|
Post by allurose on Feb 11, 2015 15:58:40 GMT -8
I was talking with nessa the other day about how relatively rare it is to see dolls with darker skin, much rarer than it is to see a human with dark skin in nearly any part of the world! And we have both noticed that even when a doll is presented as non-white they may have some white features, such as the same sculpt as a white doll or blue eyes on a Japanese doll. Of course there are real people to match those features (such as Japanese people with blue eyes), but it is much rarer than is shown in the doll world. What do you think about the representation of different races and ethnicities in the porcelain doll world? Are people from all over the world being well represented in dolls? What do you wish you could see?
|
|
Hasel
Senior Member
Posts: 220
|
Post by Hasel on Feb 12, 2015 2:43:27 GMT -8
I think most doll artist are blank western of race (is there a different word for it, race sounds so stupid). And that influences what they see thus what they make.
I know I've had an interest in african features but as I life in a predomiatly white area I haven't befriended any dark people :s I made a pencil drawn portrait of a kenian man a while ago, as he married my sister in law, that was heaps of fun and a big challenge to get all the features right as I'm not used to them.
I don't think people from all over the world are well represented in dolls, the biggest group of people in the world is asian and they are there but well underrepresented. It would be interesting to see an artist use this as inspiration, I know Twigling (resin) made a black beauty called Newkiru and she's also working on a mongolian face which I think is really interesting.
|
|
|
Post by orchidsdesigns on Feb 12, 2015 5:32:42 GMT -8
I actually know of a few dolls of mixed/other/non-caucasian race- but mainly in resin (I have a Nifer by BJTales for example, who is gorgeous) and then there are a LOT of fantasy colours and other humanoid-species entirely.
When it comes to Porcelain the most readily available slip is white. I know artists often have trouble mixing decent flesh tones, even pale ones, so many will make dolls from a variety of races but all in the white porcelain, then blush them or paint them with darker eyebrows, etc, to get an ethnic look. For example, even though Marina (Enchanted Dolls) made a few dark skinned dolls early on, all her recent ethnic dolls, even the Indian and South American inspired ones have been cast in the white porcelain.
|
|
|
Post by allurose on Feb 12, 2015 6:00:54 GMT -8
I actually know of a few dolls of mixed/other/non-caucasian race- but mainly in resin (I have a Nifer by BJTales for example, who is gorgeous) and then there are a LOT of fantasy colours and other humanoid-species entirely. When it comes to Porcelain the most readily available slip is white. I know artists often have trouble mixing decent flesh tones, even pale ones, so many will make dolls from a variety of races but all in the white porcelain, then blush them or paint them with darker eyebrows, etc, to get an ethnic look. For example, even though Marina (Enchanted Dolls) made a few dark skinned dolls early on, all her recent ethnic dolls, even the Indian and South American inspired ones have been cast in the white porcelain. I didn't know that about Enchanted Doll! Which dolls are you referring to? Teri of Paperwhite Dolls told me something similar, that she couldn't find a colored porcelain as nice as the pure white one she uses. That is a real problem in the industry then. Someone needs to poke those porcelain companies for a better product!
|
|
|
Post by Snegurochka on Feb 12, 2015 7:32:46 GMT -8
I have heard that it's quite difficult to work with darker porcelains, that it burns easily, etc. I think this is probably the main reason that most artists do not work with it. Not for lack of desire, but because it's difficult to use, and not so readily available. It also seems to be difficult to get a really good, natural skin tone. That said, I would dearly love to see a greater diversity! I hope that in the future this will become a reality ^_^ I do have a very pretty African girl from JRDolls (well, I think she's mulatto, actually), and a couple of Asian girls too. What I'd really love right now is an Indian doll, or an Arab one. That would be so fun and beautiful!
|
|
|
Post by lazhielle on Feb 12, 2015 7:42:20 GMT -8
to get different colored porcelain slip, normally you would have to mix the colors. The stain can be quite expensive, so to purchase slip and stain would make it double the cost.
|
|
|
Post by fitz on Feb 15, 2015 21:42:00 GMT -8
I am having a hard time believing that it is an issue of problems with slip. Of it being harder to fIre when colored When you think of all the plates, bowls, vases and in such a variety of color. There are many colors of porcelain. Then when you add in clay? It has to be what is being sold for dolls. This is not like resin where color is hard to add.
|
|
|
Post by lilithskyblue on Feb 16, 2015 7:07:32 GMT -8
Dark colored slip is easy to come by in the U.S., it comes in very lovely already mixed tones, from chocolate to caramel. I have a few bottles hanging around that I had planned to use in the future. I have made a friend a tan mermaid and I've played around with the chocolate, it turns our quite beautiful. The only problem I've had is I found it was more delicate then white slip. Harder to get out of the mold in one piece and harder to clean without breakage, you just have to be more careful with it, really. Oh, also if you plan to use white slip after using dark, you need to make sure every tiny bit of dried dark slip is out of your mold! Or you get birth marks! But I can relate to the need for darker skinned dolls with appropriate features to go along with them. I think Enchanted Dolls has done a fantastic job, who wouldn't want a Mihret??? She has gorgeous African features. I'm waiting for Marina to do a Zulu Princess! But if other porcelain artists made more darker skinned dolls, it would be a welcome and interesting contrast to all the white and Asian dolls out there.
|
|
|
Post by Divine Creations on Feb 16, 2015 9:18:14 GMT -8
I worked with dark porcelain, and can say it's little bit different from light color. I also agry with you Lilithskyblue about molds, they need to be super clean from other slip. Also the parts from dark porcelain is much more difficult to clean and paint ( do the body blushing). Here is my dark skin girls, they are all sold.
|
|
|
Post by bibarina on Feb 16, 2015 9:37:42 GMT -8
These are fantastic! And thank you for answering our questions Larisa, it is always interesting to learn more!
|
|
|
Post by lilithskyblue on Feb 16, 2015 9:41:48 GMT -8
They are so beautiful! I know you sold one recently on ebay! As for cleaning the molds, yes, sometimes I miss things, but a little birthmark can sometimes be cute!
|
|
|
Post by Divine Creations on Feb 16, 2015 14:54:24 GMT -8
Thank you and welcome Bibarina!!! Lilithskyblue - the person who bought one on Ebay, bought two others, they will live together. Very nice.
|
|
|
Post by bibarina on Feb 16, 2015 15:06:33 GMT -8
Thank you and welcome Bibarina!!! Lilithskyblue - the person who bought one on Ebay, bought two others, they will live together. Very nice. Oh I love it when 'sisters' can stay together!!
|
|
|
Post by nanyalin on Feb 16, 2015 16:25:39 GMT -8
These look absolutely terrific. I can''t wait to try some tests with colored porcelain- I love challenges!
|
|
|
Post by sisterfox on Mar 11, 2015 10:06:35 GMT -8
I'm still trying to catch asian features while sculpting dolls' faces I feel like I will try again and again ) I found that it's not so easy to sculpt some specific ethnic features, at least for some level of sculpting skills. But I'm planning to make some dolls with African features.
|
|