If you’ve been around my blog for a while you’ll realize that I adore Asian Ball Jointed Dolls. As seen in this post. In fact, I have them modified to fit the characters in my books and draw inspiration from those.
They’re so very versatile you can do almost anything with them. Although you do have to keep in mind that most of the male dolls look effeminate, and the female dolls appear slightly breakable.
You can get different wigs, eyes and clothes. And when I say different I mean in unimaginable amounts of colours and styles. Yes, I mean the wigs and the eyes as well as the clothes.
The same doll can look so very different: Mikel in his default outfit, wig, eyes etc.
And Mikel changed into his character
These are what help me with character inspiration. That, and I just love being able to find the perfect wig, the perfect eyes and outfit, not to mention sometimes having to give them the perfect face up. You can also (with a face mask) alter their resin. Some people do scarrings, wounds, and I’ve even seen an amazing Lovecraftian horror mod.
They’re definitely not the perfect inspiration for everyone. They can cost anything from $50 to $5000 depending on the rarity of the mold. Some are only released in a batch of 1-100. Others are mass produced with no set limit.
But you can make every single one of them exactly what you have in mind. I love them and I feel like, at least for me, my characters feel more alive with them.
What sort of tricks do you use to make your characters even more real than just in your head? Do you like dolls are do they creep you out?
Oh, you have BJDs! I have a couple but I admit they’ve been in their boxes since I moved into the townhouse… 2 years ago. Er. But really, only one of them is complete (the Delf Juri). The other one I never got up and running — she’s still unpainted and naked.
Oooo Which Juri? I have a Juri 05 and an hmmm 07 or 08. The Juri A from that year that looked like a moon. I have 22 dolls I think, though I’ve not bought one in almost a year. Which is amazing for me haha.
I think it’s the 05? The first year Cerebus Project released the head as a special giveaway with orders. 🙂
Ooo! You have the Juri 05 too 😀 I love that sculpt so much. She’s one of the characters in my current finished WIP haha!
That is very versatile. How cool is that!
Thank you 😀 I know not everyone loves dolls, but I do hehe
Interesting post…but dolls totally creep me out 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Haha – sorry! It’s one of my inspirations so I shared 😉 And you’re very welcome.
Wow, I’ve never heard of these. They’re awesome – I wants one now 🙂
Hugs,
Rach
I adore them. I have far too many of them. I did start collecting them while still in Australia though – so I know you can get them 😉
*hugs*
So this is just…. awesome. Pure awesome. I currently have a Vietnamese artist who has mad skills commissioned to do character portraits. I have 6 primary characters for my trilogy and as I have the money I am working my way through having all 6 portraits done. =)
Oh I love that idea. Character portraits are fantastic! And thank you for not finding my dolls completely creepy 😉