Characters for your dolls VS. dolls for your characters

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
I am a characters for dolls person. The exception is when I am "re-sheling" a character I made for a previous doll. Sometimes the doll inspires me so much that I have to pick a new doll for the personality.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
I think each person may have a preference (or not) but there's certainly no correct way to do it. I believe whatever you feel is most inspiring and enjoyable is the right way for you.

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
I've always done it this way.

Any other thoughts on the matter?
I really love it when people say that their dolls represent characters in a story they have written. I find it very interesting because it's completely different from the way I operate.

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
Characters for dolls person. I buy dolls to make them clothes so their characters are developed the more I make things for them!

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
Don't think either is better than the other! Each persons preference.

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
Nope! Characters I draw with a story since I was a teen, which have stuck as drawings even til now I think would be weird to have as a doll 'cause even if I were to find a perfect doll for them I feel it'd change the way I draw them and see them.


Any other thoughts on the matter?
Nope haha. xD

 

I definitely bought dolls to physically shell out characters that I already had. That being said, I bought a Luts Ignis for one of my characters. I've had him for several years now and have just come to the conclusion that he really doesn't fit my character at all. So now I have a doll with no corresponding character. I had considered selling him, but I think I'm gonna keep him because he really is pretty and I do like him.

 

Which type are you? A Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
I am characters for dolls! I have actual characters, but to me they've always been an internalized thing and I think it would be strange to bring them into the real world, so to speak.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
I think there is plenty of room in yhe hobby for both! There are do many unique sculpts and incredible ways ro customize your dolls that you can easily swing boh ways.

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
I've always done characters for dolls! I fall in love with the sculpt and let the personality reveal itself after they arrive.

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
Dolls for characters! Most dolls that I'm planning to get will be shells of my OCs.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
Nope! Whichever method suits you, I find that they're both lovely ways of expressing creativity.

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
I just began the hobby so I don't have much experience to talk about, but we will see! Currently I'm making characters into dolls just so I can regulate my spending, and so far I haven't seen too many sculpts that just stole my heart without me having a character in mind to shell.


Any other thoughts on the matter?
Not really! People can choose to do whatever they'd like; in the end, all dolls are wonderful no matter how they've come about!

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
I'm primarily a dolls-for-characters person. I got into the hobby by shelling a character I've had for ages, and things just kind of snowballed from there.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
Both are completely valid, and I have a few around that are the opposite of my usual approach, myself! And I love seeing what people from both camps do to style their dolls.

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
As I said above, I started out with the same approach I'm still using, but I have crossed over a few times... In those cases, it was because I found a sculpt I really loved, that didn't fit. So I weighed whether I really wanted them in my collection, and if I did? I made them fit by creating a new character.

Any other thoughts on the matter?
I really think both approaches aren't that far off from each other. Both can be as open or as restrictive as you make them, and both are exercises in creativity that make the hobby more interesting.

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
- Def characters for dolls.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
- No. But I feel it's easier to create a character for your doll. Rather than trying to find a doll that will embody an already existing character.

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
-I've always done one. XD

Any other thoughts on the matter?
My choice wasn't even intentional. I used to write a lot when I was in high school. But eventually lost touch with writing. Then I got into BJD and saw an opportunity to get back into writing among exploring new hobbies. So, characters to dolls just kinda happened. Haha

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
Currently I am a Characters for Dolls kind of person, however I would not put it past future me to get dolls for characters.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
No, people like to participate in hobbies differently and each way is just as important as the others.

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
I have too many characters so it would be hard to pick one and then design a doll around that. Thus it is easier for me to make a doll into a character. However, I can see myself being interested in attempting that in the future.

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
I make characters for my dolls for the most part. Inspiration to create a character comes from browsing company/owner photos, and if I like the sculpt enough I'll buy it and create a character around the doll.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
No, I think it's easy for either or.

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
I've always done it this way, but have purchased a couple of dolls that were characters before dolls.

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
Primarily a dolls-for-characters kind of girl, because I got into this hobby to recreate the characters from the series that I work on, however a few of my dolls (Frankenstein who I'm gonna call one of my horsemen, Jack, Famine who is a Doll Chateau Zenobia I can't currently afford, and Cadere were all characters for dolls I wanted an excuse to buy.) I've also done something kind of in the middle where I have a character and I change them a bit to go along with a sculpt I like (Balik who became purple for the sake of my love for fantasy resin, Tacet who I had to create to replace the antagonist in the fanfic version of my story who happened because I kind of wanted a pastel goth fairyland doll, Lucifer who wasn't going to have armour like that, but wound up as the ringdoll red king because wow...)

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
Both are just fine, in my opinion. I've found the characters for dolls approach to be easier than shelling some of my characters (finding faces and resin colours....)

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
Ninety percent of the time, I'm a dolls for characters kind of girl, and I don't see that changing... knock on wood. My few
Cross overs all have to have distinct characters that are important in their storylines before I'll take them home.

Any other thoughts on the matter?
Despite it not being my approach, i think people who can make characters for the dolls they like as they see them are very creative, and must have very interesting stories they write, even though I cannot personally do it for all of mine because the characters most dear to me have to come first. I don't think we're necessarily opposites though, just people who go about making characters differently.

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
I'm a bit of both, actually. I enjoy trying to shell characters that I have already created, and inventing new ones when finding an interesting sculpt.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
In my case, I find it a bit easier to create a character inspired by a certain doll. Still, I love the thrill of finding the perfect sculpt after countless hours of search -it also can come randomly sometimes, which is just even more surprising (´艸｀*) It kinds of automatically puts the doll on a "must have" list, though ///

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
I think that I'll always function that way ; both sides are really enjoyable.

 

Which type are you? Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
I’m definitely more of a dolls-for-characters person. I have them all planned, haha!

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
Not really. I’ve done both, and I’ve definitely had a harder time making up characters for dolls than vice-versa, but I can totally see the appeal. I think it gives you the freedom to buy any doll you like, whereas I’m kind of reluctant to do so without a character that fits.

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
Of my 2.5 dolls (gotta love floating heads), I’ve done one full doll for a character, and I’ve tried building a character around my other doll. I get way more satisfaction out of seeing my character shelled, personally, though the process itself can be difficult when you’re trying to get the details just right.

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
Eunice is my first doll although I do have two more on order, and I had characters planned out for all of them. However, I have found that Eunice had ideas of her own and is completely different from what I expected!

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
I think either is fine, just go with whatever works for you.

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
Since I only have one doll so far, I am not sure whether I will switch or not. I have plans for the two dolls on order, but I am expecting them to make up their own minds when they arrive so I guess I will just have to wait and see!

 

Which type are you? A characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
For me, it feels more "natural" to be part of the characters for dolls contingent, but I'm trying out the dolls for characters side of the divide for one or two characters.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
Not particularly. I do think that the shelling pre-existing characters would be more work in the sense you'd have to be relentlessly hunting for a doll that expressed that character rather than more casually browsing and happening on a sculpt that speaks to you, especially if you're very firmly attached to a particular look or image, but I imagine that's part of the thrill for people who prefer to do it that way.

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
I happened upon a sculpt that I thought would be perfect for one of my pre-existing characters, but I don't think I'll be making a habit of it. I felt that it was a lot more stressful, in the sense of, "What if it doesn't work out?"

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
I have a bit of both. My first couple of dolls were dolls for characters but the last ones have been characters for dolls.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
I do not think there is a more suited way for the hobby. A backstory is not something obligatory, I just like them that way.

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
As I stated before, I do a bit of both. But at the start I really thought I wouldn't buy any doll except for it being a character from my novels (I was too naive back then xD).
The switch for me were anthro dolls, I hadn't imagined a story with that kind of characters but as I started seeing some sculpts I wanted to add to my wishlist I made characters for all of them. And now I have one at home, waiting for another to come, and a couple more I'm saving for.

Any other thoughts on the matter?
During 4 years in this hobby I found that I used to gravitate towards realistic characters and stories that (in my opinion) ended up being not so fun to play with, interact or photograph. So I think anthros have helped me to open my mind and let my imagination fly so my future dolls will have nothing to do with my previous ones (but I will always love them, of course).

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
characters for dolls. I make characters all the time for my stories, but they have their own worlds and I think they would be unhappy being stuffed into a doll, so I allow the dolls to make up their own "minds" about who they want to become.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
I think both are wonderful depending on the type of person and creative you are! For me characters for dolls works better but I love seeing people doing the opposite or anything else too!

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
I actually did have some dolls in the past that where dolls for characters.... I liked the idea, but I felt it started to limit the characters. I no longer felt they lived and it seemed like they didn't want to be dolls at all. So I took them back into my head and now they are characters in my stories again. Now I always let the dolls grow their own characters.

Any other thoughts on the matter?
My dolls need to be just that, dolls. Their characters are dolls, they live in this world. When I tried to do something different it felt like I had forced my other characters out of their own world and held them captive in this one... I know it sounds silly, but my characters live for me, so if they come in to being in the worlds in my head that is their home, and I just can't bare to draw them out of the place they know and love.

 

characters for my dolls

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
Personally, I buy the doll and I gradually see a character while working on her. I do have characters of my own, but since I draw, I don't have the need to make them into doll (I'm also more free with drawings) however I sometimes take "inspiration" from my characters, for small things like tattoos and clothing, or even makeup.


Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
Nope, it's a hobby, it's meant for you to have fun. Therefore do what you want!


Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
I might try recreating my characters on dolls, but it will probably be on off-topic dolls like Monster High. For the rest, we'll see.


Any other thoughts on the matter?
My characters have fairly different body styles and faces, so maybe if one day I finally decide to make my own dolls, they will surely be the models for body and face types!

 

Which type are you? a Characters for dolls, or a dolls for characters?
Both actually! I have some characters that I try to find suitable sculpts for and then there are some dolls that I've thought up new characters for! There's even one who wasn't planned but just outright "told" me his name and character the moment I laid my eyes on him and invited himself home LOL.

Do you think one way is better or more suited for the hobby?
I don't think there is a better or "right" way for this hobby. It just depends on whichever suits you best! Some prefer one method over the other, some go for both, and some don't even have characters for their dolls (more of like a purely collecting kind of collector)!

Have you always done one, or did something make you switch along the way? Why switch?
I always have been doing that... but for me, those in my priority wish list are usually dolls-for-characters whereas those in the normal wishlist or are unplanned ones are typically characters-for-dolls.

 

I used to lean more towards the "dolls for characters" way. I would sometimes see a doll and immediately "feel" the person it represents and so then it becomes a character for doll type situation, but usually when that happens, that character becomes a part of the larger story before I even think of buying that doll. Almost every time that's happened though the character ended up evolving and out-growing the doll... With one exception, where I never bought the doll, so... ^_^;

Now I'm pretty strict on the "dolls for characters" thing. I find that it's important for me to at least visualize the important aspects of my characters and while I can draw them a doll representation is just so much more appealing... Unfortunately I was never gifted with the talent for detail and colour (only gesture...) so I'd much rather have a doll than try to draw them myself and spend more time being critical of the drawing than work on the writing.

Part of that has to do with my slight obsessive-compulsivness though. I can't stand having "extra" things, I always want to get rid of them and cut everything down to the bare minimum (which transfers over to my art as well). Dolls that were dolls first and characters second usually feel like the extra thing I don't need so they inevitably end up on the market after I get bored, and I usually lose a few hundred dollars in the process.

For people who don't deal with this issue and who don't feel constrained by "necessity" the whole doll-first thing can totally work out, so I don't think there's a single correct way to collect.