Faceup commission slots currently closed (please read below)! For people already on the list unsure of your waitlist status, just shoot me an email and I'll be happy to confirm with you! Updates/Reminders (PLEASE READ!): 6/2024 - After nearly four years I am acutally nearly ready to reopen the faceup waitlist! Mind you, I haven't just been working all this time on the exact same list, but have staggered in a great many rush orders/trade orders (for which I have been open all this time, as noted both here and on my instagram), as well as getting a full time-ish contract gig and having a baby in the interim, so hopefully that helps explain the length :) I've already updated my prices below; they may seem like a bit of a leap but they're on par with inflation (technically still behind it, actually), and with childcare factored in, I will literally be paying you to paint your head if I charge any less. Anyone waiting on a slot for which I've already given you a price, your slot is still based on that price. Rush orders still apply at 1.5x full price to fold into the front of the line (depending on scheduling), but once I'm open that will hopefully not be needed nearly as much. 10, 20 and 30 head club incentives available! For people who've ordered 10 or more faceups from me, I offer a *free redo* of a faceup I've previously done for them. For people who've ordered 20 or more faceups from me, a free faceup (redo or brand new head)! For 30 or more faceups, I'm offering either another free faceup or a $50 credit for anything on this site (including ship costs, etc.)! Just contact me if interested! More 10, 20 and 30 head club information (including substitutions) to be found in the question-answering section below! Also, I've been a bit sentimental so far, but I'm going to keep removing older entries that don't reflect my current skill level from the faceup gallery as it grows, so that I can keep my portfolio more streamlined and up to date. I hope to keep adding more and more! I still don't have steady enough access to coating materials to offer full body blushing in general, but partial body blushing (torso only, arms only, etc) OR full blushing for a special case (such as a full fantasy doll project, with costs entailed) can be discussed. Services/Prices: Faceup base price (Large, Mini, Tiny sized resin Ball-Joint Doll), head only, including previous faceup removal, UV-cut coating AND eyelashes/eyelash attachment, as well as one or two glued on piercing studs - $150 ($10 discount for open eyed/sleeping heads getting matching faceups, or $5 per head for three or more matching heads) ($10 discount for Fairyland pukipuki faceplates/comparable tiny faces, will evaluate upon request) (Base price will be higher for giant heads (larger than 1/3 scale such as Dollmore Lusion), depending on size Rush Order faceup (please check bottom of page for info/availability) - 1.5x multiplier applied to total price (shipping cost will not be multiplied) Paintover faceup/touchup (without erasing previous faceup; includes reapplication of lashes if possible or new lashes) - $65+ (Please note: I cannot erase portions of sealed blushing or repair blush holes, I must either go over it without erasing or wipe the whole thing.) VERY MINOR touchups such as just a lip reglossing can be done for less than this price, contact me to discuss. Painted eyeballs (for dolls without separate eyes): $20 per eye (tentative introductory price) Color adjusting to help match to off-shade body (for head getting faceup; price for other parts varies. Part to match must be provided; this is ONLY for slight tinting with blushing, full exact color match by airbrush is not available) - $20+ Painted/blushed facial hair (beard/moustache) - $20+ (increases based on complexity; *very* simple facial hair may be included in base price) Face or body part tattoo painting/jewel or metal false piercing application - $5+ (can vary greatly, increases based on complexity; I can provide some types of rhinestones/adornments) Blushing/manicure/coating of hands/feet, including wiping of previous blushing and UV-cut coating (all sizes) - $48 per pair, or $25 for single hand/foot Painted nail color only on hands/feet, not coated - $15 per pair (solid color) Blushing of other body parts (torso/nipples, etc.) - variable, minimum $5 per piece for spray coating Small-scale sanding/repairs (reduction of etchings, slight subtractive mods. MUST BE REQUESTED/DISCUSSED BEFORE SHIPPING) - $10+ (increases based on required labor/complexity, not possible on certain resins such as tan skin) Ear piercing (please read relevant info below) - $7 per hole Unstringing/restring parts - $25+ based on complexity (please note, I am not a tension expert, perfect stability is NOT guaranteed) Removal of hot-glue from eyes - $5 per eye To Apply: send an email to Akiko (valraven at hotmail dot com). I can also be messaged on the Den of Angels boards or Instagram as Tsuminaki, though email is preferred. Please send one brief email per doll, and include your name, type/name of doll, the services you want and any personal preferences you have for them. I will get back to you with availability and price quote, and we can discuss details, wait times and mailing. Examples (Click for closeups): (These are just a few examples; please check the gallery for the fuller portfolio of faceup work.) More examples available in the faceup gallery! Faceup info - Please read before applying! Turnaround- I like to finish faceups quickly once I start on them, and will look for free hours to do them entirely in few sittings, if I can. Turnaround on my faceups is roughly is 1-2 weeks from starting the head to finishing. Within a week after that you should receive your head back (barring slow shipping). Turnaround time does not include time where I have not yet received the head, payment or brief from you; all three must have been submitted and then I will let you know when I'm able to begin. Factors that will affect this turnaround include stopping to photograph unfinished heads for updates, late replies to questions, rain/weather problems and the like. Generally I do not send in-progress pics, but I will send pics for final additive checks right before finishing, or at a certain stage if someone's got a very specific request they're worried about getting correct, if I have a question or problem or if otherwise necessary; it just may take time to coordinate and this must be kept in mind. Shipping- You choose your method of shipping and packaging when you send the head. I will use the same method or closest to it, and the same box if possible, to send the head back (Please pack heads with enough packing so package has no moving parts, enough room for the parts wrapped with face covering added (avoid using decorative inner boxes that don't allow for extra packing material space), and try not to use a lot of packing tape on the inner contents as it renders the packing material unreuseable). The cost of shipping is to be added on to your initial quote, and can be as inexpensive as you feel comfortable with. If you are ordering only a head from a store, you may have it shipped to me instead of your home to save time and money. You may still choose the method I use to send it to you, if it is different from that which the store uses. If nothing will be added to the package weight/size upon return, you may also pre-purchase and include a return shipping label for me if you like instead of adding the cost to the payment (it's awesome when people do this!). Recasts- I am firmly pro-artist and do not wish to work with recast collectors. Please refrain from asking me to do faceups on recasts, and please do not send me recasts to paint under the guise of legitimate heads. I ask for your understanding and respect on this. Payment- I only accept Paypal or concealed cash for payment at this time (Zelle may be a possibility). Payment is due when you receive your quote (and should include return shipping). I will not begin work before I receive agreed upon payment in full. If you change your mind after your head has already been sent to me but before I begin work, I require the full shipping cost to return it, as well as a $10 fee for my time and transportation to the post office. Once I've completed work on your head there are no refunds. Sealant- All faceups are coated fore and aft, and between stages, with Mr. Super Clear, Volks Zoukeimura finishing spray (both UV-cut flat) or Citadel Munitorium Varnish, depending on what works best. faceups can face delay if coating is not in stock (I try to keep an adequate surplus); if you have a NEW and UNOPENED can of any of these materials you're able to send with your head I'm willing to do partial trades, just let me know beforehand. Materials- Faces are Painted/blushed with high quality acrylics, gouache, watercolor pencil, pastels, shimmer powders, glitters and gloss mediums, and work is always done in a smoke-free environment (I do have cats in the home). I will pack heads securely and carefully for the trip back (please include face covers if you have them, to protect glued elements such as eyelashes; I can rig something up but I don't have official ones to provide). Commission Briefs- Any information you can give me as to what you want is greatly appreciated, including directions, color suggestions, moods, themes and pictures. Be as specific as you like. I will not copy a drawing (for a faceup or a tattoo) verbatim if it's from an artist who forbids this manner of use; commissioner is responsible for making sure this is so. Nor will I duplicate an existing faceup from a company or another artist, but I can go for similar looks/palettes/etc. Piercings- Ears are pierced with a pin vise with a 1/16", 3/64" or 1/32" bit, and light sanding where applicable. Often, heads are sculpted with a degree of asymmetry; because of this, some holes may not line up exactly in every way, by natural consequence, though I will do the best I can. Glued on piercings such as noserings/studs can also be discussed. Applied eyelashes- If you request them and do not send your own, eyelashes (purchased myself from various sources) will be chosen from my collection according to what best compliments a faceup. If you want a specific kind, just ask and I'll let you know what I have; I cannot guarantee I will have any particular brand of lash in stock. Stringing/Unstringing- If you are only commissioning work on a head or specific body part, please do not send full dolls/strung parts/unrelated parts (but please DO send the headcaps/headbacks for faceplates unless you're unable to separate from the body). I will charge a minimum fee for unstringing and restringing parts. Other items to include- I would prefer it (but it is not required) if you include eyes and a wig with your head, so I can try to work with their colors and for portfolio shots after completion. If your doll has eyelashes please include a plastic face mask (you can generally obtain these from the companies that sell your dolls) to protect them on the trip back (if you don't have one I will rig something up for you but facemasks are more reliable). NEW: Rush Orders- If you have a specific deadline (an event, vacation, etc. you'd like your doll to be completed before and you think your place on the waitlist will pass it, you can ask for a rush order, in which case you can have your commission done immediately. They'll be folded in one at a time only in order not to compromise other people's wait times too much (so if you have 2 rush heads I will do a regular waitlist head between them), and will be priced at time and a half (ex. $150 instead of $100). This will not affect ship cost (although I'm willing to purchase rush postage as well if you're willing to fund it). - 10-head, 20-head and 30-head Club: Ordering 10 faceups from me gets you a free redo of a head previously painted by me, whether you want a new look for your character or something's been smudged or scratched or whatever. I thought I'd offer this because of the likelihood that my more long term clients have been with me through different levels of skill progression on my part, so I thought this might be a unique way to thank them for sticking with me and perhaps freshen up an older head. :) This redo offer does not count for tattoo commissions, sorry. But, a singular tattoo commission of $100 or higher does count as a faceup for purposes of the count! Dual faceups on open-eyed and sleeping heads do count as two faceups. Please be honorable and use this offer for a head you currently plan to keep, not to add value to a head sale. Ordering 20 faceups from me (not including the free redo faceup) gets you a free faceup for any head, either a redo or a totally new faceup! All I ask is, as with the 10-head redo, please don't abuse my offer and get the faceup solely to add value to parts you have definite plans to sell. Ordering 30 faceups from me (not including any previous freebies) gets you a free faceup for any head (redo or new) *OR* a $50 credit for anything on the Vitta-Vera site (including clothes, wigs, eyes, shipping, sketches, tattoo work, credit towards dolls I'm selling, anything short of actual cash). With 10-head, 20-head and 30-head club freebies, the freebie is for one head only. Lashes and wiping are included, extra tattoo work (including painted eyeballs), hands and such are not included (although you can trade your 10-head freebie for a free basic blushing/nail job for a pair of hands or feet (can be new ones), or you can trade the 20 or 30 head freebies for a free blush job on *2* pairs of hands or feet). Buyer pays all shipping expenses (since the payments are for exact shipping only, Paypal fees must be covered), unless you're purchasing something with your 30-head $50 credit and the credit is sufficient to cover shipping. I will need to work the freebies in with my paid work, so they must be queued up and may take a while for me to get to (all this can be discussed). Any questions about these offers, just ask! - Please refer to the faq for other questions you may have about faceups, or email me if the answer is not there.