Kitsune - Design

Thought I'd share some information about how I went about designing Kitsune - my fox spirit for the 2015 Auguste Clown Gallery "Fairies and Folklore" Blythe exhibition.

I always start with my Dolly Fashion Sketchbook for a custom doll. I'm able to map out colour-scheme, collect fabric swatches, start planning out her custom eye-chips and eyelids. I write notes about which base doll would be appropriate, jot down inspirations, and if I need to source anything in particular I pop those down in the "notes" section. 

Then I sketch out how I envision the doll. 

This gives me a great place to reference back to whilst I am carving and painting the doll, or whilst working on her costume so I have it all in front of me and in my mind to remember the character and mood I want to portray.

It's always nice to see how the final doll evolves slightly from the first sketch. She grows into her own unique little character, full of personality and soul.

Thanks for Reading!

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Interested in the Dolly Fashion Sketchbook? 

You can get your own copy ~here~

Kitsune - In Progress

Some of the In Progress photo's I took of Kitsune as she was coming along...
Please enjoy her progress from carved face-shell to a cheeky fox spirit!

I chose a mischievous smile for her cherry-lips, and red stage makeup as a subtle reference to that of the Maiko, she has fox-like shading for her nose as I always enjoyed the belief if you see a girl in Japan with sharp elongated features and clever eyes, she may be a Kitsune in disguise... 

Her skin has several dusted layers of shimmering white to give her an otherworldly pale look, and a sprinkling of iridescent freckles.
Her back-plate features the Kitsune mask of the NOH Theatre, my signature and her No#

Costume

I used a traditional Kimono pattern with crushed organza in a shimmering myriad of flame orange shot through with golden threads. She has several deep blood red sleeves lining, beading down the long sleeves (the type worn by unmarried young women) and 9 fox-tails embroidered on the back - the symbol of the most powerful and old of fox spirits. Embroidered in gold is the Kanji symbol for "Kitsune". She comes with three sets of hands, in expressive poses and little fox "paws".

Her full photoshoot and story soon...

Once Upon a Blythe - Exhibition Opening

I was lucky enough to get to travel to the opening night exhibition for August Clown Gallery's international Blythe customiser exhibition "Once Upon a Blythe"

All the dolls were beautifully displayed, 

I was very happy to be a part of the show, and I was so happy to arrive and see a red sticker on Briar Rose, knowing she has gone to a loving home!

Here is my flickr gallery of Briar Rose, as well as photographs of the other dolls in the exhibition, too

Auguste Clown have a great flickr gallery from the opening night, too

Nicolle (from Nicolle's Dreams) made a wonderful video of the exhibition, so you can feel like you went to the show, too!

Briar Rose

Once Upon a Blythe


International Blythe Customiser Exhibition


Auguste Clown Gallery

"Briar Rose"

The sleeping beauty cursed to dream amongst the crumbling ruins of a bygone

era until she is awoken by the kiss of true love. Wild brambles crawl up her

pale legs, threatening to ensconce her forever. Beneath her long flittering

lashes, she dreams for a-hundred years of the one to wake her.

Custom Work Undertaken:

*Base Doll: Takara Chocolate and Spice Neo Blythe

*Modified Pure Neemo S body replacement

*Carved Lips, Nose, Philtrum, Chin, Eye-Sockets

*Engraved and painted brambles on legs and chest

*Sleep-Eye added, eye-mech gaze-adjusted

*Pastel and Acrylic faceup and body-blushing

*Lace and Tulle removable dress, wild-rose wreath

*Monika Viktoria art-cameo illustrated pull-rings

*Bespoke Doll bed with adjustable bed-head and storage

*Adjustable mattress, lace blanket and pillow

Artist Brief:

Orchid's Designs (Monika Viktoria)

Orchid's Designs creates unique Haute Couture costumes for Artist BJD and

Blythe, as well as crafting bespoke doll beds and furniture. Monika placed

first in both the fashion and photography category at BCUK 2013, and in the

BlytheFest Au 2014 competition.

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Mesmerising eyes the colour of blood-red roses. Briar Rose has 4 pairs of metallic hand painted chips befitting her character... oh what dreams they have seen these long years?

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And finally, her pull-rings to allow those sleepy lids to open, two cameo's with Monika Viktoria illustrations from my 'of lace and moss' watercolour series.

Once Upon a Blythe

Featuring over 30 international doll artists, "Once Upon a Blythe" International exhibition at Auguste Clown Gallery in Melbourne, Australia will showcase the finest talent in Blythe customisation and artistry, http://www.augusteclown.com/blythe-dolls.html

Opening February 20th, all dolls will be available in person at the show and online. To be added to the special preview mailing list for information and photos, contact the gallery directly at:  info@augusteclown.com

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Orchid's Designs is thrilled to be included amongst some of the top names in the Blythe world for this incredible curated show. For our entry we chose to interpret the tale of "Briar Rose" - the sleeping beauty who is cursed to stay in the world of dreams in a crumbling ruin until she is awoken by the kiss of true love. Brambles crawl up her pale legs, threatening to ensconce her forever.
beneath her long flittering lashes, she dreams.....

Briar Rose is a full art custom, painted and blushed with acrylics, artist pastels and sealed with UV and yellowing protectant. Her eyelids feature brambles and roses, hiding her dreams. 

She has 4 pairs of metallic hand-painted eye-chips, and her base doll was Takara official release Chocolate and Spice.

Her pure-neemo body has been modified with a new technique of burr-engraving the plastic, then setting, painting, and sealing. She wears a tattered lace dress of layers of tulle and vintage lace.

Please enjoy the preview photographs of her, until we are able to unveil her official photo series!

Late Start to 2015!!

Oops, a belated Happy New Year to everyone!! 

January is always my favourite month, and it is already almost over! I feel this year will fly by as well, just like last year.

Unfortunately I am noticing many of my older blog posts are having the images disconnected, and not able to be viewed. I think this is a problem with the varying hosting sites I use, whether it's flickr, facebook or tumblr. Sincerest apologies, I am trying to find a better solution to being able to continue blogging in 2015 - and have my images stay up here for many more years to be enjoyed!!

In the meantime, you can always visit me on these sites where I post frequently my newest work and glimpses of progress pieces:

facebook - www.facebook.com/orchidsdesigns
instagram - @monikaviktoriaart

flickr - www.flickr.com/photos/orchidsdesigns


In other news, we are preparing for a great Blythe themed exhibition next month here in Australia (more info in a future post very soon) and will be attending Blythefest AU in October, held in QLD, which I am very excited about!