Photoshoot Day 4 - Video from NYC

in
 

Day four has come and gone, and so the shoot has concluded. It was a very fun and challenging four days, as well as very inspirational as I learned a lot about what goes into a professional photoshoot. I had a great time working with the photographer Lacey.

The talented film-maker Benjamin Taft is in NYC with us, as he is working on a longterm project of filming a documentary about Enchanted Dolls (!!!!!). The NYC photoshoot will be a part of the film, and as a special treat he has already put together a short teaser video showing a bit of what went down in the studio. Click here to view it on Vimeo.

Photoshoot Day 3

in
 
 

This is how our week has gone, spend the day in the studio, spend the night sightseeing in New York City. It has been such a blur at times, the overwhelming photography sessions followed by wandering around the overwhelming cityscape of NY. Both aspects have been so exciting and inspiring.

 

Photoshoot Day 1

in
 
 

Day one of the photoshoot in New York for Vogue. I'm so jealous of all the studio photography equipment, so many different lights and stands and backdrops and the space, oh so much space. This is going to be so much fun!I'll try to post more behind the scenes photos as we go.

 

Enchanted Doll For Sale

in
 

Salome is up for sale on eBay starting RIGHT NOW! The auction will last for 7 days. Click here for the auction page.

Here's the description from the listing:

Salome is a doll â„–2 in my Rubenesque body type series. I, Marina Bychkova, am the creator of this doll.

1.Sculpted with 18 points of articulation

2.Cast in fine porcelain

3.Painted and blushed with permanent, ceramic china paint

4.Strung up with 11 steel springs

5.Stands 14.5” (37.5cm) tall

6.Enchanted Doll™ Salome is sold with a floral tiara of sterling silver and mother of pearls, 2 magnetic mohair wigs (red and blonde) and a flexible custom stand.  Any other accessories seen in the pictures are for composition only and are not included in the auction.

Like all Enchanted Dollsâ„¢, Salome is built for playing. Leather lines her joints for smooth and even rotation while the unique jointing mechanism allows for a wide range of natural and sensual movements and poses. Her silky porcelain complexion and intricate china-painted features are completely resistant to UV radiation, scratches, cleaning chemicals, moisture, or dirt from extensive handling.

About your Enchanted Dollâ„¢

Due to the remarkable nature of fine porcelain, all Enchanted Dolls share strength and resiliency and require very little maintenance.  However, a reasonable degree of care must be taken in handling any and all porcelain objects gently to prevent impact with hard surfaces, which may result in a fracture. Always use the doll stand for safety and support when standing this doll. Due to the aesthetically small feet in relation to the rest of the body, Enchanted Dolls don’t balance well.

The surface of the doll can be safely washed repeatedly, but it should never be submerged in water so that the spring mechanism stays dry. If the water does get inside the doll don’t let it sit, blow-dry its joints as soon as possible.

Should the doll suffer a fracture in the fingers or extremities through an unfortunate accident, I offer a free repair policy for up to five separate parts (head not included), where the owner is only responsible for the shipping charges. As long as you handle your doll with reasonable gentleness, you are likely to never need my repair services. This doll will be your companion for many years to come.

Please feel free to ask me any questions about this doll or this auction. Thanks for looking and Happy Bidding!

Click here for Salome's auction page

Salome

in ,
 

This composition was put together exclusively for a photograph. These accessories belong to me and will not be included in the auction. The idea came to me spontaneously while shooting the lovely nude Salome. When I momentarily looked away from the camera to stretch my back, my eyesight slid distractedly across some loose doll heads on my desk and then instantly shot back to them, this time focused and alert, as a light bulb went off in my head. I thought: "Ah, but of course. So obvious!

"The lantern crown is the third installment in my ongoing Light Series. I made it as an experiment 2 months ago but didn't have time to make a doll to wear it, so it sat in the drawer as if it was waiting for Salome. I think it works really well aesthetically and contextually, because for all we know, real Salome could have actually performed the traditional Middle Eastern Candelabra dance for King Herod.

It is a very heavy piece, borderline hazardous to the doll unless its center of gravity is perfectly balanced and that's why it's staying in my collection. Having said this, if somebody were just dying to have this piece for their doll to wear on display, I might be able to replicate it again.

Salome's tears were made for the photograph with quick drying jewelery glue. I dripped it on her face and then flaked it off after the shoot. It doesn't bond permanently to porcelain. I'm not sure why I made her cry. Felt right. So did putting electrical wires into the severed (originally John the Baptist's ) head. Make of it whatever you will.

Perhaps my Salome is a specter of the past and the future both, as the history always repeats itself.

Well, there you go folks. The auction starts tomorrow afternoon. See ya there.

 

Golden Slippers-new shoe style for Enchanted Doll

in ,
 

I initially designed this pair of shoes for my Little Red riding hood doll. They are cast in sterling silver and plated with 14k gold. It's a combination of my favorite two styles of shoes: Kitten heels and Mary Janes, and so far, is the simplest, least ornate pair of shoes I've made. I was struggling with a very strong urge to decorate the heck out of them. Minimalism doesn't come naturally to me.

 

The light, shallow design was inspired by a drawing of my favorite artist Sulamith Wulfing. Here is a crop.

This pair fits both, the original foot and the slightly more elongated, Rubenesque foot. Which reminds me to remind you about the upcoming (Aug 23rd) ebay auction of Rubenesque doll â„–2-Salome, who is seen here strutting in a pair of Extravagance stilettos. They also fit a Rubenesque foot.So, do you like the new simple shoes, or are they a bit too plain?

Nude doll on Ebay today!

in
 

Whoever guessed it would be the luscious redhead was right. Allow me to introduce Salome. She is my 2nd Rubenesque doll and she will be available on ebay later today.

Salome is a biblical figure and an icon of tragically dangerous beauty.

 

For two thousand years, Salome’s legendary sensuality has been inspiring generations of artists to depict her likeness on canvas, in sculpture and through poetry, as if guessing it would decipher her true motives. Some believe she was a murderess with an agenda, while others think her nothing but a teenage pawn in somebody else’s game. Her conflicting image is poignant and deeply compelling to our collective imagination.

I believe that our lasting infatuation with the mythical Salome is an expression of an inherent psychological and societal need to combine the beautiful with the grotesque.

More pictures and information about this sale are coming shortly.

 

Another nude for Vogue magazine

in
 
 

This doll has a very different mouth than any other doll I've previously made. It's wide open, with visible little teeth. I'm really happy with the way it turned out, as I think it makes the face a bit more dynamic. But, of course not every doll can pull this expression off. I intend to continue experiments with different degrees of moth expressiveness.

So, could this doll be the one going up for sale next week? Or is it the next one? Or perhaps the previous one?

 

Recent Nudes for Vogue magazine

in
 
 

Over the summer I've been working on 4 new dolls for an upcoming photo shoot for Vogue Japan.

Lolita is one of them, and next week I'll show you the others, one of whom will become available for sale next Sunday, Aug 19th. You'll have to guess which one.

Are you excited?

Mini Face pendant

in
 

I'm attracted to tiny, delicate objects. That's why I wasn't content after I made the first silver face pendant. I loved it, but it just wasn't small enough for my liking, so as a side project, I made a little 'daughter' pendant for my collection. I molded it too, so that if anyone else wants to have this petite face pendant, I could make more. And seeing how it's half the weight of the original, it's also almost half the price at $98.00 CAD. It comes with a crown bail and an adjustable metal ball chain. Email me at inquiries@enchanteddoll.com if you'd like me to make one for you.

 

More Little Red Riding Hood

in ,
 

More pictures, you say? Well, you got it. Enjoy.

 

This cape was designed in the spirit of Art Deco. I definitely had it on my mind when making it, but then again, I always have it on my mind. His work is a part of me. Same with all of my inspirational artists and experiences. It's hard to tell where they end, and my own vision begins.

I wanted to introduce a contemporary, urban element into the cape by adding a front pocket to it. And then negating that, with the decidedly non-urban tassels. I think they kind of clash with each other, but also complete each other somehow. It's an urban couture-art deco-medieval fusion I've got going here.

The basket is made from polymer clay and reinforced on the inside with leather, for extra strength. I decided to upgrade the archetypal peasant basket look to something more refined and elegant, matching the luxurious cloak. Something more along the lines of a couture fashion bag.

I've always wanted to make a tiny little muff. I've got a taste for it with this project. I've come down with the MMMM syndrome; Must. Make. More. Muffs.

 
 

Enchanted Little Red Riding Hood

in ,
 

At 3 years old, I first heard the tale of the Little Red Riding Hood. At 6 years old, I made my first jointed doll. At 10 years old, I promised myself that one day I'd make a beautiful Little Red Hood doll. At 30 years old, I finally made it. It took me 27 years to go full circle. I feel like I've touched the origin of my being.

Do you want more pictures?

The Hybrid Beetle Crown

in
 

I made this guy as an experiment. My lovely Arum is modeling it. This Silver rhino beetle has 8 legs, assembled from 3 different beetle species. The articulated vertebrae tail is detachable. It actually belongs to another project of mine, but I attached it to the bug out of curiosity and loved the look of it. Because, why not?

Echo group shots

in
 

Hey guys!

I am so very touched by your concern for my well-being. Thank you! My family and I are fine. The disaster in Russia hasn't touched us. Thank you for being so alert and concerned.

My absence usually means that I'm simply buried up to my ears in work. I've been so busy with some new projects, that I just realized I never posted any group shots of Echos. Please enjoy them in the meantime.