Your name: Jme
Your Legal Name: Jamie Yeo
Your Website: http://www.faireground.com On Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jme/
How did you get involved in Super Dollfies and customizing them?
I started out collecting Blythe dolls in 2005, but was aware of ABJDs as I had seen them in various Japanese books (such as Dolly*Dolly and Dollybird). The interest was there, but it wasn’t strong at the time for me to spend that much money on resin dolls. It wasn’t until I went to a local doll show in 2006 and saw some ABJDS that were on display that I was drawn in by their realism and the endless customizing possibilities they could provide. For me, seeing them in real life lead to the wanting. I ended up purchasing my first doll (Dollzone Xi) in 2006 and did my first ABJD faceup on it after it arrived as a form of owner/doll bonding.
What Inspires You?
I draw inspiration from random things – colors, moods, and compositions. It could be a photo spread in a fashion magazine, the décor in a café, or the leaves on a tree.
What do you want people to think when they look at your Customizations?
I would love it if people can relate to the doll in some way – sympathize with it if it is a sad looking doll, or feel glad if it is a happy doll. It also makes me very happy when people like my works.
5 years from now, I would love to see improvements in my work; and maybe branching out to experiment with more dramatic styles in face-ups.
MSC fumes? *kidding* I love the fact that just with simple tools like brushes, pastels and paints, I have the ability to transform a sculpt into many different characters. I also love the final product/s – when I get to put eyes and a wig on the doll and see it come to life in photographs I take.
Other than yourself, who are your favorite doll customizers?
Cheap Crackpot Queen, C/T/B, Overdose, & Robin’s Egg.
What’s the Best thing about customizing your own dolls?
That I don’t have to angst if the doll’s faceup show any signs of wear as it can be redone – I actually rather anticipate the wear, as I get to try a new faceup on the same canvas. I never try to replicate a faceup that I’ve done, even if it is a repaint on the same doll. I think experimentation is fun!
What’s the most difficult thing about doing face ups and altering them?
Not so much difficult, but annoying – it’s a toss up between removing the old face up (especially if it was well sealed) and attaching upper eyelashes. D:
What type of dolls do you enjoy customizing (male/female/brands)?
I’ve got no preference to male or female dolls, but my favorite company would have to be Volks – the resin quality is a dream to work with.
What is your favorite style to create?
Natural face-ups are probably my favorite, but lately, my face-ups tend to have a bit more intensity to them with stronger shading.
Who would you love to collaborate with?
I’ve never really thought about that. It would be cool though, to get a group together to work on a doll – from the faceup and/or mods, clothes, accessories, styling, and even photography. I think the hard part would be to find the right people to work in a group; dynamics are so important and everyone needs to have the same ideals and goals.
Why choose doll customizing as a form of Self Expression?
Because it’s fun! (:
How long does it take from start to finish on a typical doll to create and complete?
As I don’t do any modding, the faceup process from blank head to completion usually takes me about 3 – 5 hours if the weather behaves, and if I get it ‘right’ on the first go. If I find the work is taking a different direction from anticipated, I sometimes go along with it, as it can work out surprisingly well. But if it doesn’t, I take a break for the day, and redo it the next.
How do you like to work best with a custom order for a client? With total freedom to create your vision, or do you like some feedback/interchange with a client who might have an idea or theme they would like to see realized?
I prefer to work without specific direction. I don’t map the angle the eyebrows should sit at or where the blush should go beforehand. I try to gather a doll’s personality/character/emotion and let the brushes work. So far, it has worked well for my clients and me.
What have been your favorite projects you’ve done thus far?
I love working on my own dolls – there’s a freedom that doesn’t come with commission work, even when the clients give you free reign. One of my personal favorites is my Sweet Dreams Lucas, Thease. It’s like he’s got a different expression with every slight tilt of his head. Another favorite is a Latidoll Yellow Coco I did for a friend – she wanted her innocent and a bit bashful, and with a sprinkling of freckles. That was a fun commission.
What sets your doll customizations apart from all the others?
I like to think I’ve got a certain style? It’s hard to say since there are so many customisers doing natural face-ups, but people seem to like the way I paint the dolls’ lips.
Are there any sorts of projects you’ve been hoping to work on but just haven’t gotten around to it?
One reason I started taking commissions was so that I could work with different sculpts, especially those I don’t own. It’s been a pleasure to have repainted sculpts from so many different companies, but there’s still a lot more I’ll like to work on!
What was the most challenging thing you have ever done thus far?
I don’t generally do scars, but was requested to paint a scar for a Volks Tony. It was definitely a learning experience trying to get the scar to not look flat without actual modding.
How has your style evolved over time, and where do you see it going in the future?
Oh, I think it’s improved a lot since the first faceup I did! *laughs* I was an ardent student of tutorials that were provided by the many customisers I’d admired – and followed them to the last letter. I’ve since learnt that what may work for some, doesn’t necessarily work for me. By tweaking basics and experimenting, I’ve settled into a process that works well for me.
My hands are steadier now from practice, and can work paints better. I think my shading has more depth too, but sometime in the future, I would love to try working with an airbrush.
Describe your perfect client. Do you like to get a lot of direction, or just be given a general mood, or do you like to see visual examples?
I like to be given ‘barely enough to go by’, so being given just a general mood or color scheme works best for me. I find myself being more restricted with the more direction or examples that clients provide, no matter how well intentioned they are.
What stood out from all the face-ups I’ve done was how different resin from different companies can be. I’ve never expected such a wide spectrum of quality and density. Some are easy to work with, while some are a lot more challenging. But you try to work with what you have, and highlight what’s good and hide the flaws.
Do you paint other types of dolls, and if so, how does that compare with painting BJDs? If you do other types of art (drawing, painting, etc) does that influence your faceup style?
I have customized a few Blythes; even restoring color on a few vintage Kenner Blythe dolls. I have also done a commission for a Jun Planning Pullip. Blythe dolls to me are very whimsical, so I don’t tend to draw eyebrows or lower lashes on them, but Pullips, due to their slightly more proportionate head size (it’s still big!), are more in line with ABJDs, so my aesthetic ideals for them would be similar to those I apply for painting ABJDs.
Have you ever refused a commission? Why? Or if not, can you think of a circumstance where you might?
I’ve refused a few in the time that I’ve taken commissions. One was due to the request coming at a time when I could not give 100% to the client due to personal commitments (the commission was rescheduled for a later date). The others were due to clients wanting direct copies of other people’s works. I find it sad that not everyone values intellectual and creative property, but am amused that they are silly to ask me to copy something so different from my personal style, as it would never turn out looking like the original anyway.
Is there something that is still difficult for you to do? What is the most difficult?
Eyebrow symmetry! D: I don’t go for 100% symmetry as I aim for realism and no human have perfectly symmetrical features; but there are days when they just don’t sit right. *mutters*
How important is customer feedback to your creative process?
Important even if I were never to take commissions again. I think that constructive feedback from others is vital for improvement and growth.
Is there a mold, doll, or company that you prefer to work on?
I adore Volks resin – it’s such a pleasure to work with. As for molds, no real preference, but I do find molds with sculpted teeth (not detachable ones) very interesting to paint.
Do you prefer working on male or female dolls? Why?
I like them both, even doing tomboyish girls and girly boys. Anthro/animal sculpts and I don’t agree though, for some reason. ):
What is your background? Have you had any special schooling (art school, sculpture, painting, etc)?
I’ve taken probably two weeks’ worth of art classes when I was 5.
When you were a child did you ever work on dolls or create with similar things?
If working on dolls when I was a child meant pulling the heads off Barbie dolls, then yes, I did. *laughs* I preferred to make play food with Paly-Doh when I was young, actually.
Do you have any other interests? Collections?
Photography is one of my biggest interests other than ABJDs, and it’s also one that’s tied in nicely with the dolls since they are often the subject/s in front of the camera lens. I mainly dabble in digital photography with my dslr, but also rekindled my love for film photography and have a very modest collection of random vintage and toy film cameras.
And, I love to visit thrift and antique stores. It’s always an adventure! (:
What factors do you consider before giving a doll its make-up so it will have the expression you want?
The shape of the eyebrows is so important to create the desired expression. Also, I try to establish which existing feature on the mold will help best to enhance the look and accentuate that.
Are there any painting techniques that can make a face look more masculine or feminine?
Eyebrow (yeah, I love them brows!) thickness and the general coloring.
Can you offer any helpful hints to the amateur faceup artists? Can you recommend a list of supplies including colors, paints & pastels etc?
I work mainly with acrylic paints and chalk pastels, and one thing I can advise is to not try to stinge (is that even a proper word?) on good quality materials. Chalk pastels are especially important – soft pastels have more pigments and less binder, so will apply more smoothly on coated resin. I find that Schminke soft pastels work best for me, but there are other brands out there which may suit others better. It’s also best to apply the color/shading in layers instead of trying to achieve the right color on the first application. Layering (in between coatings) also give more depth to the faceup.
Do you have a favorite medium you like to work with when not creating for BJDs in your spare time?
I don’t really draw/paint in my spare time, but I do have a rather unhealthy obsession with Copic markers, which I picked up while working on presentation boards while studying architecture at university.
How long have you been doing face-ups?
I started doing face-ups when my first doll arrived back in 2006, and have done the face-ups for all the dolls in my personal collection. I only started taking commissions in June 2008.
What is your biggest inspiration for your face-ups and customizations?
I love to people watch!
Do you have any tips you’d like to share for people that want to learn how to do face ups or just want to improve? Something that’s helped you a lot or something that you think is important to know when doing a successful faceup?
Don’t be afraid to try! Be open to constructive criticism and set realistic goals – you can’t expect your second ever faceup to be a masterpiece after just one attempt. Study works of customisers you like, but develop your own unique style. And for goodness sake, use proper respiratory masks when working with stuff like Mr. Super Clear or when sanding resin!
Closing Comments (anything you’d like to tell us)?
Just remember that when you get frustrated over the dolls for whatever reason that this hobby was meant to be fun. Take a step back, breathe and go back to enjoying it! (:
Thanks to J*me for doing up this interview! Always appreciated!
[...] An interview I did with Doll-Lite* a while ago has been published online HERE. [...]
By: Atelier*Faire» Blog Archive » Interviewed for Doll-Lite! on January 15, 2009
at 3:42 pm