~*~*~*~Becoming Tori!~*~*~*~
Documenting the metamorphosis of a Vitamin C doll into a Tori Amos portrait doll: Vitamin T Tori! brought to you by Minxworks... (but only when she has to) Send comments to: minxkely@xnet.com click on any picture to see the full size image.
I had long thought the Vitamin C doll had the perfect facial structure for a Tori Amos face, and when a yahoo doll club I am in decided to do a musician swap this was the perfect opportunity. I both gave and received a Tori doll and this is the one I made to give. The one I received is equally as lovely and I was very pleased.
First I did preliminary facial changes, sanded the upper cheeks slightly, put a cleft into the lower lip and emphasized it with a few layers of paint. A soft flesh tone eyeshadow base laid the foundation for a languid look to the eyes. Then I used a low tack tape to completely cover the head up to the hairline so I could start the haircolor process.
The straight thin lemony yellow hair of Vitamin C had to become kinked and bright red with wavy highlights and a wild look. The first step was changing the color and texture.
It took 2-3 applications of bright red acrylic paints into the hair. I chose alternating shades of apple red and a slightly deeper rose red. I first combed the paint onto the hair, let it dry in front of a fan, then rinsed under cold water using my fingers to remove 50-60 % of the paint. After letting it thoroughly dry, the next application involved rubbing the paint onto each gathered strand and twisting it, almost as if making dreadlocks. I secured these twists with wire (the ones used in barbie boxes). In the left picture above you can still see yellow highlights showing thru. Again, let dry then rinse and then air dry.
After the final color application, very little yellow showed through, but a lighter pink orange was in the understrands with darker strands around the face for the most dramatic effect. Now it was time to change the hair shape.
The previous handtwisting had given some wave, but a tighter curl was needed so each bunch of strands was wrapped around a wire and the ends bent up to hold them in place. A quick boil perm, then cold set finished the part of her perm.
Her perm was a little TOO successful as we now had Toriororrianna Danna. Also the curls were too crisp,not frizzy/frazzled enough. So, without rewrapping them on wires, I took white stretch cotton and secured it around her head, wrapping the curly strands close to the scalp and closely around her neck. The water was hotter than before and I held the head in a little longer, but the second perm had the effect I needed, reducing volume, increasing the frizz factor, and leaving several very cute curl tendrils to frame her forehead.
Now it was time for Tori to take things in hand! As an avid piano player she simply HAD to have properly positioned hands. With several dips into almost boiling water, her forearms were turned and her hands shaped to form piano playing positions.
All that remained then was repainting the eyes, giving the lips many more coats for fullness, accentuating the cleft in her lower lip, and then playing with her hair to take gazillions of fun photos before I had to send her off to her new home!
See the finished Vitamin T Tori doll as it was sent to Stephanie. See the Under the Pink Tori doll Stephanie made for me! If you are very lucky sometimes, as you craft a doll she seems to come alive, and this was one of those times. I found myself playing with her as I snapped pictures, and each picture I took gave me ideas for a dozen more. See my fun artsy fartsy poses with Tori for Imaginary Album Covers. Check out my 2nd Childhood Website with pages for Lego, Barbie, and Fun fun fun! See my Favorite Ooak dolls from my collection Visit my Minxworks Miniature Custom Creations Visit my Minxworks Custom Creations