Face-up Brand Picky: What do you think?

Hmmmm, I've never really searched for face-up artists that deeply, but I can see what you mean in how it does give off that "holier than thou" attitude.

Maybe some people really do think only their face-ups would only look good on a Volks doll or don't want to work with resin that's not as good of quality?

This confuses me(in why they would do it) because, in my eyes, it makes them look kind of experienced, like, "Oh, I can't paint that color resin or tan dolls, etc." I think that if you are a really good face-up artist, you will be able to do a great job on any doll and adapt to their face mold. Face-up artists have it easy, the heads never going to twitch, their going to know what the doll's face shape is before it even appears before them. Make-up artists have people come in and need make-up done according to their preferences and the way their face is shaped, etc. on spot. If you can't do this, I don't think you are that experienced.

Now, this sounds really critical and I don't mean to offend anyone out there because some face-up artists do it because they can do it nicely and it's good money. But some, I think, would really get offended by this.

If they do this for a reason that they don't think they can create an amazing face-up on dolls from particular companies, then I'm glad I can't offer my doll so I can go get an amazing face-up from someone who can do it.

I realize this sounds kind of critical, and I'm sorry to those who I've offended because I'm sure I haven't touched grounds on every reason.

 

Mmm, I haven't come across any faceup artists who do only certain doll brands, myself. Although, it didn't take very long for me to find the faceup artist I plan on working with for my Mei's face - so other than just to admire their work, I haven't been looking that closely at other artists' prices/requirements/etc.

As for supply brands, well, one thing to remember is you get what you pay for. Professional artists use top quality supplies for a reason. They give back top quality results. That usually translates into higher prices, yes.

Interesting observation, though. I'd like to hear from the artist side.

 

An artist should be allowed to work with whatever materials they choose, and really you don't have the right to question it. You do have the right to not patronize that artist, that is your choice. You do have the right to be curious, but that doesn't mean you deserve an answer.

 

well, in some cases, people just have an easier time working on certain types of sculpts. or their face-up techniques don't work well with sculpts that have a certain style of features.

and in other cases, for a lot of artists this is their HOBBY, and they would like to paint certain heads either because they want to see them in person, or just really like them, or have just always wanted to paint one. it is their choice to do something they like to do, and they have no obligation to do otherwise.

 

A little touchy much?

Yes, we do have the right to question the materials an artist uses, because we're sending them our dolls to commission them. If they use Sharpies and oil pastels, I sure as heck am not sending my doll to them, and I would certainly question their knowledge of faceups if they chose to use materials that stain and damage dolls.

Personally, I assume that a faceup artist may want to work with particular brands because of the resin they use. I'm aware that Volks' Finishing Spray leaves residue on other dolls' resin, and some resin stains easier than others, etc. etc., so it may be their own personal resin preference.

If it's not that, though, I'd be curious to know why they'd like a particular brand to do faceups on as well, however, I'm not necessarily opposed to the artist being choosy. There are a ton of faceup artists here on DoA, ranging from choosy to free faceups, so there's always someone to find and commission.

 

Yes Pristine Crimson, I am a little touchy, I hadn't realized before today how incredibly insipid people can be, and how little thought they put into what they write on this forum. What a rude awakening. That's sarcasm, in case you are bewildered.
What I meant when I said "materials" was the sculpt or company, which is what was being discussed. Reading is fundamental.
Also, the sub-forum title "Dolly Debate" seems to indicate that the OP wants to engage those with either different views than his/hers, not that they just want a bunch of sheeple going "baaaaaaaaaaa, wow you are so right, insert drooling opinion free emoticon here".

 

I can't say I've ever come across that situation nor have I ever been rejected (having not commissioned a faceup in a very long time, only did when it was my first doll and I was clueless! Then I wiped that faceup off only weeks later...) but I can see how it would seem a bit unusual that someone might only work on Unoas. I wouldn't judge an artist because of that because there's a chance they might especially like the ethics of a company (say Company X donated 10% of their doll sales to cancer research, maybe Artist M wants to only do faceups on them because they admire that so much) or maybe they only enjoy the aesthetics of a certain company's sculpts so they only want to work on them (Artist K loves Souldolls SO much that they only own Souldolls, thus, they only do faceups on Souldolls. No interest in anyone else!) There's also a chance Artist H only does this for fun, not profit, so they figure they only want to paint Volks and Dollzone because, hey, I don't like the others, why should I even mess with them? I'd say it's not really good business sense to reject work on a certain company's dolls...obviously you'd get less work and less money, but as long as the artist is well off enough and talented enough to choose their work...they might as well! I'd love to work exclusively on Souldolls... *sigh*

And Stella, I actually very much agree with your point of view, but maybe your tone was a little aggressive, that could have been why your post was questioned.

 

I've known of at least one artist who ruled out almost an entire brand line because she'd painted scads and scads of them over the years and really wanted to do something different instead of the same doll mold over and over and over. Why does it automatically have to be 'they're holier-than-thou'? Really, the only answer anyone needs is "because they felt like it". You can take that or leave it, but in the end it's the only answer anyone really needs to give for why they will or won't take a given commission.

Topics like these always come off as somewhat sour grapes. Customizers can set their own boundaries as to what they will and won't do; if that doesn't suit what you want, then there will always be someone else willing to take your business.

 

I immediately recall a particular artist that was just opening shop that wrote in their commision info that they outright refused to touch any doll by DollZone. Everything else was fine. I thougt and still think it was a bit off, since it's not like DollZone is the only brand out there with strong and exagerated features. What about DollMore, Bobobie, Angel of Dream, and SoulDoll?

I guess, in that case, it can be chalked up more to the artist's inexperience. I guess a DZ doll would be a bit intimidating if you've never worked with one before.

 

You are certainly correct and you put it really succinctly. I just seem to be defending artists lately, and let me tell you it can be a full time job.
the "touchy much" dig was pretty sharp, I was not intending with my first post to be rude, just opinionated. When I get hit, I tend to hit back, it's a bad habit.

 

I have seen a few artists that won't do certain types of dolls, or have a very clear preference for certain types. I can understand this. Different artists have different styles, and some artists are more specialized than others. For example, IMHO very stylized heads can look good with a more stylized faceup, while more realistic heads tend to look best with more subtle shading and detail.

And then there is, as has been mentioned, the matter of personal preference or the desire to paint a wide variety of dolls. Personally, if there was a brand that I disliked, I probably wouldn't want to paint them either. And as someone commissioning a faceup, I'd rather not have an artist that didn't like my doll type be the one painting it anyway, y'know? And I've also seen artists offer discounts for certain head types, just because they would like to paint them and/or would like to broaden their horizons. Similar principle, I suppose.

Anyhow, I agree that artists can take commissions for whatever they very well please for whatever reasons. It is up to them to balance the "I need to get business in order to make money" part and the "ohboy, painting!" part.

 

Exactly. There's no need to call people names and/or insinuate a deficiency in their mental capabilities because of misunderstandings and/or differences of opinion.

As for the OP's question, it's not an issue I've run into when looking for faceup artists. If I was considering one and saw that the doll I wanted done was on their 'No' list, I'd most likely just shrug and hit the 'back' button.

 

I don't think it's a bad thing if a person wants to only do certain types. If I were doing face-ups, I wouldn't want to work on a head I find unappealing. I can't imagine it being inspiring or fun at all :/ I realize that the point for most is to make money to fun the hobby, but if you look at a head and think "Great, I have to paint this..." odds are the results aren't going to be the quality that the artist OR the owner are going to be happy with.

In the end, it's up to the artist. They set the rules, if you don't like them, someone else will. And there will be someone else just as good that WILL take your doll, so in the end it really doesn't make much difference with the immense selection of artists on DoA.

 

Good lord, I am tired of people losing their tempers over something that can be civilly disputed. Imho, I encourage the taking of a breather to gather oneself before posting something that could be potentially untactful. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Lately the Debate Forum has been all fired up! I'm sure everyone here has the ability to be calm and civil.

As to the actual OP, I speak in the terms of an artist. I am not a commissioning face up/blushing/anything artist, but just one who draws in general. I do not believe that the purchaser particularly has a right to demand reasons for such decisions. It is not as it you walk into a department store and ask why they don't sell the brands that they choose not to sell. However, I will say that perhaps sending them a polite pm inquiring the reasons of such a choice may lift the curtain which you find clouds your curiosity.

Sometimes it is a matter of personal preference, maybe it is a matter of how the materials they have available react with the resin, etc... We can only speculate. I don't think speculation in place of action ever had much to do with anything xD; but perhaps these artists will find this thread and help enlighten us.

 

I can understand how someone who specializes in realistic faceups on realistic sculpts might not find any inspiration in a Nono or Soo, and vice versa. Even though they are charging money for it, I doubt most faceup artists on DoA are relying on commissions for a living or treating it as a full-time job. For many artists it's an extension of the hobby, while work or study is their main focus. So why would they take on commissions to do in their free/hobby time if they already know they wouldn't enjoy doing them?

It may be frustrating to see that an artist you like won't work on the doll you have, but in general they're just hobbyists too and they have likes and dislikes just like anyone else.

 

Shouldn't they kind of have the right to choose what they want to work with? Just saying ...

On the other hand it is very disappointing when there is a certain doll mold they won't work with, and you love their work.