But I wanted THAT faceup...

Artist say they wont copy other artists cause they don't want to be known for copying and also no two styles are exactly alike so it wouldn't be a perfect 1:1 and they don't want to deal with the drama from either of those issues. That said I would find an artist with a similar style or a style you like, take a picture of your doll's current faceup (not the company faceup) and tell them to recreate it in their style. Key being "in their style". You can give directives and improvements on what you want for them to do to your head. I've never had an artist have a problem with that.

Another option is to find examples of things your like in their own work, or google and use people makeup examples that are similar to the company faceup and give them those pictures.

But if the faceup from the company is THAT bad and the rest from the company were good, I would email them and ask about the quality control to see if you can get another one. They might be a bit put off about it but seeing as you've already bought 4 dolls from them I can't imagine them not wanting to work with you in some way as a repeat customer. Before you do that though search IG and Weibo (you dont need an acct to search but you do need to put in the chinese name of the doll/company if applicable in the correct characters to get the right results) to see if you can find other company face ups of that sculpt and how it compares to yours. You will definitely have a case if yours is just bad and everyone else's is good but if its all bad I probably wouldn't ask for a redo, although in that case its likely a completely different artist did the promo faceup).

 

I had the same problem with a loongsoul face up. It was so orange and soft while the promo pictures were strong and masculine on a big male doll. I'm now just living with that tbh, but it's still on my mind.

I did get a face up from a company once where the forgot some things and my friend who does face ups just added missing parts. You could go to an artist for having it touched up but I'm not sure they'd want to do you'd have to ask. Things like the blush can be fixed. Honestly though since you don't like tbf red nose, I would have it removed and ask an artist for something new. You could tell them you want the mouth in this shape etc, but still have it their own style, like the others say.

 

I see why you are disappointed and I think that if you pick out an artist who works in a similar style, explain your situation to them, and if it's okay to do it in their style but you just want the same make up features or "feel" as the original, most would be happy to oblige. Yes some may not be cool with it, but this isn't such an unusual face up style that you wouldn't be able to find an artist who would be comfortable using the company promo pictures as a reference.
I think the main concern, is that no artist wants to be a plagiarist. They could also be wary that it could be used in some shady way, like the possibility that someone would use a fake "company" make up as proof of legitimacy, on an illegitimate doll. So they will surely tell you, I can't copy this exactly. But if you just want the same type of make up such as lip shape and blush amounts etc, it's not something that's particularly unique to this design in the promo photos. It all depends on your expectation here and how you communicate that to the artist.

 

From what you wrote I assumed what you hated is the quality not the style/type of faceup, correct? From the pictures you posted of company promo vs what you received it looks near exact except for the quality/detail level and the heavy handed blushing. There are lots of faceup artists whose own styles are very similar to the company's style you've shown in the promo photo. It's a pretty classic/standard style, with no unique tattoos/markings, so finding someone who can do it shouldn't prove difficult.

Once you do find someone, as I previously said give them directives and improvements (colors/more detail) on what you want for them to do in their particular style (i.e. a similar style of brow/lip/lashes/etc from their portfolio that matches the style from the company photo). They can get the overall vibe of what you want from the photo of your own doll. A good artist wont send you back a shoddy quality faceup because the reference pic you sent of an existing faceup was poor quality lol.

 

I don't think you're being unreasonable. One of the main reasons I buy heads is for specific face-ups. I've had that problem with Doll Leaves. I bought such a cute boy and when I got him it was like, "UHHHHHHHH?????" It is actually so off key that I'm still considering selling it. FML.

 

I have to say, at first glance, they look very similar. However, the nose and mouth REALLY stand out as not the same. Try contacting the company and point out the differences (like circle them in the photos if you need to) and ask if it could be redone...or some amount refunded. It never hurts to try.

If the company can't help, getting it redone is your option (besides selling it). I can't say I know any face up artists who do that style but I am sure they are out there.

 

Have you tried contacting them about it?

 

Well, personally I have to say: wow, that's not the same Faceup at all. I don't think it even matters to discuss "skill". The lips are painted completely differently, different style and different outcome. The nose in the Faceup you wanted is blushed pink lightly on the bridge, and the one you got is blushed heavily on the end of the nose (the crying nose I call it). I think other differences are possibly "error" but I really feel for you because this is simply not the same design, no matter who executed it.

In my own humble opinion... I believe it should not be a problem to find an artist you can take the original company Faceup image to and even the image of what you received and tell them about what was important about image 1 and the problems in image 2 and someone with a suitable style should be able and most likely willing to help you out. Artists are different about their opinion on the level of details that constitute copying. I'm not trying to advocate habits of specific copying but this company faceup was a pretty natural Choice of look for the doll.... it's different than copying a very specific unique style or an OC Faceup with distinctive markings. The artist will have to do it "their own way" is really what I think it comes down to on something like this.

I really hope you can get it sorted out. Would definitely have been a bummer for me too.

 

My goodness, the general color tones aren't close either in addition to placement, it's very unfortunate. I think it would be a good idea to reach out to the company and see what they are willing to do to fix this. If you are put off of them fixing it, I completely understand. I typically order blank dolls because it seems like my personal nightmare to have this happen.
I'd also say, personally company face-ups very much are on the table for me as references for my own dolls, and I will offer tweaks to them as needed. I expect an artist to not copy it perfectly as it's what I intend. It's what I've done with Giselle, and will do if I cannot obtain what I need from a company face-up.

 

Even I as a newbie think this is really bad execution of the make up. It looks not at all like the picture.
I would contact the company asap.

 

Glad you could get it resolved, but I'm really sorry that the company face up came out like this.
It's definitely not just you being dissapointed by their face-ups. Purchased a doll from them last year and had the same problem as well. I was super disappointed by the lips, it was like they missed a layer there. I always order company face-ups and so far this only one I'm thinking about getting redone.


ode

 

I don't think that anyone thought you were being a jerk here. They clearly missed the mark by a lot. It's just out of the ordinary that a dollmaker would agree to redo or refund a face up, they're always putting in these disclaimers to avoid it if the issue arises. So it's fantastic news that they have sided with you! Now you can use that refund to have it done more like you expected and fall back in love with the doll

 

That´s a clever move, unless they find skilled artists which are able to match the promo pics.
I´m scared of receiving something that doesn´t match the pictures/description.