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STAND
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2017
Cover Photos: BJD - Wendy Weird and Phoebe Phantom by Nikki Britt Fashion - Lillith by Integrity photographer PruchanunR. All images are owned by their respective photographers and all images are provided with permission. Credit is given on each image according to what is provided by contributor. STAND is not responsible for incorrect information.
// from the Editor
Dorothy Drake Editor-In-Chief thestandmag.com
Visit me at Facebook.com/thestandmag
When I accepted the challenge of stepping in as editor of the STAND, I knew that I would enjoy diving deeper into the creative artistry of the BJD and Fashion Doll world. Boy howdy, was that an understatement. I can honestly say that turning to this page in the adventure that is my life ... exhilirating, astonishing, exciting, intriguing, and admiration are just a few of the adjectives that pop into my mind. During the past 30 days, I have peeled back layer after layer of artists and their photos. The excitement is that I have just brushed the surface. My personal loves are fashion, hats and the models that wear them ... did I mention hats? The fact is that I spent many very enjoyable hours looking at pictures and getting ideas, not only for the magazine ... for my dolls. You’ve thrown a rock in a lake and watched the ripples, right? The STAND is like the rock, well respected in the marketplace with a significant following. My job is to extend the reach of the ripples through every resource available. To that end, the Lookbook will continue to focus on the visual display of artist’s work, but my inquisitive nature will also launch me on a path to provide in-depth interviews and behind-the-scenes looks what what makes the industry tick. So I begin with this photo journal that includes 24 artists and an in-depth look at the work of Nikki Britt. Please enjoy and let me know your thoughts and ideas. My heartfelt thanks to the Stand’s founder and mentor, Sharon Wright. Sharon, your thoroughness and helpfullness has been a bright star. The slate is blank - let’s write on it together,
Dorothy
editor photograph: LAKEIDA SPRENKLE
All images are owned by their respective photographers and all images are provided with permission. Credit is given on each image according to what is provided by contributor. STAND is not responsible for incorrect information.
doll: OOAK SCULPT / PIDGIN photographer: PIDGIN
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doll: KYORI / FASHION ROYALTY photographer: STAN LENKA
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doll: ALMA/DOLLS NUMINA DOLL BY PAUL PHAM photographer: AQUATALIS
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doll: EVA / IPLEHOUSE photographer: NATSUMI
doll: TANYA / LEGRANDDOLL - 3D PRINTED BODY photographer: LAKEIDA SPRENKLE
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doll: RAYNA AHMADI / INTEGRITY TOYS photographer: DOLLDIVE67
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doll: M33-OOAK / PHICEN photographer: NGUYEN TRUONG THAI VU
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photographer: PIXABY
doll: OOAK SCULPT / PIDGIN photographer: PIDGIN
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doll:MIU MIU/SOOLEE DOLLphotographer: photographer: CYRANKA CYRANKA doll: / SOOLEEDOLL
doll: LUTS ‘08 MAN EVENT HEAD - LOS60 BODY photographer: ILONA MARIA KALINOWSKA
photographer: JASON LEUNG
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doll: AYUMI / INTEGRITY TOYS photographer: WIL HEROLD
doll: LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD / PHICEN photographer: HUGO’S DOLLS
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doll: CAROL and LETITIA photographer: CYRANKA
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doll: DAISY/DOLLSTOWN photographer: DEBORAH HOOD
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doll: TANIA / KAYE WIGGS photographer: LAKEIDA SPRENKLE
photographer: LAKEIDA SPRENKLE
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DAISY/DOLLSTOWN photographer:REDMAIKO DEBORAH HOOD doll:doll: FIERCE / FAIRYLAND photographer:
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doll: DIANA/ANGELREGION photographer: YENNA photographer: EMIL JARFELT
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photographer: PIXABY
doll: DRAGON BASIL & ORIENTAL / EVE STUDIO photographer: FELICITY
doll: HUMAN MERROW/DEPTHS DOLLS photographer: DEBORAH HOOD
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NIKKI BRITT
The STAND caught up with Nikki Britt as she was preparing for the Modern Doll Show.
TSL - Can you describe the time when you realized that creating was something you needed to do? I
never remember a time when I wasn’t making my ideas come to life in some form. Creativity for me has always been almost a base instinct. The closest thing I can compare it to is thirst; it’s like being so thirsty that you become restless and nothing quenches the feeling except for creation. I started with pencil and paper, drawing everywhere I went. My school books and reading books were drawn in, I would carry little note books or pieces of folded up paper in my pocket, and if I didn’t have paper I would draw on my hands and arms. I started sculpting when I was nine. I was at a friend’s birthday party when I discovered I was really good at shaping clay. One of the events at her party was making things out of sculpey clay and baking them so we could take them home. When the girls saw mine they couldn’t believe I had made it and asked if I could make something for them to take home too. Needless to say I was quite popular that day. When I went home I asked my mom if I could get some clay. I got my wish. TSL - Why dolls? I got into making dolls by accident. I was homeschooled throughout high school and was bored after I finished my schoolwork, so I began filling my extra time with art projects; mostly paper mache. I would browse the Internet for ideas and inspiration when I came across tiny realistic sculptures of newborns and fairies. I thought they were impossibly wonderful and was both intrigued and enchanted. The Early Years, Tiny Reborn Babies/Fantasy: I decided to give ultra-realistic sculpting a try, and with the clay I had left from childhood, made my first clay baby. I thought it was horrible but people encouraged me so I kept practicing. Once I’d saved up enough money, I got better clay and tools and starting putting my sculptures on eBay. People were actually buying them! I improved with every piece and sold just about everything I listed. During that time, I made a lot of fantasy sculptures as well, which became quite popular. Soon, I was receiving emails asking for custom work. Reborn collectors wanted to know if I could make a doll kit. I wasn’t used to sculpting anything bigger than 8 inches so this was a challenge but I gave it a try and made my first lifesize newborn sculpt that later became my first manufactured doll kit.
I made one more doll kit after that and then decided babies alone just weren’t allowing me to express my creativity in the way I wanted. I had ideas I wanted to bring to life so I started looking for a different genre for my art. At the time, art doll discussions were on forums where I would receive comments from collectors every time I posted my original art pictures. Many of the comments were asking me to consider making BJDs. Discovering BJD’s: Unsure what a BJD was, I began researching. Not long after, I participated in a doll show to sell some of my OOAK pieces and saw BJDs in person for the first time. I fell in love with the idea of mobility and customization in my sculptures and began the endeavor of giving BJD making a try. Boy was it an endeavor indeed! I wasn’t sure where to begin and feeling I should make my own way, I didn’t ask anyone questions. I was persistent in figuring the art form out and wasn’t BARTY the pixie - 4” OOAK pleased with my work for a long time. After about a year, I had created Sculpted clay, 2019 sculpts I was somewhat pleased with and decided to look for a factory to produce my work. I had no idea what I was doing but felt that God wanted me to keep persisting, because somehow, after searching and wondering, I found people to produce my work and even customers who were ready to purchase. These first BJDs were a set of four customizable faun babies. The Nikki Britt Difference: One of the things I really wanted my BJD’s to have was expression and a uniqueness. At the time I wasn’t seeing happy, or quirky expressions anywhere in the BJD world and I wanted my art to stand out in that way. The fauns also had magnetic parts and interchangeable feet that made them fun to dress and customize. When I presented them to the BJD market online, I received a good amount of interest and decided to go forward with production. Once on the market, sales went well and people were loving the whimsical, uniqueness of the sculpts and their happy, expressive faces. The Inspiration to Create: I am inspired by the unusual and the perplexing; by the mystical and the enchanting. Words, ideas, and concepts inspire me with music as my muse. I would say in essence, life is my inspiration - the trials we face as people, the stories we tell, and the beauty that can be found even in the midst of darkness and uncertainty.
FELIX - 6” OOAK Hand Sculpted Apricot Resin BJD 2012
ARTIST PROFILE
KIMIKO - 8” OOAK Sculpted clay, 2013
KLEMENTYNE -7” OOAK Sculpted clay, 2013
FABER, baby faun - 5” OOAK Sculpted clay, 2010
LIVES: San Antonio, Tx FROM: Anaheim, Ca STUDIED: Art At NVC Northwest BEGAN SCULPTING: 9 years old FIRST DOLL CREATED: Tiny Reborn Babies CONTACT: facebook.com/brittani.limaosorio littlefairytailsbjds.weebly.com
FABER - 6” OOAK Sculpted Resin, 2012
The first BJD’s were a series of 6” fauns of hand FELIX - 6” OOAK sculpted resin in Hand Sculpted Chocolate Resin BJD 2012 2012 thestandmag.com
TSL - Your characters are fun, whimsical and seem to tell a story. What are you trying to communicate with your art? This is an interesting question because I often
ask myself the same thing. I think so much of what I express through my art isn’t deliberate. It’s almost like a dream in the way my subconscious portrays what it wants through the material I am working with. It really feels like my dreams or a mixture of past experiences coming to life when I create. I feel limited in the control I have when I sculpt, it’s like the creations choose their final personality without me being completely conscious of it. Most of my creations start with a story, a poem, or a concept. Poetry is a big part of my creative process and though I don’t always share the backstory of my characters, most of my dolls have a poem or story that accompanies them. I had a difficult childhood and in many ways my childhood was taken from me at an early age and I had to grow up quickly. I was alone in so many struggles and thrown into difficult situations that I didn’t feel strong enough to cope with. I would often tell myself stories or imagine whimsy in scePERCY PUMPERNICKEL 6” BJD narios that were scary or traumatic. I would set up worlds and characters in my imagination. I tried to see everything as an adventure and in many ways still do. My art often portrays children who are persevering through some type of trial, they are often alone and different, or peculiar; sometimes shy, odd, quirky, and often underdogs. Though life hands them trials or fearsome scenarios their will to overcome and be triumphant in their endeavors is strong enough to see them through to a brighter future.
ELLE BELLA - 6” BJD Artist version
ELLEMENNO and Pete his toy dragon - 6” BJD
TSL - What is your advice to an aspiring doll artist: My advice to aspiring doll artists would be,
to make sure you are getting into this art form because you love creating art and not just because you think there is monetary success in it. The success you find in art (and in anything really) comes from the passion you put into your work and that passion won’t be there if you are not in it for the right reasons. Also, and I cannot stress this enough - BE YOURSELF, make your art your own. I believe and am very passionate about finding your own identity and coming up with your own ideas as an artist. Be original and show your uniqueness in your art. If you attempt to copy someone else. you will either fail as an artist or gain success that isn’t yours. Your work will lack the soul that the original carries. A true artist uses their own experiences and personality to create something special that is uniquely theirs, do this and even if you never reach your monetary goals you will reach your creative goals and find pride and
integrity in your work. On Being Successful In the Industry: It is simultaneously a wonderful - yet terrifying - and stressful
experience. This quote by Kipling really portrays the outlook I have developed when it comes to popularity and success. “...meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two impostors just the same...” Success takes up so much of your energy and can take a toll on emotions. I thank God everyday for the lovely people He has put in my life, for the path He has put me on, and for making me prosperous and triumphant in this goal that I prayed so diligently to achieve. I don’t know if this success will last, but as long as it does I will continue working, doing my best in every challenge and continue to bring new and fresh ideas to this industry. ADELINE- 10” BJD Artist version
LOTS OF LOVE ELLEMENNO 16” BJD
Editors note: Our thanks to Nikki for such transparent answers and insight into her creative world. thestandmag.com
Wendy Weird Wendy was not a common kid See ghost on a daily basis she did At school they dubbed her Wendy Weird Because an oddball she appeared The boys and girls they sneered and jeered And sometimes even veered But Wendy couldn’t help being just a little weird Wendy’s best confidant Was quite the peculiar haunt Her name was Phoebe Phantom And she sang quite an anthem (More like a memorandum) Of how her once blue eyes Closed to her demise
WENDY WEIRD AND PHOEBE PHANTOM - BJD 18” Artist Version - TUTTI SPARROW PIRATE
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FAIRIES BY NIKKI BRITT
PERCY PUMPERNICKEL MICELING FAIRY 6” BJD Artist version
photographer: ANDRES IGA
POPPY PERIWINKLE MICELING FAIRY 6” BJD Artist version
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BJD’S BY NIKKI BRITT
PEPPER ANNIE - 18” BJD photo by collector
LIAM - 10” BJD Steampunk Peter Pan for 2017 Modern Doll Convention
photographer: FW STUDIO
PEPPER ANNIE with TUTTI FRUITTI 18” BJD
Olivia- 6” BJD
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PEPPER ANNIE AND FRIENDS 18” BJD BY NIKKI BRITT
photographer: VANESSA VON WIEDING
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doll: HANA - HYBRID VOLKS SAKI HEAD ON VOLKS SD13 BODY photographer: FELICITY
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doll: ADRIANA / WITHDOLL ON SMART DOLL BODY photographer: LAKEIDA SPRENKLE
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doll: EUN / ELFDOLL ON SOULDOLL BODY photographer: NATSUMI
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doll: ASHANTI EID / IPLEHOUSE photographer: LAKEIDA SPRENKLE
photographer: LAKEiDA SPRENKLE
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photographer: KRIS ATOMPIC
doll: ASHANTI / IPLEHOUSE photographer: LAKEIDA SPRENKLE
doll: MINIFEE CLOE / FAIRYLAND photographer: SHIMIRO
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doll: LILITH-WILD AT HEART / INTEGRITY TOYS photographer: PRUCHANUNR.
doll: POLLY PARKER OOH LA LA / INTEGRITY TOYS photographer: PRUCHANUNR.
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doll: RHEIA / FAIRYLAND photographer: DOLLS OF MILENA
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doll: LILITH-NEVER ORDINARY/ INTEGRITY TOYS photographer: PRUCHANUNR.
doll: ALBERTO & FELIX / IPLEHOUSE photographer: LISA JAMESON
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doll: AISHAT / BLACK CHERRY photographer: CYRANKA
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“When the voices of doubt start whispering, turn-up the volume of faith and listen to your heart.” Bryant McGill
doll: APIRIT GINO / ILLUSION - COLIN / DOLL CHATEAU photographer: FRECKLEFOXMITCH
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doll: SIMPLY DIVINE HARLEQUIN ON DOLLITS BODY photographer: LISA JAMESON
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doll: BIBIANE / IPLEHOUSE photographer: LISA JAMESON
doll: CONSTANCE MADSSEN, STERLING REISE, TATE TANAKA / INTEGRITY TOYS photographer: NGUYEN TRUONG THAI VU
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doll: AUSLEY / DOLLSHE photographer: KASIA NOWAK
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doll: SOULKID ARINA / SOULDOLL photographer: NICTE BELL
doll: SOULKID ARINA AND SOULVITO LESTER / SOULDOLL photographer: NICTE BELL
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doll: RITA / ELFDOLL photographer: KASIA NOWAK
photographer:BYRON JOHNSON
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doll: JUNE PLANNING / DAL MILCH photographer: PRUCHANUN R.
doll: ELYSE / INTEGRITY TOYS photographer: WIL HEROLD
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doll: IMOGENE / INTEGRITY TOYS photographer: WIL HEROLD
doll: NADJA / INTEGRITY TOYS photographer: WIL HEROLD
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doll: 5TH MOTIF VENITU photographer: NATSUMI
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doll: ELFDOLL EUN-A ON SOULDOLL BODY photographer NATSUMI
doll: BONY / POPOVY SISTERS photographer: DOLLS OF MILENA
photographer: PIXABY
doll: MYSTIC G.BELLE / LATI DOLL photographer: PRUCHANUN R.
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doll: HYBRID KURHN OOAK HEAD / OBITSU BODY photographer: HOE-NIR
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doll: POULPY / CERISEDOLLS / photographer: SHIMIRO
doll: PUKIPUKI PONGPONG / FAIRYLAND photographer: REDMAIKO
photographer: PICJUMBO
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CONTRIBUTOR CONTACT LIST The STAND Lookbook is not possible without these incredibly talented people Show them some love and let them know you appreciate their talents.
Nikki Britt
https://www.facebook.com/brittani.limaosorio
Deborah Hood
https://www.instagram.com/aviannesa
Kasia Nowak
https://www.flickr.com/photos/53925872@N02/
Dolls of Milena
https://www.instagram.com/dollsofmilena/
Cyranka
https://www.flickr.com/photos/91499533@N07/
Pidgin
https://www.instagram.com/pidgindoll/
Aquatalis
https;//www.flickr.com/photos/aquatalis
Dolldiva67 https://www.flickr.com/photos/136701497@ N06/34847575893/in/album-72157685640106766/ Felicity
https://www.flickr.com/photos/84755140@N03/
Frecklefoxmitch
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frecklefoxmitch/
PruchanunR
https://www.facebook.com/pruchanunr
Wil Herold
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7507084@N07/
Hugo’s Dolls
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hugos-dolls https://www.flickr.com/photos/hoe-nir/
Red Maiko
https://www.flickr.com/photos/redmaiko/
Hoe-Nir
Shimiro
https://www.flickr.com/photos/shimiro/
Lakeida Sprenkle
https://www.instagram.com/sprenkle_me
Yenna https://www.dimensiondolls.com
Natsumi
https://www.flickr.com/photos/-natsumi-/
Nguyen Truong Thai Vu
https://www.flickr.com/photos/151022025@N04/
Nicte Bell
https://www.instagram.com/nictebell/
Ilona Maria Kalinowska
https://www.flickr.com/photos/waranamama/
Lisa Jameson
Supplementary images are used with permission by photographers or sourced from various CC0 platforms.
https;//www.pepstarsworld.com thestandmag.com