This is not really a tutorial, but some friendly (at times not very friendly) advise on how to go about making a doll. Just a few things i figured out though the years. :) Now you can either go HOME, or back to INKINGS if you realize how useless this advise really is!
Before you even think of making a GOOD doll take a look at your paint program… Does it say MS Paint? If so forget about making dollz and think of getting something at least half way deasent. I don’t care how spactacular of an artist you are, using a program as bad as MS Paint (or something like it) is not only stupid and hopeless, it’s a waist of time. What? You say? You don’t want to buy anything? Well, let me tell you. The program I use works perfectly fine for me and it was free. For more information go to xandorra’s palace tutorial. She has plenty of links there for things you can get. Anyway, I use PhotoPlus and… while probably not the best, it works quite well. (Later added note... apparently Kitia from Shades of Gray uses MS Paint for her dollz and so it is possible to make good ones there... still. don't! )
Now… The first thing to having a good doll is having a good base. You can make your own (more hints on that, specifically, to come later) Or you can use one of the millions of bases offered by practically every respectable doll web sight. When looking at the base think of these things. 1) Is the posture and character of it appropriate for whatever doll your going to make (this is especially important if you are making a “fan art” or “character” doll. For example, If your making an Sailor Moon doll your probably not going to use a chubby base… unless your specifically going for the unusual.) 2) look at the color of the base… this is NOT etched in stone… With any good program you can change the tint/shade/brightness/and contrast of the base. DO NOT go into the laborious possess of repainting it… 3) Quite often I notice that the base has a few “problems” the shape of a finger or the curve of a hip… This is where I go in and change it to my liking, HOWEVER, some base makers do not like it when you do this, so you can read their turms and/or argue it out with them… Always give them credit no matter what you change. 4) Sit back and look at the base… picture whatever you are going to have on it and see if it works.
When I make a doll which is at all complicated I copy the base onto Word, or some program like that, and enlarge it. This is so I can print it out and actually draw what I want on it. Drawing is usually simpler then trying to figure it out on the computer with the mouse. Most people, however, don’t make dollz that are complex enough for this step… and those who do got their own methods which are better then mine!
Now we are going to start making the doll… I would usually recommend keeping the base as one lair and the clothing as another. This is so you can erase and mess with the clothes all you want while not having to worry about messing up the base. Many people find layers confusing at first but, trust me, it’s better to work with them then around them. If you are starting with a new program and do not understand how it works e mail me, and i will be happy to help. Please include the name of the program you are attempting to use because i may not know how it works.
If you want to work on another doll and the one you are working on feels like a chore then go on to what feels inspired and don’t force the creative presses… I have noticed that every time I make a doll which I don’t enjoy making, by the time it’s done, it inevitably looks like shit. (Example, my Harry Potter doll which is quite new but which I reeeealy did not enjoy working on… yuk!!) If you notice that you can’t seem to enjoy working (and finishing) any doll, hun, you got problems with finishing tasks and I’ll help you with them when you pay me $200 an hour (the general rate for a shrink :) !
Before being convinced that you are done with the doll put it away and look at it an hour or so later. If something is not right…do not say “fuck it” and keep it that way… FIX IT!!! Yet again… if you love your doll you’ll want to and it shouldn’t feel like a chore.
Xandorra's Place
Josie's Dollz
Kelley Erin's Dollz
All About Dollz
BondChickz
I don’t think you even KNOW what your talking about… get me the hell out of here and to someone who can actually help me with my dollz!!! If this is what's going though YOUR mind then here are some links to "helpfull" tutorials that give you step by step instructions with pictures on how to draw every part of the doll.
If in nead of clarrification, bitching, or asking a question e mail me HERE. PLEASE make the subject comprehensible because if you put no subject or something like "hay" i may think it's trash (god knows i get a lot of it) and deleat it.