The Six Finished Zubiri Dolls - Doll # 6

Once again, since BlogSpot posts in reverse, I just want to remind everyone that I am posting so you can use the pictures online, in a non-commercial manner. The green screen background, if you know how, can be keyed out, and replaced with your choice of backgrounds, and you might want to use these as avatars in the forums go you to, or you can add poetry or use the images for your invitations to your parties.

One bad thing about getting into this, is that I tend to buy more supplies than needed. I have a lot of fabric at home. These dolls don't need a lot.

This set comes with the stained glass panels in the back. I did not stop at making the dolls. I have always felt the need to add more elements, in this case, some stained glass panels, which themselves takes time to make. It added to the delay of the work, but I'm happy I did it.

The solder is lead-free solder. I read somewhere that whatever lead is in a regular solder really is not cause for worry. Leaded solder makes smoother work. Lead-free solder is clumpy. Some say it's difficult to "tame" but I was targeting having a clumpy solder look. It takes the monotony of a smooth solder. People in general don't know much about soldering but they know a regular type of solder when they see one. Hence, clumpy solder looks unfamiliar and is a way to throw off the viewer.

The Six Finished Dolls - Doll # 5

I used glass beads for the necklaces. The earrings are Swarovski crystals. I had been collecting glass beads for a while, and I had been looking forward to making combinations of them. I also made sure that they did not totally coordinate with the wardrobe. My idea was "Girls Day Off Work," so I was thinking it would make sense to put on something comfortable. haha.

I was asked if I'm into playing with dolls. That's a tricky question.

I've always seen myself as a producer, not as a consumer. When I got into this early on, it was the riddle of becoming a producer. However, as an artist, I would not do this if it weren't fun.

So I'm having fun making this, thinking about this, etc., but do I play with them? The answer would be no.

Here's one thing you might want to consider. The dolls are made of porcelain, and it would be most advisable not to handle them too much. They should be left alone and the enjoyment should come from viewing them, not touching them too much.

Part of the definition of "Art Doll" is that they are contemporary art, they are fine art, and nowhere is it mentioned that they are toys to be played with through too much handling.

In a way, my work invites handling. That's part of the art. It looks like a toy, and it can be a toy, but it's best left alone and displayed.

Below are only two pictures of this doll. I thought I took enough pictures, but apparently not.

The Six Finished Dolls by Valentino Zubiri - Doll # 4

I use different doll heads. What you might not know yet, is that each doll head gets sculpted separately. Then a plaster mold is made, which is made up of 4 pieces - the face, the neck area and a left and right side that include the ears and the back of the head. All this takes time to make.

This is my chosen thing to do, I don't want to take orders as if the molds are already waiting. Because of this, what I plan to do is to make the exact number of heads as agreed, this is one option, and just surprise myself and the collector on the actual look of the doll. I make the decisions anyway, including the hair. Of course you might think I might unintentionally make an ugly face, but even that might be intentional.

I read somewhere where we as human beings, including babies, can recognize faces, even though there are billions us here on earth. In another article, I also read that we human beings can tell a beautiful face from an ugly face. With that in mind, trust me to make acceptable images. In addition, the process of making these art dolls continues to the makeup / faceup, and dressing / costuming. Just like a real human being, the later processes are elements which can add to the beauty of even what you might think as ugly in the beginning. It's like making a swan out of an ugly duckling.

As you can see, each doll used a different hair style. The hair came from separate packages of real hair. I reused the same fabric for a top and a pair of pants. I did that on purpose. I will reuse the same hair source, if the set calls for it, like a set of sisters would have the same hair color and maybe even the same curl.

The Six Finished Dolls - Doll # 3

Here is Doll # 3

Sorry, but I had been asked on Facebook if my dolls are still available. Someone already owns this set. I prefer to sell a set. The clothes will have the same theme.

My idea for this set was Summer, Sleeveless, flat shoes, 1950's 1960's. As if Ann Margret was performing in Bye Bye Birdie. Did you ever see that movie? lol.

Just to let you know, I clocked myself making the shirts. Yes, they may be sleeveless, but it took between 6 to 8 hours for each one of them. I drink a lot of coffee and I did way back. Sometimes I stopped working at 8 a.m.! I will show you two pictures of my clutter. I also took a footage of the clutter, where I panned my camera, so there was a lot of fabric and thread on the floor, then I showed my sewing machine and serger, and then I also showed some books and my electric guitars nearby.

Whenever I worked on the dolls, I sometimes had tutorials on writing or music - guitar playing, harmony, etc., playing on the computer screen. I don't watch television. I tend to watch whatever is online. I'm surprised YouTube has long documentaries, and I like watching stuff about aliens and UFOs - well, I'm a writer, so I'm looking for stories I might possibly become interested in writing.

Here's the third doll. Take the green screen out with Photoshop or something else, if you want to make the pictures more personalized. I hope you like my work.

I will finalize the hair when I give them to the collector. I don't want to keep styling the hair too much. This is why this one has "big hair" even though it's straight. We're talking miniatures anyway, so it's not like you put some sort of conditioner or whatever here. My biggest worry is preservation of the work. The porcelain keeps forever, as long as the piece is not dropped, but I have to make sure the rest of the work is durable. I can't just experiment with materials, because at the end of the day, these are art dolls. You can check Wikipedia - there is an entry called "Art Doll."

The Six Finished Dolls - Doll # 2

So I will let you know what their names are, but be forewarned, they will have a lot syllables, it would be hard to pronounce them. Nickelodeon or Comedy Central might get this funny idea, that all the names, and they will carry my last name, are like different people from different alternate realities, and maybe we all do something to solve a mystery. But it's for kids, really. So there's really not just one dollman, there are many. It's an idea. Actually I really just wanted to name the dolls in a crazy way... okay, here's an example. Chulafracatina Farvularlurtinderloo-Zubiri. I think as long as there's a "a" ending the first name, it's a girl's name, unless it's kinda Japanese, then it should end with an "o."

Aside from my written books, I'm now confident that I can rewrite and illustrate the classic fairy tales, using pictures of my work, all costumed appropriately.

Well, not just that, I can make myself available to do workshops and seminars, and that's another set of books.

The green screen is to help you take out the background, so you can make your nice little backgrounds, maybe add a poem or something. Or use them as your avatar in the forums. As long as it's for non-commercial use, you are okay, no need to ask me for permission.

I'm available to be sold by art galleries, art representatives, doll stores and interior designers, but if you want to contact me directly, please do so. I'm happy to make the dolls / dioramas for you, but be reminded all this takes time, and I will ask for a nonrefundable payment.

The Six Finished Dolls - Doll # 1

I want to name them, but I have this notion, an interpretation of Construction - Deconstruction. So it takes a long time to make a doll, even when they are in a batch. The process with the porcelain requires for the dolls to go in the kiln about 7 times, all the while hoping that nothing goes wrong.

Then there is dressing them up, and adding the wig and jewelry, etc. Then I add the backdrop.

So my construction - deconstruction thing is to finally name the dolls really long names and give them funny stories. I also think this stems in the fact that my full name, Valentino is 4 syllables. When I was in school, Valentino was the longest names in school.

Here's something else, I am also adding my last name as if they were my ex-wives. Sorry, but it's a stupid joke, and it's a way to get my name circulating with the dolls. I've never been into naming them normal names. Then I say, in some other reality, I'm sure all this is real. haha. I'm going to say so-and-so is my 938th wife. So I'll assign a random number and just later on catalog which set really was first and so on.

I'll write more on the next entries.

So here's my first of the six. I hope you like them, and share this blog with your friends and kids.

Once again, I'm posting in order to let kids and other internet users use the pics for themselves, like avatars or making non-commercial greeting cards and adding poetry, etc.. This is also the reason for the green screen.