Because I use permanent marker and colored pencils on my BJDs, hold them together with hot glue and swears, modify them with a hacksaw, and regularly take them outside in the sun, all to make resin versions of characters with an, ahem, unique aesthetic sensibility, I suspect — no, in fact, I know — that my BJDs make certain conservative BJD purists revolt. They’re over there, meticulously layering subtly blended pastels on their limited edition dolls, only using imported Japanese sealant, keeping all their outfits fullset and pristine, and maintaining their investments in climate-controlled cases where the curtains are always drawn, and I’m over here, experimenting with enthusiasm, undeterred by lack of skill, splicing together REALLY LARGE ACTION FIGURES!!!
Anyway, I’ve been working on Never the Less’ head recently. Shocking pictures, guaranteed to give someone the vapors for the inelegant liberties taken with such expensive materials, follow.
First I Pebeo’d most of the paint from my Angelsdoll Ieseul Cat Avatar head. I thought that I sealed faceups zealously, but that company faceup was one of the most tenacious paint jobs ever. Eventually I conquered it, however.Here is Never the Less’ outer lovely mask from the Souldoll Eva-Z outfit. Made especially with Souldoll Zenith Evelyn in mind, the mask replicates her facial sculpt exactly. Because of this mask, I consider Never the Less an OMV. 😀A comparison of the Eva-Z mask and the Ieseul head shows that the two have the exact same proportions. In other words, the Eva-Z mask is the perfect size and shape for a 1:3 scale mask.Unfortunately, the back of the Eva-Z mask reveals it as more of a decorative plate with a face on it than a mask. No eye holes. 🙁 When I saw this, I realized that Never the Less’ outer mask would not fit against her head without me building out her inner mask.Never the Less’ inner mask as it currently stands, made from Aves Apoxie Sculpt slapped directly onto the head. I sculpted around the head’s eye holes, which I then gouged out larger. I also sanding a few rough areas and chipped off a protuberant section of the right forehead. I obviously still need to smooth out the forehead, finish the eye sockets a bit better, insert the black lenses and paint it.And, just for shits and giggles, here is RetroDevil’s digital asset after which I am modeling Never the Less’ inner mask. I already see that the mouth line needs to move down and make a more apparent frown in my version.And here we are with a mock-up of the mouth shifted down slightly and made narrower and more downturned. Much better. Now, instead of looking bland, she looks grim and resigned.
