Asking face-up creators to 'copy' their dolls for you?

Can people really do exact face-up they previously did? I think that's amazing! (I can't draw anything more than twice!) But for the matter of getting exact face-up request, I think it's kind of expected. People see the creator's work by looking at their dolls/their work then they like it and that is why they chose that particular person to request a face-up from. I never really thought asking for exact face-up can be offensive to some of you. I guess if it can sound a little rude in way, but to me, if someone said that it'll just sound like they Really Like what I did! =)

 

If it's a fairly generic face-up then I can understand why some would be tempted to ask for that in a polite manner. Something very specialized like markings/very specific scarring would be something abit more awkward to ask for a copy of. I think perhaps asking for another play on the idea would be perhaps be a more reasonable request. I've used example photos before in my request for general style/shape but I usually change colours, shaping slightly and advise them it's just the general idea of what I want - the kind of look I'd like, not the exact look. I'm usually very lenient because I trust the artists style when I choose them.

 

I can't see asking someone to copy an exact face-up - even if they could somehow reproduce it exactly, who wants to have the exact same doll someone else already has? Though I guess I've seen some dolls that I make grabby-hands at the screen and if I could have that exact one, I would be totally happy.

I can see asking a face-up artist for something in a similar look and feel, and telling them what about the particular face-up interests me (very natural lips with detailed lines, fine feathery eyelashes, sparkly eyelids, whatever) and asking for something similar. I usually have a very clear idea of the character I want though so there would likely be some changes and beauty marks or whatever I'd ask for.

When I get to doing face-ups, I won't mind if someone wants one very close to an existing one I've done. I'm planning on selling original sculpts soon (please let it be soon!) so I'll probably have a standard set of about 5 face-ups to choose from, or one can request something special. I don't think I get near as serious about a lot of this stuff as some doll collectors (no offense intended, of course) so if someone wants a doll that looks just like one I've already made for myself, well, great - that'll be one more sale.

 

I don't know where I sit on the ethics of this, as it would really be down to the feelings of the individual faceup artist, but I simply wouldn't ask an artist to do that. I wouldn't want a copied faceup, especially one that could be rather special or personal to the artist. A truly unique faceup would be next to impossible to create, but I'd like the end result to be more mine than that.

I do have an FCS where it's based on an LE's faceup, with some alterations; that's allowable under the rules of FCS, and it's Volks referring to their own work, as well as not being an exact copy. But that's a different kettle of fish, because companies reproduce their own faceups all the time. Even so, I doubt I would ask for a 100% copy. I'd want my own preferences in there somewhere.

If I were a faceup artist, I'd say no if asked to do this.

 

I think it's okay to ask for elements of a faceup ('I really like the eyebrow shape on this one' etc.) or for a similar style or colour scheme but I'd see it as a bit rude to ask them to make a copy of the faceup on their own doll, especially if it was something really unusual/unmistakeable.

 

It would depend on where the creator got the faceup from.
For one I have a girl who is based off of peacocks. To find inspiration, I googled peacock eyeshadow or eyemake up. I found one I really liked, used it kinda and voila.. part of a faceup.
If it was something pretty common and something that wasnt "trade marked" sure why not.
If it was something that was very... this is who I am and this is my VOICE.. most likely not.
But then again, if a person chooses you to do a faceup on their doll because of how yours looks and they love it that much. Isn't that a great compliment, even if you say yes or no? ^^;

 

You wouldn't ask Van Gogh to make a copy of Starry Night, would you? It is really difficult to match someone's faceup exactly. First off it's 3D art, which (for me at least) tends to be more difficult. The other issue is wanting yours to be the only one in the world. Most people want their faceup to be unique.

If I were a faceup artist I would say no because there's no guarantee I could make it exactly the same. I think your best bet is asking for something similar. Slight differences can't be too bad.

 

I think I would never want an exact copy - my doll is my doll, and unique. But I think if I really loved a particular face-up and thought it would suit my own doll's character, I would ask for something similar.
It also makes a huge difference, I think, whether the doll you reference is totally unique with tattoos or elaborate make-up, or if it's just a sort of basic face with freckles or smokey eyes or multi-coloured lips or whatever... I would never ask a person to make an exact copy of a scarface head with tribal tattoos, but if I had a red-haired pale girl I might want the same sunburn freckles and a similar mouth or what have you...

I think the danger in asking an 'exact' copy is that it will look different on your doll because it has a different face, or skin tone, and even what light you use to take a photograph. We've all had pictures where our dolls look unusually pink or grey, the eyes look two different colours or the hair is two shades off... You have to bear in mind that no matter how hard an artist tries to get the photograph true to life, light will always play tricks.

 

Aside from the fact that exact copies would be incredibly difficult to achieve, I don't know whether it's ethical or not. I suppose for me it depends if the face-up was according to my custom specifications or not. If I asked someone to create a face-up for my doll based on my instructions, I wouldn't feel comfortable with them reproducing the face-up. Yes, it's their work and I'd be happy for my doll to be included in their portfolio, but the face-up would technically have been designed by me, for a specific doll, even if I didn't add so much as a brushstroke of my own. It would be strange to me to see another doll with my doll's face.

On the other hand, if I sent the head for a face-up and liked the artist's work enough for them to freestyle a face-up for me, that would be their own work and they could do whatever they like with it, from reproduce it entirely on other heads to copy elements like the eyebrows or lip colour.

There are also other things to think about. Certain colour schemes naturally look better on some dolls than others - red-haired and blonde dolls do look sweet with freckles and there are any number of freckled dolls on the forum, you can't demand that your doll be the only freckled doll in existence, or tell the artist they must never freckle another doll

 

I've had many people over the years ask me to make a "twin" of a doll that I've created. I've tried, just as in real life, to create the "twin" but to add something to make that doll unique still. Maybe that's silly, but I really like all of my dolls to be one of a kind.

The only times that I've refused to create a twin doll for someone is when a person has asked me to copy another artist's faceup. For me that was unethical, and I declined.

 

I think it's nice to tell them you really liked their work, and perhaps act for something similar, but to copy? No, I don't think that's right. The artist went through a lot to create the character and find that look, it's personal. Like I said, taking ideas from it and asking for something similar is okay.. For example "I really like the way you did the eyes, can you do something like that?" would be okay, but "Can you make it look exactly like your X-Doll?" wouldn't be.

And I would think one would want their own design for their doll. You know, to make the doll their own.

 

This is a very interesting topic.

My opinion is mixed and somewhat conflicted. On one hand I find that dolls are works of art regardless of how their owners view them. They are already beautiful sculptures when created and face up artists bring them to life with colors, expressions, and tweaks. A mold can change entirely depending on the face up. If you created a doll that was so wonderful that it made other people want one "just like it" wouldn't that be an honor? I guess that I am thinking from a painter's perspective here. When I paint on a canvas and the final product is loved so much that people want copies or prints of it -- I become so humbled and honored, really. To think that my creation is so appealing as to warrant someone approaching me to have the piece in their collection -- that's pretty awesome!

However, I do understand that dolls are not precisely a canvas. For many owners they are children or precious cast members of stories that are dear to them. Having someone want their child or their character can be very offensive. There's a sort of zealous reaction, "No this is mine." And that is perfectly understandable. It would be like if you had children and someone came up to you and said, "Can I please have a clone of your child?" I'm pretty sure the reaction would be "Get the heck away."

It all boils down to the person, I suppose. Personally, I would not have a problem "duplicating" my doll's looks because I do believe no face up will come out exactly the same no matter how heavily copied. Furthermore, each doll takes his or her own personality in the hands of their owners. How many people own sculpts that they order with default face up from the company? You know that there will be many dolls with that same face up out there in the world -- but none of them will ever be YOUR doll. I've seen sculpts with default face ups side by side with completely different auras and styles. The face up is part of the characterization but it isn't the only thing that differentiates a doll.

Still, I do respect and understand those artists who deny doing a replica of their personal collection. It's an understandable and valid reaction. ^^

 

I think there's nothing wrong to ask a face-up 'just like' something previously done as long as we ask politely. Because that's what their portfolio for. We know it's nearly impossible to make an exact copy. But of course, we should accept if the creator reject the request. They have rights to refuse doing something they don't like. It would be best if they stated first about their rules.

I only hate if someone try to duplicate a character entirely (face-up, outfit, style, OC, etc). That's truly irritating.

 

I don't know, I mean the same face up can look different on different dolls so the doll is still kinda unique. However I think it would be okay if you tell the faceup artist that "I want my doll to have lips/cheeks etc like this doll". So it is sort of like mixing the different dolls' features on your own doll. That is fine by me, but I don't know what other people will think of it.
But I do wonder if someone got a blank doll on marketplace and wanted the default look of the company, can she request the artist to do something similar?

 

If you would run a face-up-service, how would you react to a request like that?
I would say no Because owners should have their dolls look unique
Do you think it's rude?
Kind of
Would you don't mind it and just do it?
I would because I'd want my doll to look how I imagine him
Would this hurt you because you like your doll to be 'unique'?
Yeah
Or would you tell the customer that you won't do this for him?
I would not do that for them