OOAK/Customization

Customizing a blank bjd is much like customizing a blank fashion doll in terms of the process and materials used. Some faceup artsits might not work on all sculpts (more likely is that some won't work on certain colors of resin due to knowing that the materials they use won't cooperate) but the only way to know that for sure is to check the specific artist's terms of service or sending them a message to ask.
As far as knowing what will look good on specific molds, a good artist can make any type of makeup style work on a sculpt by adapting the techniques used to suit the doll's features. Replicating a certain makeup style is probably fine, but most artists won't copy another artist's work, and many also won't alter another's work either, unless it's making some additions to a company faceup.
If you're looking for artists, the best way to find them is probably to look on instagram. They got rid of the tagging feature and the search isn't great, but you can still search for tags and terms and find people that way. You can also check the project journals and customization and maintenance sections in the workshop part of the forum and see what people have posted. A lot of people link to their socials in their signatures or in their posts.

 

I’ve seen some consider it bad form to ask an artist to copy another’s style. It’d be easier to check out their portfolio or feed to see if their style is one you are wanting for your doll. But things like asking for thick brows or freckles, extra blush, something like that, I think most artists wouldn’t mind accommodating.

You can get a feel for what type of doll they do best too if they have a lot of examples. Some artists will list the head sizes they are and aren’t comfortable with. But you can always ask them.

you can try searching #faceupartist on instagram.

 

Do certain face up artist work with certain types of dolls?

Aside from the usual "won't work with recasts," I think the only restrictions I have seen are resin color restrictions, and that's not super common IIRC. Some sealants make darker resins look ashy and so artists know that won't work well, as previously mentioned. Anthros might also be a bit harder to find, from what I have heard?

How would you know if a certain type of face up would work with a certain style of doll mold?

Your imagination's the limit, really! People do all sorts of different things with the same mold. One of my dolls is a Merry Doll Round Fang, and I went for a bold makeup look with her (skill in my execution is another question...), but people do very sweet, natural, etc faceups, too.

Some folks do mock-ups, either on paper or digitally. The digital ones I've seen tend to be drawn over a picture of the doll's head. That'll help you fit what you're picturing to the doll's features.

Is replicating a certain style of makeup considered not ok?

As others said, asking an artist to copy another's style is a no-go. I'm not sure if that taboo extends to asking for repairs on previously done faceups.

Some also might not be comfortable with specific style requests (like gore), but I think those are usually made clear in the commission forms. Otherwise, the artist should let you know once you get to talking with them if they're not comfortable with a request.

General customization info/tips:

• The general process when working with an artist is find artist > check if they have open commissions > check their commission page (with prices, rules, etc) > message them or submit a commission request form > discuss plans > pay and ship head > get progress pics, talk about any changes or approve progress > head is returned.
• Again, Instagram's a good spot to find artists. Also you can look through the doll profiles here and see who did the faceups.
• You'll probably need to supply your own protective material (like a face protector for the doll) if you ship one off. They're pretty cheap.
• If you want to try it yourself, there's lots of artists on YouTube who share lists of their supplies and show their process!

 

You could tell the artist what you like about that specific faceup and ask if they could do something similar ie if you like the colors, or shape of the brows, etc., but a lot of artists who take commissions won't replicate the same look on another doll, both because the faceups are done by hand so that's tricky to do, and because it's likely something someone else specifically requested for their own doll/ character.
Price is going to vary depending on the artist and where you're located. Most I've seen are at least $150 USD for a faceup, and things like extensive freckles, scars, skin texturing etc. tend to add some onto the price. Some artists will apply lashes as part of the faceup, some it's an added fee unless you supply them. Also keep in mind that you'll need to pay the shipping for sending the doll head to them and having it sent back to you, and you'll likely want to get extra insurance on the package too.

 

There are no stupid questions when it comes to BJD - this is an expensive hobby, especially when it comes to customizing, so it's always best to ask questions about how to go about things and what to expect once you do, so you don't end up feeling like your money was wasted.

Some people graduate to BJDs after custom painting fashion dolls, so you're definitely not the first one here to have suddenly dipped their toes into this world and gotten overwhelmed by how complex it is. But such is the nature of creative hobbies; creativity is fluid and doesn't flow in any one direction for long, so it's natural for artists and collectors to branch out into other niches in the same field. Thankfully, many of the techniques at least for painting on vinyl doll heads are transferable to painting on resin. The materials may differ slightly (though not in my experience - most faceup artists I've looked into for projects use the exact same set of materials as some of my favourite fashion doll customizers, even some of the same brands) but overall the techniques are the same, it's just scaled up. So it can be as simple or complex as the artist chooses to make it.

When it comes to styles versus sculpts, a good artist can apply their style to most heads, though some have scales they won't work in (usually the smaller ones, due to eye strain and a much smaller margin for error) or companies they won't work on (extremely rare). As was mentioned before, most artists will not work on recasts, and if it's a commonly recast doll, will probably ask for proof of authenticity before they'll agree to take on the commission - be prepared to provide at least proof of purchase from a reputable dealer. A simple screenshot of a receipt will usually suffice, or a photo of the doll's CoA.

Always, always get in touch with the artist before requesting a commission to talk to them about their terms. Some artists are more than happy to try and recreate a character from a video game or anime, and others would rather not take on a well established character that's easily recognizable. So don't be afraid to ask an artist questions related to what you'll be commissioning - nine times out of ten they'll appreciate the heads up and you'll get a much better idea of what the artist will be like to work with - how promptly they reply, how casual or professional they are in communication, and their overall temperament. Finding an artist with a style and personality that you vibe with is worth the wait, as you're much more likely to be happy with their work when you know the artist as a person.

And don't be afraid to try faceups yourself. There are so many resources both here and elsewhere online, from eyebrow templates to video tutorials that walk you through every step of the artist's process. I can understand not wanting to practice on an expensive doll, but many companies will offer a blank head as a promotion with purchase of a doll, and these can be ideal for testing it out yourself, as you didn't pay anything for that extra head. If you end up not liking the faceup, you can always remove it. And if you decide that faceups are not something you enjoy doing, you can always sell the extra head on. The secondary BJD market is full of treasures you didn't know even existed!

 

One year I had a bunch of blank doll heads through events, trades and swaps and I just said "welp, guess I'm facing them up myself". I'm a creative person so even though it was intimidating, I learned how to face up dolls for myself in a lower stakes situation. It helped me practice techniques at different sizes and scales. For dolls that I have a strong vision for, I'll usually seek out the best artist to capture that vision and approach them. I have multiple face-ups from artists I really love and support, but it's always fun to find someone whose work is inspiring and different. Having references for style and technique as well as mood boards for colour, or maybe reference pics of a specific look, is always good and helpful when you can't otherwise put your vision into words. It's also good manners - artists with popular portfolios are busy and get lots of requests, so you can help them by having examples ready with your request. Also, budget for the faceup not just monetarily but time too. Sometimes weather doesn't make facing up easy, or something gets damaged in transit and you need to correct for it. And be honest with feedback. If the eyebrows need to be darker or the lips glossier, work with the artist and tell them if they need to adjust.

 

A good artist, even one with huge popularity, will work with you and take good feedback well. They want to get it right because that's part of being an artist and also a good customer service person. Budgeting is really important in this hobby, you have to do it or you'll always settle and be unhappy settling. That includes shopping the best faceup artist. Popular artists cost a lot for a reason, but you can also find artists in your area who will work in the style you like and fit your budget. To save yourself money and prevent settling, search your local doll community for artists first before approaching the big names (unless the big names are local).

 

I've felt concerns about being nitpicky when commissioning art before, but the important thing to keep in mind is that artists want you to be happy with what they make for you! And if you don't let them know when you'd like something tweaked, they can't do that properly for you. As long as you're polite when making requests, you shouldn't have any problems. Do make sure to check the artist's TOS before commissioning one, though. Some artists have limitations on making changes when a faceup is completed, and not all of them send WIP pics, so knowing that ahead of time and knowing what level of communication and surprise you're comfortable with can help you decide what artists you may be more comfortable working with or not.

 

@aleksilverkin00 There are definitely trends for different styles based partly on location, but perhaps even more on what circles you move in. But still, there are so many good artists out there, you should be able to find someone whose style you like within reach, wherever you live.
There are several good artist on the DoA marketplace, for example. Most of them in the USA, although there are a few in other places as well.

I don't think that there is much difference when it comes to how common customization is in different parts of the world. That's the whole thing about BJD after all, that is what sets them apart from most other types of dolls. Sure, there are full sets, but not every company offers those. Even having the option of getting a face up when buying a new doll is not always a given, especially smaller artist tend to just offer the dolls blank. So customization is often unavoidable.