Sculpting a Small BJD Head in Paperclay

Today we have a video demo from ShirwillJack showing how to sculpt a small BJD* head (hollow).  She refers to this as a "paperclay" tutorial but in dialog says she is using "Premier" (LaDoll) clay.  They are both air-dry but not exactly the same.  "Premier" is a stone clay, not paperclay.  However, "Creative Paperclay" works well for modeling BJDs and is frequently used by doll artists.  This is a good example of using the "add-on" method for sculpting with air-dry clay, where wet clay is applied to dry clay (re-moistened).  If you think you have to rush with air-dry clay, think again.  Note:  You might want to pause video in the speeded up segments.  Sometimes it's just a little too speedy to see what's happening!

Modeling a Doll with Paperclay, Part 4 of 4. Dressing & Posing

The final part of this step-by-step tutorial from Russian artist Dyachenko Oksana creates the clothing, shoes and props for posing the doll created in Parts 1-3. Lots of photos show how she applies fabric to the doll body, cuts to fit, and sews concealed seams directly on the doll.

Hope you've enjoyed this 4 part tutorial and the techniques presented to create this cute doll made of Creative Paperclay.   Cold porcelain and many other air-dry clay brands could be used in the same manner.

This series of tutorials is presented in Russian, please use Google Translate (or your own favorite tool) to convert to your language.

Modeling a Doll with Paperclay, Part 3 of 4, Finishing Body

Part 3 of this step-by-step tutorial from Russian artist Dyachenko Oksana shows how to sculpt and attach hands to the body we made in Part 2 and additional finishing steps.    Lots of photos show the modeling of the hands with Creative Paperclay along with covering the arms and legs  in the 'clay over cloth' technique.  Shoes made of Paperclay are also modeled.   The artist then tea-stains the clay to create a fleshtone and also adds color with acrylic paint where needed.

The final step for Part 3 is to create a body stocking from knitted material to neatly cover the stuffed body.  Because clothing will be created in Part 4 that will cover the doll, the body stocking can be omitted.  However, it is a nice, finishing touch that completes a well-made doll.

This series of tutorials is presented in Russian, please use Google Translate (or your own favorite tool) to convert to your language.

Modeling a Doll with Paperclay, Part 2 of 4. Armature & Body

This step-by-step doll tutorial from Russian artist Dyachenko Oksana describes her method for creating a sturdy body armature and increasing volume of the body with paper. (She says it's toilet paper but looks more like paper towels...LOL)   There's lots of photos showing how she stuffs and wraps armature with paper and then secures it with string before posing the doll.  The next tutorial in this series will create the hands and feet with Creative Paperclay.   If you missed it, the tutorial for modeling the head is here.

Modeling a Doll with Paperclay, Part 1 Head

This step-by-step tutorial from Russian artist Dyachenko Oksana shows in great detail, with lots of photos, how to model a dolls head using Creative Paperclay.  Author also shows how she paints the face.  Additional tutorials will be posted soon for creating the body! .

Part 2 of 4. Armature & Body

Part 3 of 4, Finishing Body

Part 4 of 4. Dressing & Posing

Jorge Rubicce Basic Doll Head Demo

Cold Porcelain figure by Jorge Rubicce

In the following video, master craftsman Jorge Rubicce, shows us his method for modeling the head of his cute cold porcelain figures.   He starts with a Styrofoam ball (for armature) and an equal size ball of cold porcelain to create an egg shaped head.   Notice that he uses his palms to form the cold porcelain and always works toward center.  He also applies hand cream to his hands while smoothing out surface of cold porcelain.

Creating an Art Doll, Olga style, Pt. 7 of 7: Wig & Base

In this multi-part art doll demonstration, we've been following Olga Egupets as she shows us her techniques for making armatures, modeling faces, body parts and props, painting the doll and creating clothing.  This is Part 7, the final video in the series.  Olga finishes her doll by adding a wig using needle-felting techniques and wool roving.  Then she creates a leather-look display base from wood and paper and the doll with her new black dress is done!

Creating an Art Doll, Olga style, Pt. 6 of 7: Making the Clothes

Finished doll

In this multi-part art doll demonstration, Olga Egupets shows us her techniques from start to finish, demonstrating armatures, modeling faces, body parts and props, painting, wigging and creating clothing. When making her dolls, Olga uses a variety of materials, including air dry clays such as Creative Paperclay, LaDoll, Plastiform, Efaplast etc.   This doll has a sewing machine on her lap because she has just finished sewing herself a little black dress. This is Part 6 of 7, 'Making the Clothing'.

Creating an Art Doll, Olga style, Pt. 5 of 7: Making the Props

Painted doll at end of Part 4

In this multi-part art doll demonstration, Olga Egupets shows us her techniques from start to finish, demonstrating armatures, modeling faces, body parts and props, painting, wigging and creating clothing. When making her dolls, Olga uses a variety of materials, including air dry clays such as Creative Paperclay, LaDoll, Plastiform, Efaplast etc.

This is Part 5 of 7.  Please go here for Parts 1 and 2.  Part 3 is here and Part 4 is here.

Creating an Art Doll, Olga style, Pt. 4 of 7: Painting

Stage 3 finished!

In this multi-part art doll demonstration, Olga Egupets shows us her techniques from start to finish, demonstrating armatures, modeling faces, body parts and props, painting, wigging and creating clothing. When making her dolls, Olga uses a variety of materials, including air dry clays such as Creative Paperclay, LaDoll, Plastiform, Efaplast etc.

This is Part 4 of 7.  Please go here for Parts 1 and 2.  Part 3 is here   In the first 3 steps, Olga created her armature and body form, coated it with a layer of papier mache to give it bulk and gave it a smooth finish with a brushed-on top coat (finished doll at this stage is shown above).  She also finished modeling the face, hands and feet using LaDoll clay.

Creating an Art Doll, Olga style, Pt. 3 of 7: Sculpting

papier mache stage complete

In this multi-part art doll demonstration, Olga Egupets shows us her technique from start to finish, demonstrating armatures, modeling faces, body parts and props, painting, wigging and creating clothing. When making her dolls, Olga uses a variety of materials, including air dry clays such as Creative Paperclay, LaDoll, Plastiform, Efaplast etc.

Creating an Art Doll, Olga style, Parts 1 and 2 of 7

Olga E. Egupets was born in Deep Eastern Kazakhstan.   In 2000, she decided to try making dolls and soon  became very popular among collectors and lovers of art dolls, both in Russia and abroad.  At first it was small size works but her current dolls are quite large.  In this multi-part demonstration, Olga shows us her technique from start to finish,

How to Make a Poseable Hand

This air-dry clay tutorial from Minenko shows us how to model thin, delicate, but strong fingers.  It is loosely translated below from Russian to English.   Please go to her website for step by step photos and full hand modeling tutorial.

Minenko says the materials needed for this project are:

1. Wire to build the frame of the hand (any thin: copper, floral,) 
2. Floral tape (sticky paper tape in various colors, sold in florist shops) for covering wire
3. Your choice of air-dry clay (LaDoll or Creative Paperclay suggested)
4. Creative mood 

Making Paperclay Doll Eyes

Eyes colored with pencils worn by Dollzone Leo

Author of tutorial says making Paperclay eyes for your doll is very simple. The eyes shown here started as beads of Creative Paperclay and were colored using artist pencils and acrylic paint.   A glossy finish was sprayed on.  These eyes were created for a BJD doll but could be used with any clay figure.  Read entire eye tutorial here.

How to Sculpt a Realistic Baby with Paperclay

Today I'd like to share a very interesting Paperclay tutorial.  Ellen Harris has created this very realistic baby completely from Creative Paperclay.

How I make dolls with Creative Paperclay

Using some traditional methods she has created a doll with moveable joints using ...."my fingers, toothpicks, a wookie, a small set of brushes, two teeny round iron rasps, small ball stylus and everything else that
fits the purpose. For dry sculpting I use the rasps, a Master Beveler tool, wet dry sandpaper or some flat sponges with fine sandpaper on one side at 320 grit. "

Sculpting Head and Face for BJD

~ click photos to enlarge ~    

Linda Macario, the Italian doll-maker, has written a wonderful tutorial for creating the head for a BJD (ball-jointed doll) .   LaDoll air-dry clay is suggested.  Creative Paperclay would also be suitable for this project.   Lots of photos demonstrate how to sculpt the Styrofoam core, apply the clay, model the facial features, hollow out the head & insert the eyes and also create the head articulation.

How to Create This Art Doll including How to Sculpt Head and Build Body

Paperclay doll by Oksana Dyachenko

Excellent, detailed tutorial for creating a mixed media art doll by Oksana Dyachenko.  Some interesting and unique techniques shown that I've never seen before.  Creative Paperclay is used to sculpt head, hands and feet with abundant step-by-step instructions for modeling face and hands along with painting details.  This is a very long tutorial with lots of steps and lots of photos.  You'll probably do best if you follow along one step at a time.  Don't skip around ....you might miss something important.  There's really a lot of information in this tutorial!

Paperclay Stump Doll

Stylized and aged with crackle finish, this 'Dancing Girl' Paperclay stump doll from Miss Sophie Arts looks like it'd be a lot of fun to make.  The author sculpts heads and necks from Paperclay but their bodies use a paper mache technique.

Divine Decadence Stump Doll

This gorgeous stump doll was created by Arley Berryhill.  It is made of Creative Paperclay and covered in fabric and other embellishments.  A "stump doll" has a solid body....no legs.   Sculpting details are concentrated above the waist and lower body is usually covered by skirt.   The body of a stump doll is often molded around a candlestick or bottle or something else that stands easily by itself.

"Divine Decadence" is a cloth stump doll and stands 22" tall. The facemask is cast in Paperclay and covered in knit fabric with glass eyes and polymer teeth.  The artist has kindly provided step-by-step photos of the work in progress so you can see how he did it and be inspired to create your own stump doll with Paperclay.