Faceups?

[Marchenplushie28]

I'm planning on buying my first doll (a Dollzone Lotus) soon, and I really don't have much to spend on her, so I was wondering if faceups make that big of a difference. Would the doll look alright without one?

[chappuru]

Perhaps try searching for blank molds and see what you think? Have you thought about giving her a faceup yourself? : ) In my honest opinion, face ups give a doll a lot of character.

[Chiffa]

Without face-ups dolls are just a blank page. Nothing wrong with it, but blank pages are for writing on them, and not looking, really.
Blank head of DZ Lotus looks like this (http://www.doll-zone.com/showproduct.asp?id=98)
http://www.doll-zone.com/UserFiles/IMG_0240.jpg

This is what you'll get. good to paint on, but you can't just leave her like this.
Dolls' face-up isn't the same as human make-up. We, humans, have natural colouring. Dolls don't. So i really, truly advice you saving for a bit longer and order face-up too.
You can do face-up by yourself, but if you don't already have all necessary materials, you'll end spending on them the same money (or even more) as on make-up itself. They are quite costly! And I won't advice go for cheaper version as low-quality paints can damage your doll or will be hard/impossible to remove later.

[Glyndon]

For me, doing the faceup myself is half the joy of getting a doll. I strongly encourage anyone with the slightest inclination to learn to do their own, if just to say they can. True, the materials can add up to be expensive, but you can buy them a little at a time while waiting for your doll to ship. Since art supplies can be used on more than one doll, it's more cost effective than a factory paint in the long run.

[Chiffa]

Glyndon, I still won't advice it with the first doll. To do anything you must know how it look like. If person doesn't even know what is the difference between face-up and no face-up is... I strongly suggest first buy the doll and see how it's done for oneself, and only then try it. Photos and tutorials aren't the same as hands-on experience.

[Glyndon]

Glyndon, I still won't advice it with the first doll. To do anything you must know how it look like.

I respectfully disagree with you on this. As an example, I have done the face-ups on all of my dolls since the very first. Certainly, not everyone wants to learn, and those people do not need to. There are more than enough artists to accommodate that demand. However, I did specify my comment apply to those with an inclination to learn. I see no reason why people who wish the joy of complete customization not start from the beginning. The potential of those who wish to learn a skill is not to be underestimated.

[Taco]

Glyndon, I still won't advice it with the first doll. To do anything you must know how it look like. If person doesn't even know what is the difference between face-up and no face-up is... I strongly suggest first buy the doll and see how it's done for oneself, and only then try it. Photos and tutorials aren't the same as hands-on experience.

I don't agree with this either. It really depends on the comfort level of the new owner--the first faceup a person does will still be a first faceup with no previous experience. Everyone has to start somewhere.

There are lots of tutorials and information on what materials are good to use and what should be avoided, and lots and lots of pics with dolls that have different faceup styles. Basically, all the info is out there, it's just up to the individual to decide whether or not they want to try it.

I didn't on my first two dolls, because I didn't feel comfortable with the idea of doing it myself yet. However, my third doll was the start of doing a lot of faceups myself. I don't think the time inbetween my first two dolls and my third doll made that much if any difference in how my first faceup came out--it was just a matter of getting up the courage to try it. Buying a first doll with a faceup still won't tell a person how a faceup is done--only research and experience can do that, but you won't get the experience if you don't sit down and give it a try.

[animemadness]

you deffo need a face up on a doll otherwise there is no expression or character to see

[Hunajasieni]

Yes you need face up. I myself just did it and learned to make faces I like, I would say it doesn't hurt to try it! Also you can always send her to face up artist if you don't like your own work. She would look very lifeless without one.

[chrissa5girl]

One really popular thread on DoA was showing your first face up the showing your most recent. So many people posted and it was awesome to see how people had improved. I was a little depressed after my first face up attempt, but then I went through that thread and saw what could really be accomplished with practice and patience. My desire to do my own face up's was renewed. I agree with the others that you should try at least one face up and if you absolutely hate it, there are plenty of awesome artists out there!!

[GambrillGroup]

How many face-ups will a doll head tolerate? And how do you remove a face-up so you can try again? Who teaches and where are the classes? I know Volks "sells" school heads. I have read about them and seen 1 or 2 on e-bay.

[elphsnt]

How many face-ups will a doll head tolerate? And how do you remove a face-up so you can try again? Who teaches and where are the classes? I know Volks "sells" school heads. I have read about them and seen 1 or 2 on e-bay.

I would like to know the answer to the first question about how many face-ups a doll can tolerate as well.

Here is a link to a Youtube video of someone doing a face-up. She makes it look easy, but I doubt I could do something like this. And, personally, I want an airbrushed face-up since I prefer the look of that particular technique, but everyone likes something different.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38LaHMqa_p4

[Karhys]

Technically, there should be no limit to the number of faceups that you can do on a doll head. I've never heard anyone say otherwise. Of course with a hobby that's only 10 years old, it's impossible to give some kind of "guarantee" on anything, but... when you remove the old faceup, all you're removing is the faceup itself. You're not removing the resin at all. Unless something has stained the resin -- unlikely if you use the right materials -- then you don't need to remove anything but the materials used to paint the faceup. There are many people who repaint their dolls constantly. In fact, the initial point and concept of the SD/BJD hobby was that very creativity.

I believe that people use thinner to remove the faceups on their dolls, but I'm not well versed in the correct products exactly, as I don't really do faceups myself. (I have tried several times in the past. I learnt from my lack of skill and patience, and my obsessive perfectionism, that I prefer to pay someone else for the pleasure. ;))

Volks offers workshops at several locations in Japan, and also at their US events. The workshops in Japan are only held in Japanese, though and you need to be a resident of Japan to apply. I think many of the fan-related BJD events held in the US (such as GoGaDoll etc) hold faceup workshops as well. Most people simply learn through trial and error and patience. ;) Read up a lot online first about what to do, and then dive in.

And no matter what you think of the faceup artists who do really breathtaking work, or who make things look incredibly easy... all of them started out somewhere. All of them did their first faceups at some point, and probably hated them. ;) In theory, anyone with enough practice and patience to learn can do a good faceup!

[elphsnt]

I agree with you about everyone being able to do face-ups and improving with time.

But, truth be told, I don't want to do a face up of my own. I'd rather focus my time and efforts elsewhere. That said, I do love seeing other people's work. :heart

[ikke777]

You can do a face-up yourself, and take it off and do it again.
If you've never done it before the first few may suck, but it'll be good practice. And you will find out what YOU like in a face. Even if you later decide to have it done (at a doll meet or something). You can have your first try with pencil and see where you go from there.

You take off a face-up with acetone. (use gloves and ventilate well)

I started straight off with doing my own. The ones on offer were too much for my staste.

[RavenStorm]

Just like everyone said on here. Without a face up it would be just boring. Just like getting a canvas and not paint on it.

[Tsukasa]

You take off a face-up with acetone. (use gloves and ventilate well)

Is the acetone safe? I've seen a resin material decomposition before (not on dolls :sweat ) when it was contacted with acetone. Just asking to avoid any disaster since I may need to clean a face-up in future. :?

[Gulwen]

to have a faceup a very good thing the doll will look kind of od otherwise.

[Neffy]

Well the good thing, with using the right materials, you can do and redo faceups as much as you like. I didnt dare to do a faceup on my first doll, but the second one (a soom dillui xmas event one) I thought, well I will try to learn. The positive side for me was that I had painted for years before that, watercolours, pencils, acrylics etc, so I sort of had the basics for painting. What makes it so much more fun than painting on canvas is that here you get a 3d image to work on. Sure I made mistakes (a lot), but I just wiped it off and started again.
There are loads of tutorials out there. I would say dont be afraid to try. with patience you will get it right in the end. It takes a lot of practise but its worth it on an emotional level, as I bond with my dolls so much more that way.

[scrollbrush@hotmail.]

I'm going to buy my first doll too and want to do my own face up ( very daring ) but
I'm afraid to use acetone as I am afraid that it will spoil the resin as I'm no expert and I'm sure I will be making mistakes.
Is there something else you can use ?
I read "thiner" , thiner for acrylic paints ex : Folkart or Americana ?

[Urethane-side-effect]

I'm going to buy my first doll too and want to do my own face up ( very daring ) but
I'm afraid to use acetone as I am afraid that it will spoil the resin as I'm no expert and I'm sure I will be making mistakes.
Is there something else you can use ?
I read "thiner" , thiner for acrylic paints ex : Folkart or Americana ?

Well,
the danger in acetone is..
it being combined with other products.
Like in nail polish remover there is often color and perfume mixed trough it.
Which can color your doll.
Paint thiner,i think you mean brush cleaner? also has a load of acetone and some extra products in it to stop the acetone from evaporating so it's more effective.

Ive learned in 3 years of faceup commissions,
acetone is actually one of the safer ways to go.
Because it removes paint faster from the head,
so the resin will have only very short contact with the acetone.

Only thing you need to remember is..not to put the head in a bowl of acetone....
If you just use a piece of tissue and a toothbrush to remove the faceup,
the acetone will be evaporated before it can even do anything close to damaging the resin.

You can also try rubbing alcohol.
I don't use that because i noticed it can leave a strange smell on the resin,
and as most of the dolls i faceup aren't mine.. i don't want to send people smelly heads back XB.

[klum*9]

I would love to try a face up, but the paint smell and so forth are not what i can do. I find that if you work with the company or a good face up artist for your vision it's a lot of fun. But, of course, one must save extra money for that.
I admire anyone who can do face ups. Its' a great gift.