Marina Bychkova's Resin Enchanted Dolls Discussion Part 1

But the problem, in so far as there is a problem, is not that she wants her dolls to be exclusive art. That would be perfectly fine.

The problem is that she keeps a waiting list full of hopefuls, and she leaves these people dangling for years on end, never quite coming out with saying: no, I will not make/order/approve those dolls. If she did people would know where they stood and that would be the end of it.

As it is, by letting the waiting list exist, she is saying: those dolls will happen sometime, which is very likely not true.

 

Yea she doesn't even make the wigs. I had the website but have to look for the book mark.

But to keep interest, it would be nice of her if she at least posted images of her work. Not just a picture of findings and a book shelf. She used to display a lot more. Well she is some lucky artist to be able to work like she does.

She did say she made the resins to fulfill the demand. Maybe she changed her mind and decided to make it exclusive as well. But basically people are willing to throw money at her and still she can't make some orders to a factory. *shrugs*

maybe she wants this negative aspect so her work can be better known in that sense?

 

But she does post images of her work and has just published a book full of it, surely? There was a lovely, newsy post just recently... I really enjoyed reading.

 

I have to say, as a dollmaker, hosting an order is really not that simple! You don't just place an order and that's it - there's a huge amount of work involved and you have to be able to commit time to it. If Marina is preparing for a show, or has another project on the go, then she wouldn't necessarily be able to do the two things at once. As an artist, her own work naturally takes precedence and it's no longer about the money - which is great for her!

Also, I think we've gotten so used to the presence of social media that we have become spoiled! It's great that Marina even keeps a blog at all. Many artists don't.

 

She doesn't post the commissioned porcelain work, but she does post her gallery pieces.

Well social media is free press, it is now how someone finds out without having to go to galleries. It is mutually beneficial between the artist and the fans. So we can be mutually spoiled. I wouldn't say it would be a blessing per say, to get new images. I am only comparing to how she presented in the past. Now she is getting so exclusive even her images are secret lol

It is a funny concept.

 

Well, I think most of us on that list understand though, that she is not promising anything. She has a list and if she has time (and the inclination) to work on the resin dolls, she will. Based on at least one blog post about working on resins (granted an old one) it doesn't sound as if doing the resins is much fun for her. I do wonder if all of the complaints on the boards and on her own blog complaining about the resin list made her even more disenchanted to make resin dolls. And the fact that for a while, the resins were going straight to etsy or ebay to sell for twice as much. These things are probably aren't exactly motivating.

One of the reasons I think that so many of us love her as an artist, she is just so INCREDIBLY creative and inventive- The downside of an artist like that, is that they are probably going to be incredibly bored by doing the same dolls or the same things. So she knows economically, it would make sense to work on the resins, but then she gets it into her head that she needs to learn wax injecting.... and then she has an idea for a fabulous porcelain art doll.... and then some ideas about jewelry... I think she is probably a bit flighty- it comes with the territory, doesn't it?

Anyway, sure I also wish she were as communicative and prolific as the Popovy sisters, and of course I wish she would finish the resin list. But I'm not ENTITLED to one of her dolls. So many people act like they were given some kind of promise, when that was never the case.

Even if I never manage to get a doll, I still really admire and appreciate her as an artist. Her ideas are really novel and just looking at her pictures is really an inspiration. I'm also super jealous of those who managed to get a doll before she got bored/too busy to make them...

 

Yes I can understand how you would be jealous, I would too if I didn't have my two resins. I feel more fortunate every day as I see others want one so badly and I have two, one of each sculpt. I got mine from that one big order she did a year and a half ago and then nothing came out after that as far as I know. At this time I could not sell mine, even for that big amount I know I could get. I like them too much so I hope she see people like me and decides it is in her best interest and all you other people on the list to make more. She doesn't pour the moulds so I wouldn't thing it takes that much time, especially if she sells them blank. Her porcelain are so much more work because every one is different. She has to think every move. If she did a bunch of resin in a row it should go more quickly. Just my opinion. Then she has a bunch of fans happy and smiling.

 

Wouldn't that be lovely! I want to be one of those happy smiling fans. But even if she never gets to me on the list, I would love to see other fans getting dolls. I like seeing how creative people can be!

 

It's interesting to see some of these posts. I only recently acquired a RED and did pay dearly for her, but--I have always been attracted to Marina's sculpts and creativity. I really can't bring myself to "play" with her. There really is something about their faces that make them seem "enchanted". I would love to have another--and would love to purchase some clothing for this young lady but have not yet decided "who" she is.

From a business standpoint I think Marina keeping her dolls scarce increases their value, though I would love it if she would produce more as I would love to have others. She has created a lucrative market for her OOAK porcelain dolls and may feel that by producing resin dolls she is distracting buyers from the more expensive dolls. Everyone cannot always have everything they wish or I would have second homes in Europe and a private jet to take me there. )
I think I'm on the tail end of the list and that one day I will get that magic email saying there is a doll available for me. I'm not getting any younger--or any richer, so hope it occurs before too awfully long.

 

ah that's an interesting view point of enabling to keep the value of the porcelains really high. maybe she intends the need of getting a resin really high too? I guess eventually she will be in this secret exclusive club where only the world powers are able to obtain one, and even the information about the work would be exclusive private club, like only LV can know about the works etc. Then when she releases the books people would flock to it to see the secret works finally becoming available to the public after so many years! Then the books themselves would be exclusives and limited, and worth thousands. That is if people still stay enchanted. Or maybe it's more like the concept of the illuminati where there's the in and the out crowd. I am still compelled to try to obtain one of her porcelains but it seems it would be an extremely arduous endeavor to do so unless you are a world power. Of course this is all hypothetical in the future, but I think it's very probable hehe

 

Another thing about artists is they are compelled to create, Lazhielle, so I expect Marina will continue to make more dolls. They do usually create best in an atmosphere where they feel comfortable and free to do what moves them. I really appreciate your wit. I am a "word" person. But wonder if they put Marina in a creative mood. )

 

Hmm she does seem a bit pooped out recently. Maybe she will get her second wind at a later time. Or perhaps she all ready created the things she wanted to create the most

 

This thread makes me think what is on Marina's mind. I like her work so much; could never afford any of the dolls, but she inspired me to make some fabulous costumes, and now I am even going to make my own doll... similar to hers, of course! But I am somehow afraid if her dolls and her recent behaviour is really about the money making thing for her, trying to rise the value of her dolls. On the artistic point of view, I would understand her though. I myself want to try new things every time, and it makes me feel emotionally uncomfortable thinking that I have to make one more regency or rococo dress for doll because I am short of money and these dresses sell so good, instead of fully indulging myself into some "unpractical" creations like sculpting a doll or sewing a costume which I would keep for my own dolls. But bless her creativity! Watching photographs of the new works and reading her posts still continue to inspire me further. Personally, I would rather see her exploring new horizons than making the same doll all over again.

 

To my mind she is simply following her own creative line. One thing leads to another, for instance the jewelled bodies can be seen as a further exploratory link to Russian culture and Faberge, not as an attempt to manufacture rich men's toys. In her own ways she exploits that element too by embedding them in a subversive feminist story. No surprise if some of us find following her doll journey inspiring. So yes, Shelley, do create your doll. Who knows what new realms you'll discover and perhaps want to share!

 

I absolutely don't believe she's setting out to create rich man's toys. It's her marketing and production choices that make her works scarce and therefore expensive. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, it's how art works. Let's not forget that Marina is not getting any money whatsoever with the resale of her resins, so if she would want anything out of that it could only be seeing how much the market can bear, how expensive they get before they won't sell anymore so she'll know what she can ask? I'm not at all saying that this is how she thinks, I feel the lure of more interesting projects is more likely to be the reason she's not making any more resins.

What I like about her works is the mixture of folklore, pop culture, and fairy tales that she blends into these amazing characters. And the materials she uses makes these characters have a ethereal and vulnerable quality that just reaches right into my heart.

 

I agree Stella- I think she is just not motivated enough to crank out resins. Financially, it would be a good idea for her since they require so little work from her and really are not cheap, but knowing a number of fabulous artists myself, and given her history of moving from one entirely new kind of project/concept to the next, I am sure that she is simply more inspired to work on new and challenging projects, than work on the resins which are always there and which require so little in the way of creativity. My guess is that they have become quite a chore...

 

There is one on ebay right now...

 

There is?? I looked but couldn't see anything there.

 

It sold just some hours ago.