Doll Bases - Roareye Black.

When we consider disciplines within Pixel Art, one core subject that springs to mind is how original or unique that discipline is in comparison to others, as well as how far said discipline can extend. Two good variations of disciplines would be Realism and Minimalism, both approaching the same tools in very different fashions.
However much this is the norm, not all disciplines have to be so far removed from another artform or be as unique as possible. A good example of a discipline that accepts, rather than repels, variants on the artform is Doll Basing.



Doll Basing can be as realistic as you like, as Minimalist as you like, or as abstract. The concept behind it is one of ease, the majority being more editting based rather than creating original artworks.
Because it's main usage is usually within the artistic fields of editting, some have denounced it's ability to be considered an artform in itself, likening it to a beginner's insight into 'real' pixel art. Not only is this view quite shallow but it is also without any open-mindedness. In truth, editting of sorts around a recognised base is one that is utilised in artistic industries through and through, with the perception of meaning behind repetition becoming a widely accepted area of contemporary artwork.
A Doll Base Edittor's art will not have major variation in it's basic modelling, however the repetition can be used to create a meaning within itself, as seen in the one colour contemporary wall hangings of the 2000's.



There is another use of Doll Base editting less akin to traditional artwork, and more akin to design. During a design process, an artist (Conceptual or Technical) will use a template which they will copy and transfer new designs onto. This way they can more accurately portray the different concepts without changing any design angle. Since Doll Work focusses mainly on the human form, it'd design relation would be closer to that of Fashion Design. Indeed, many Doll artists use their dolls to convey different fashion designs.
However the idea of conceptually similar characters with clothing and hairstyle differences isn't one that is new to any art industry. In fact it has it's roots in Eastern artwork, in the style of manga artwork. Alot of Doll Bases are built around the manga look, because the same repetition is applied. Apart from minor eye detail, hairstyles and clothing Manga and Anime characters are usually the exact same build repeated over and over. Again, some manga artists do strive to push their characters away from the same 50 years of design, maybe even viewing it as stale, however in the majority the artwork is relatively static.



This doesn't mean that Doll Basing must consist of repetition, manga influence and fashion design uses. Doll making can evolve into wherever the artist wishes to take it. This is where Doll Building comes along, it's like taking the art up to another level. Rather than editting other people's work, you instead become the innovator with your own doll bases for others to edit. Those who create their own doll bases normally take their influence from the dolls they used to edit, however they can use any of the other Disciplines to achieve whatever they are trying to express.
Doll Bases are technically not a different artstyle from any others, in fact they borrow a bit of everything. However Doll Basing is an artform with a large following of people who take their influences and add their own spin on the artform, as any artist does in any discipline. For this reason, the artwork must be considered a Discipline in itself creating a Discipline than borrows and merges rather than one which alienates other Disciplines' art processes.



All Doll Base artwork is copyright to Jaeden "The Mistress" D'Alure, and was taken with express permission from her Doll Base art and tutorial site Autumn Pixels.
Thank you Jaeden for the opportunity to showcase your fabulous artwork.