Q: I want to start with some background information on you. Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
A: I was born and raised in a small town in western Poland. Since my early childhood, I loved playing with dolls of every kind. Over time I had more and more of them. I remember my first ragdoll – Iza. She was my friend since I was only a half-year-old, and in fact, she’s still with me to this day, sitting on the shelf, not really in a perfect condition after 26 years to be honest.
Since I was a child, I showed also good manual skills and artistic ambitions, so my parents supported me. Thanks to them I could attend a couple of art courses. There I discovered the basics of drawing, painting and graphic techniques.
At this time I was presenting my works in online galleries like Deviantart. There I came across the first BJD pictures I’d ever seen, and I immediately knew this is something for me! I started to dig in online forums and websites in search of all the information about this hobby – and I was lost! I really wanted to have such a doll, but for a teenager in high school, it was very difficult to save up so much money. After some time I gathered an accurate amount from my scholarship award and money I got for my birthday, and I bought my first doll – an MSD-sized DollZone. Then it began. I was learning everything about dolls, and I started to practice face-ups.
After high school, I decided to apply for art studies. I chose a Set and Costume Design degree course at the University of Fine Arts in Poznań. I graduated and still I live here. Meanwhile, I used to work in theaters and in film production as a costume designer and stylist. I also completed a stage makeup course, but most of this time I was also painting dolls. I made fair progress in my skills and style from my high school days to this present moment. I know this is something I really want to do, so now it’s now my regular job. I hope I can offer even more to the doll community someday.
Q: When did you open your face-up business?
A: I started practicing face-ups around 2008-2009 I think, but I opened my business more officially in 2010.
Q: What materials do you use for face-ups?
A: I use only high quality materials that worked for me for many years also in traditional arts. I paint with watercolors and watercolor pencils, sometimes I use acrylics, but not too often. I prefer lighter paints in my work. Of course I have a big collection of soft pastels of different brands. I like the ones from Zoukei Mura, they have really good colors for faceups. But my absolute favourites are from Sennelier so far. I have also a drawer with some special effects, for example Zoukei mura shimmers in different colors, and some decorations used in nail art like little beads and powders. Of course I use the classic sealant – Mr.Super Clear flat and Mr.Hobby clear gloss paint. I like the water-based one so I can thin it easily and achieve semi-gloss or a satin effect. I have a wide range of various eyelashes for dolls, so after painting I may offer a choice from my supply if the client doesn’t provide their own.
Q: Did learning about make-up for the stage influence your face-up style?
A: Yes, for sure. Even though I was using completely different materials, which couldn’t work with dolls, I’ve learned about some basic makeup styles that could actually be applied for dolls as well – like rococo or beau makeup. I’ve learned how to paint the face to make it look older – that was really cool because it required working with facial anatomy. Our teacher showed us also some special tricks that are used by makeup artists in theaters, there were some used while applying fake eyelashes, so of course, I’m using them in my dolly work now.
Q: Are there any other things that you think have influenced your face-painting style?
A: I think that many things influence my painting style, some things may even be unconscious, and that’s really exciting when I think about it this way! Actually, my style is heading toward realism, I really love to paint faces as they are without makeup. I love to observe people’s faces and all the colors and shades on their skin. I really see a lot of them, that’s the greatest inspiration for me. Of course, I have some favourite artists that I follow here and there. They’re painters, special effects artists, other faceup artists of course, doll makers, photographers, fashion designers.. the inspiration is everywhere. I can’t really recall one thing that has influenced my style, there are too many such things.
Q: Do you just paint face-ups? Do you offer anybody blushing, tattoos or any other aesthetics?
A: I offer all kinds of these services for dolls. I do body blushing and tattoos from time to time. I also offer my help with modifications and repairs, if someone needs that. In my workshop dolls may get overall refreshment.
Q: Do you work on all sizes of dolls?
A: Yes, I work on all sizes and try to keep my work as detailed as is possible.
Q: What do you like best about being a face-up artist?
A: I like working alone in my private workspace without anyone interfering, this is really my kind of work-style. I have my own world, my workshop is my kingdom – that’s the best about it!
Also, I have to admit I love the fact I can listen to music or audiobooks while working. Sometimes I watch movies or tv series. Maybe ‘watching’ is a strong word in this case, because my eyes are focused on my work, but sometimes I like to listen to some interesting plot, I don’t choose anything too ambitious though, because I wouldn’t want to miss the pictures of a good film.
The other thing I guess I like about being a doll faceup artist is the fact this is an unusual occupation, however, sometimes I feel awkward trying to explain what I’m actually doing to people from outside of the hobby.
Q: What was your most challenging project? What was the most fun? What was the strangest project?
A: Yeah, I remember that the most challenging project I agreed to sand the whole doll body after the owner tried to dye it to a different color, not quite successfully. This dye penetrated the resin well, so that was a lot of hard work, and I was doing it for a long time, regretting it many times.. But I finished it and the owner was very happy with the effect, so I was happy I could help someone. Anyway, no more whole body sanding in the future!
The strangest project.. I have in mind a faceup and modification I made couple years ago. I was asked to close one eye of the doll to sleepy eye, the other was open. The eyeshadow was different on each eye, there were no eyebrows and I was asked to paint a little anchor tattoo on the forehead. I assume this doll must have been some specific character, maybe even a popular one, but I don’t know more about it to this day.
If it comes to fun.. I liked to paint dolls to resemble some fictional characters, I remember I painted Daenerys Targaryen some years ago and Iorweth from The Witcher story. For Iorweth I was also doing a big scar through his face, that was fun! But actually, I find fun in painting every doll, especially with realistic style.
Q: Do you have anything that I didn’t ask about that you would like to add?
A: Maybe I would add information that besides personal commissions for owners, I also paint for doll company Do Dolls Dream. This was new and very different experience for me to paint a batch of dolls exactly the same for the first time, but I easily got used to such work mode, and I’m very happy to offer my services to Małgorzata, the company founder. I really like working with her, we understand each other well and became friends.
Also, I’m working on my own website finally! I want to create a special space to present my artwork. So if anyone would be interested in visiting and exploring my website in the future, I would invite them to follow my profiles in social media – Facebook or Instagram. I would certainly inform there when it’s ready.
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulifaceupstudio/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pauli.faceup.studio/
or contact the artist by email: at paulifaceupstudio@yahoo.com
Pauli is the face-up artist for dolls by Do Dolls Dream
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