Johnston Original Art Dolls

My Dear Fellow Artists... The question was asked, "is it okay to post information about someone else's web-site. This forum is yours for improving your skills and the skills of our fellow artists. As long as the information that is given is accurate and truthful I'm pleased to have it on our forum. Please, use this forum 24 hours per day as much as you like. Remember, this is your forum, so enjoy it. Thanks, Jack

Oh you should see Dawn's BJD!!! She brought it to the workshop with her and I got play with him and everything and WOW - it's just an AMAZING BJD!! http://ooakguild.com/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=6587 The above thread is her work in progress thread for him, and has pictures and everything ... just couldn't get enough of him at the workshop, was really really cool to see a polymer clay BJD!!

yes I do I hope its ok to post it www.fantasypuppet.com

Tami, Yes this is my first attempt at making a ball joint doll. I used a two part apoxie to hold the tubes together. I found the proportional drawing on a web page, then took it to Kinkos and had them blow it up to the 57cm size. I thought that would be a good size to try first. I'm sure my progress will be very slow also. I work at an automotive safety company during the day. I have two kids still at home, and I'm training for a marathon, so I know that I will be pretty slow. I'm very new with my blog also. My son-in-law set it up so I'm not sure how to link them, but I would love to watch each others progress. Good luck with all your projects and keep in touch. Lori

Thank you, Jack. I guess I should hit the hardware store for a longer drill bit.

Lori I have just visited your blog! I love the tube idea. So is this your first ball jointed doll too? What have you used to attach the tubes together? I also start working from a proportional drawing. I have a blog too, but this doll is not on it yet. I have sculplted her head and made the drawing. We should link to each other's blogs and keep track of one another's progress. My progress will be slow because I am an art teacher, and I make bears and have a large number of bear orders. In fact, I sculpted her head by accident. I had seen BJDs and really wanted to try one some day, but I was trying to sculpt a head for a little boy sailor doll (an accessory for a large bear)The face I saw imerging was not the one I imagined for the sailor boy, but I liked it. When I had finished the head I imagined her as a BJD. I have to get back to the sailor boy and other bears, but will work on her as time permits.

Hi, Robert! I love puppets and I've made some simple ones. I would enjoy seeing yours. Do you have a website? Also I while I was surfing the net about BJDs I came across this cool video--a giant marrionette!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3vfJ1R8uaY&feature=related Puppets are a dual art, the creation of them and the acting with them.

the tubes are a great idea just make sure they are short so the ball doesnt rub the clay ball it would eat it fairly quickly. its happened to me.

Tami, I have started to make a ball joint doll from prosculpt. I did not like the idea of drilling the doll so I used brass tubes so I could run the elastic through them. I have started a blog that I posted pictures on of the process. www.blogger.com/profile/11842129459208356564 I hope the link works. I just started to add clay to the torso last night so I'm not even sure this process will work. Lori Metcalf

Tami, I have started to make a ball joint doll from prosculpt. I did not like the idea of drilling out the doll so I took brass tubes and run it from her neck to her belly button. Then I cut the tube at an angle for it to come out her leg opening. then two small pieces to the arm opening. I then wrapped it all in foil, then covered it in masking tape. Last night I just started to add clay to the torso. My son-in-law has helped me start a blog, I posted pictures of this out there. Here is a link to it. I hope the link works. Lori Metcalf www.blogger.com/profile/11842129459208356564

hi I make puppets and the technique is not very different than a ball jointed Marionette. there is a lot of info about that they dont have to be hollow.

You are right about drilling out the torso and putting in elastic ties. You can purchase a drill bit that is six inches long. That should give you enough length to go through the torso. Making a ball joint can be done, but it will not be easy. It sounds like you have the experience and can make it work. I would love to see your work once you have it finished. Thanks, Jack

Hi, I have been looking at ball-jointed dolls, and thought it would be cool to sculpt one from ProSculpt. I have made dolls with breast/shoulder plates and a ball-and-socket head joints, but I wondered how to get the elastic through the parts, particularly the torso. Most ball jointed dolls are made from poured material so the torso and other parts are hollow, but it seems to me there should be a way to do this with Prosculpt. Has anyone tried it? I thought I might drill channels through the aliminum foil armature, but I would need an awfully long drill bit and how would I get it to come out at just the right spot?