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Hand sculpting OOAK Art Dolls vs Using a Doll Mold

I wanted to take a few minutes and talk about my little Mermaid doll. She is an OOAK (one of a kind), but I did use a mold I bought from a craft store to get her proportions. She is not a doll that I will ever sell, so I used the mold to help me sculpt her.

At the time I created her, I was just learning to sculpt art dolls. The original doll mold actually has legs, but, as you can see, I made those legs into a mermaid tail. I also used a straw to carve “fish scales” into the tail. I painted her with acrylic craft paints.

Her face and head were completely hand sculpted by me. I did not use the head provided in the mold. Of course, her face is a little flat, but I still love her.

Why am I sharing this? Because if you are just beginning to make your own art dolls, do not feel that you cannot use a mold. Many times I see the words, “OOAK Art Doll. No molds were used in the making of this doll and no molds were taken.” Or some similar statement.

Do I believe that you should not use molds in your art doll making? Absolutely not. Go ahead and use them. It’s a great way to learn proportion and sculpting. It is also a great way to make a doll quickly. 

But here’s the kicker: If you want to sell OOAK dolls, the doll must be completely handsculpted by you. Also you should not make molds of that doll. Eventually you may want to sell your dolls, and OOAK dolls are the ones doll collectors value highly. 

Doll artists can also choose to make a series. Mainly, as I understand it, an artist molds a handsculpted doll and creates replicas in a limited number. Once that number is made, the molds are destroyed. Limiting the number creates demand, therefore making each doll in the series more valuable than a doll molded from a commercially made mold. 

Selling dolls that are someone else’s design/sculpt and calling it your own is not only dishonest, it’s illegal. I cannot say that you would not be able to sell a doll that you made from a purchased mold, you can. But always be sure to give credit to the original artist. Like this, “This doll was created using a mold purchased by such and such artist.” Many people resale dolls that are from a kit or even from molds created for doll artists to use. Many people buy plaster molds to make porcelain dolls. As long as the sculptor is given credit, have fun and make lots of dolls!

Commercial molds allow a hobbyist to make dolls without needing to sculpt the doll or create the molds for production. Many doll makers choose this route. Even this type of doll making takes time to learn the skills needed to produce a beautiful doll.

Once you have traveled down your doll making journey, you may decide that creating dolls from another person’s sculpt is not fulfilling. Choosing to sculpt your own doll may become an obsession. I know it has become one for me.

If you are not interested in learning to sculpt, crafting a doll using a press mold may be the right choice for you. I have seen tutorials using press molds with polymer clay on the internet. I do believe you will need patience and practice to make a doll this way. If you look online, you can find press molds from different artists who create gorgeous art dolls. I believe they can be very useful for a doll artist or hobbyist to use.

Whether you choose to handsculpt your own work of art, or you choose to use a commercially created doll mold, I hope you have a great experience and get rewarded with a wonderful doll of your own.

Happy doll making!

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