, gives me extra time to save.
What are your thoughts on ball jointed dolls? Do you have one, or a yen for one? If you do/did, how would you dress and display it? Do you have any favorite BJDshops or sites to share? Please add your comments!! I'll treasure every resource you can provide.
In the meantime, enjoy the pretties I've posted... and do consider getting yourself a subscription to HAUTE DOLL magazine, whether you're a fashion doll fanatic or not. Man-oh-man, the inspiring, glorious, textile-rich stuff it contains. <sigh>
