#customizer interview

(Photo:☁ hola gominola)

Between all of your customs do you have a favourite one that it's still in your heart??

I have some favorites because they came up particularly expressive, naive or sweet. I had a crush on Regaliz, Moth, Jengibre, Violeta, Ezra, Kiwi… but mainly Biscotte, because she makes me smile and looks like a very young little girl. In my collection I have two dolls that I eventually couldn't sell: Mandarina and Plum, and I'm totally in love with them.

(Photo:☁ hola gominola)

If I look at your work I can see that your style is slowly changing over the time. Your dollies are now more childish and innocent (with a lot of freckles!! Love freckles!! :D).. Where do you see your style evolving in the future? Is it something that is influenced by your customers requests?

Custom Blythes have been through a particular change, generally speaking: they're much more realistic (human-like) now than they were when I started. I think that's because we've improved our skills and dolls are asking for more. I'm always eager to get new ideas, new expressions, new make-ups in order to progress and live each doll as she was the first one. I don't want to get bored! Frankly, I can't see my future style, I'm kind of an improviser. My dolls features are linked to my present life, what I feel at that precise moment. I'm not very good at future plans, and it's ok for me: carpe diem!

(Photo:☁ hola gominola)

If you could choose anything, partnership with other customizers, different kind of dolls,..anything,...which one will be your secret whish that you would love to work on?

One thing I've always had in mind is working on a traveller girl to be on a permanent vacation all over the world, visiting the photographers whose work I love. There's nothing more exciting and touching than seeing your own creations through other artists' eyes.

(Photo:☁ hola gominola)

Hi Alicja, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi! I am a 23 year old girl living in Poland in region known as "land of a thousand lakes". My interest in dolls came from the fascination of stop-motion animation. I made my first doll/puppet after seeing Tim Burton's "Corpse Bride". Now dolls become my way to express what is inside my head. My other interests include: photography, cinema, characterization, and many other art-related fields.

(Photo: *Szklanooka)

A lot of customizers affirm that Monster High' s unique features are what pushed them into customizing. What is your story?

Well, I didn't want to spend money on some expensive doll before I tried if painting dolls is for me. I saw a picture of Monster High doll's head without makeup and I was surprised how pretty and detailed her face sculpt is. I also really like their posing and hands.

(Photo: *Szklanooka)

How did you learn to customize? Any tips that you want to give to the wannabe customizers out there? ;)

I still feel like a beginner in this too! My first custom doll was done about a year and half ago. Everything that I learned was from the internet and my poor English wasn't helping at all. There are really plenty great tutorials and tips around.

I tried using different paints and tools and here's what I've learned so far: don't buy the cheapest supplies, but good art-grade brands (not most expensive, but tested) I think the best way to start is to try to draw some sketches on paper before starting on a doll. I recommend using watercolour pencils. It's easier to draw eyebrows and eyelashes drawing thin lines and then trace them using acrylic paints mixed with retarder. Good way to check symmetry is using mirror. And of course the best tip is practice, practice and practice!

(Photo: *Szklanooka)

Do you think that everybody can start customizing their dolls or do you think that there are some specific skills that you need to have before?

I draw and paint for almost all my life so I didn't have to practice my hand before painting my first doll, but I don't believe you have to born with some magic talent - it's just practice & patience. Like I said before, if your are able to do this on paper, your ready to repaint your doll as well.

(Photo: *Szklanooka)

What kind of workflow do you have? Do you start straight away or do you sketch your ideas on paper first?

I guess both. Sometimes I have full picture of doll in my mind and I make some drawings, then I just try to recreate this. Sometimes I just find interesting fabric and I work based on that.

How long does it take to a doll to come to life?

Oh, it depends on so many factors. This may takes few days (and sleepless nights) or couple weeks. ;)

(Photo: *Szklanooka)

I really loved your "White and Dark Choccolate" Monsters High, where did you get the inspiration from and where is your inspiration, for your dolls, coming from?

I'm glad to know you liked it! I guess it's not very original theme - chocolates and sweets are very popular in Lolita fashion. I just wanted to make something classic and sweet. And inspirations... oh, there are so many things that inspires me! I'm kind of an observer type of person and I collect images in my brain as well as on my notebook. I stare at people's faces a lot. It reminds me a situation where I got excited over cute girl on the street and my brother commented on it immediately "Yeah, go and ask her if you can cast her in resin to make a doll" I also keep an eye on fashion trends in doll community as well as explore historical clothing from around the world.

(Photo: *Szklanooka)

Your dolls' clothes are amazingly beautiful and with such fine details... are you creating the outfits as well??

Thank you for saying that! I guess: designing outfit, looking for fabrics, making pattern, sewing - this is the most time-consuming part of the whole process. It's the hardest part for me, especially finding right materials for that scale locally, but it's very enjoyable too. I also make their shoes from polymer clay or by sanding and painting original Monster High shoes.

(Photo: Szklanooka)

I can't stop thinking that your dolls are not only well painted and with great outfits, but they are also enhanced by your photography skills. Do you have a specific training as photographer?

Yes! I've been into photography since I was a kid. I started from learning traditional photography and have spent a lot of time in a darkroom enjoying my first black & white photos. That was my after-school activity. Now I use mostly my digital SLR. Dolls are fantastic models. It's something like portrait photography, fashion photography and macro photography combined in one. I must admit this is my favorite moment when dolls come to life on the screen. However, I wouldn't call myself a professional photographer, I just have a close relationship with my camera.

(Photo: Szklanooka)

What are you working on at the moment? Can you anticipate us your next projects?

Monster High (still) and Tonner dolls are now on my work desk. I'm thinking about buying Blythe, they are so weird and look just like made for customizing. And speaking about customizing - there will be some ball-jointed dolls coming for sure!

..and now the last thing! ... Can you show us your studio? I'd love to see where you create these beauties! :D

This is my main desk, there is another for sewing machine, but the rest of the workroom is too messy to show this horror in public :D

(Photo: Alicja)