Human Explorations of Digital Spaces by Alex Robin

Visual artist from LA, California, uses digital technology as her canvas for artistic expression. Delving into the realms of research and futurism, her work seeks to dissolve the division between human and machine. Original Art & Prints @ feelthegood.bigcartel.com

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My Doll Head Got a Makeover!

Scroll down to see the latest sculpt 👇🏾

The first iteration. My goal with Jojo was to open the mouth and experiment with teeth. I didn't want the creepy, ever gazing smile without any context, so I opted for large gap teeth. I personally revere the gap for its sensual and natural essence. I just think it's so cool. I designed her fully hoping, but not at all expecting the design to print well and translate into real life. When I succeeded in printing her the very first time, it was love at first sight.

Now she's back with improved head cap and stringing functionality. The original doll had some issues with stringing and the head cap would not fit seamlessly. So I collaborated with an engineer to fix these issues. The only thing left to do was to make all of my sculpts compatible with this new system. Hence Jojo 2.0 She is softer, more realistic, and takes on a life of her own. The best part is that she looks even better printed, dressed up or down.

view more on my website: alexzandriathegood.com

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The 44th Annual Black Doll Show

I was accepted to the Black Doll Show in Los Angeles!

Sweet Alice, 2024 When I first started my art-making journey, I discovered an open call from the William Grant Still Art Center, "Calls for Dolls" it said. The organization spoke on the historical significance of dolls in African American culture and the unique place they hold in the broader culture in the US. I was pleasantly surprised to find that these objects I "collected" and researched for years online held deeper meaning. I knew immediately that participating in the Annual Doll Show would be one of my most important goals as an artist. But I missed the deadline. I knew it wasn't going to be easy but I still did not grasp just how much dedication and skill it would take for me to realize just ONE doll.

So the next year I missed the deadline again. It was around this time I got serious and started 3d sculpting and printing my own creations. The many leaning curves in this area were doubled once my dolls become physical creations. Now I would have to learn fashion design, fabric types, garment construction, wig making, and so on. The list of things to learn and perfect never seemed to end.

The only way through it was to progress through all my mistakes and accept whatever I ended up with. The deadline was swiftly approaching again. With the help of a Designs by Jude pattern, I was able to assemble this baby blue cotton Alice dress. I used human hair to create a small afro and acrylic ink to paint the deep brown skin color. Better photography would reveal the dimension in her skin color which is not so flat and stark as it appears above. Nonetheless, I made the commitment to myself to submit whatever I had and let the judges say "yes" or "no."

So I did! At a Halloween party I pressed the 'Send' button and locked my phone to exhale. When I checked my phone again, I received a response from the organization complimenting my work. And within a few days I was selected to participate!

Here is an installation view of Sweet Alice in the 44th Annual Black Doll Show.

[alexzandriathegood]

New Feature in Art Publication!

My dolls are going places. This time, my massive 24" creation landed in a UK based publication called These Accents. This feature includes beautiful photographs and a short essay I wrote about the process of dollmaking. I hope you check it out!

These Accents - alexzandria

A scrapbook for unfinished artwork and writing.

Here's a preview

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I launched my art website! My portfolio and more information about my practice can be found there.

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My Doll is in an Art Show!

(Msafiri is) Crash Landing 16", resin

The concept for this doll is that she is an alien arriving to Earth. She's made a very long journey but she is so elegant she even falls with grace. In this promotional photo she's peeking through her large afro made of real hair. Her skin is a glistening, deep brown. Her eye sockets are hollow as an experimental touch. Msafiri is a winner. So far she's been accepted to every show I have applied to. She is so beautiful and I am very proud of her!

[alexzandriathegood]

Jojobas a Real Girl Now!

Like Pinocchio, my creations long to exist beyond files on my laptop and exist in the "real world." I know the metaphor doesn't make perfect sense, but, Jojo is a "real" work of art now. I imagined her with tanned skin and low cut hair but I'm loving the big 'fro too. I'm also digging the hollow eye look in addition to the natural version I 3D printed. Here is what she looked like before printing:

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Makeup Tests with Pan Pastels

I purchased two sets of pan pastels, one with a variety of browns and another with an assortment of primary colors. I wanted to test them on the skin complexions I had. One was more yellow, the second was standard brown, and the third was a very deep brown. The colors were incredibly vivid and required very little for a pronounced effect. However this only applied to the lighter skin tone and light paper/wood I painted on. The brown required a bit more effort and most colors did not appear at all on this skin tone. The deepest brown skin tone hardly benefitted from the Pan Pastel treatment.

{I think a second experiment that includes me building colors in layers, with each layer preserved with a sealant could possibly improve the outcome.} This experiment mirrors what many melanated women experience in the real world with makeup. Some products simply just don't work! It's like applying invisible pigment, or worse the skin looks casket ready. In recent years, a number of brands have prioritized making great products that work across a spectrum of skin tones. I had hoped Pan Pastel would be like Fenty Makeup for my dolls, (especially for the price) but it seems not! Anyways I will keep trying. I'm convinced I can make this work.

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She's the largest doll I've ever made. At 24 inches, she has an incredible weight to her that feels luxurious and very sculptural. Her rich brown skin looks better than ever among all the beautiful flora here. The poses she makes, the fabric, and lighting made me feel so good about bringing this doll into the world. I wanted to cherish this moment, even before adding clothes or hair there is something to appreciate here. This photoshoot inspired me to make a fairy and that is exactly what I will do (when I have more time).

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Introducing "Jojo" my newest face sculpt. After MONTHS of failed attempts (and procrastination), I finally figured out how to split a mesh to create a mouth and put teeth inside. So many google searches and forum posts told me the only answer was retopologizing the mesh, which means creating an entirely new, but simplified mesh in the shape of the one I've already made in order for me to create an opening in the face. I just couldn't accept this and so I started experimenting with masking in Sculpt Mode.

Here's a short pictorial for my future self and anyone interested in trying this out:

First you enter SCULPT MODE and press "B" to start a box selection. Create a box selection in between the top and bottom lip. The selection should include the bottom 3rd of the face.

Now that the area is masked, invert the Masked selection using CTRL + I or Command + I. This keeps the rest of the head safe from any changes as we shape the jawline and chin area. When the mouth opens, it curves backwards rather than moving straight down. If you place your hands on your jaw as you open and close your mouth you'll see what I mean. For this reason, we use reference images and press "G" to grab medium to large sections of the unmasked jaw and chin to push it into place. A subtle, incremental approach is very important during this step.

Now the mouth is open but crowded with meshy nonsense. Clear the inverted mask by pressing ALT + M or OPTION + M. Delicately Smooth the artifacts that may have appeared around the edges of your dissolved mask. Then you can apply a new box selection to protect the rest of the face as you work on the mouth.

Clear out the mouth by using "Crease" to sink the cavity inwards and give shape to the mouth. "Draw Sharp" may also be useful here. Take care to "Smooth" out this area without reintroducing that meshy nonsense.

Then there's the final step!

Add in the teeth! Here I am using a model I downloaded from generous creator on Sketchfab. (View credit below.) I positioned and scaled the mesh as much as I needed to for the look I wanted. As you can see in the first image, I altered the teeth mesh quite a lot for a more dramatic look.

I used "G" or grab to shape the lips around the mouth to match my reference photos. I also used "I" to inflate parts of the lips and "C" to crease the middle of the bottom lip.

Then Voila! I finally found a solution and immediately used it on a separate mesh to create Jojo! You can find the secondary mesh here: "Human teeth" (https://skfb.ly/6xVZO) by Alexander Antipov is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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UPDATED DOLL FACE

MSAFIRI 2.0

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Misa is Cobalt Blue

Msafiri or "Misa" sculpt, painted blue, alpaca fiber wig An impromptu photoshoot had me feeling very sentimental about my journey as an artist, my accomplishments, and on the other hand the rising count of atrocities going on in the world. It has always been my goal to be generous and impactful with my work.

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That's why I opted for dolls over traditional sculpture, so you could not only view it but feel it and transform it into different poses and looks. The potential to bond with a piece of art that you can hold in your arms is unmatched. My intentions behind my work are also why I am always creating with real, lived experiences in mind. While being aesthetically pleasing, dolls can also carry stories and lessons for us all. With time, it's my hope you'll understand exactly what I mean.

[alexzandriathegood]

Two dolls embrace each other

Arcana at 21 inches. Resin.

Misa at 24 inches. Resin.

It is so rewarding to share my creations in their prototypical form. I get to abandon the idea of finalized perfection and allow myself to find joy in the many milestones along the way. Despite their blemishes and scratches, I love them like children. At this moment, I just want to appreciate the shapes and balances that create their beautiful faces and bodies. The space gray gives me the freedom to imagine them as their own personalities before dressing them up as characters.

[alexzandriathegood]

My 16" Ball Jointed Doll Prototype is Made of Dreams

And rainbows and glitter. Spice and everything nice.

My line of crafted ball-jointed dolls, called "Nebulon" are in development!

This video features the Msafiri face sculpt on a standard body with a standard bust. She wears a custom hard cap mini afro wig made from human hair. She is 16 inches.

Nebulon is a fictional planet among the stars. And my dolls are precious little aliens. It's been a long road getting to this prototype and yet there is so much more to do.

[alexzandriathegood]

Cobalt Blue

What do you think of when you see this brilliant color?

Misa is "COBALT BLUE", acrylic ink on resin, 2024.

My mind drifts to the Democratic Republic of Congo. I think incessantly about the human cost of mining cobalt in a so-called "third world country" that powers developed nations all over the world. I think about the richness of the Congo that is usurped and redirected to smartphones, laptops, electric cars, and so many other devices we have to use everyday.

With these devices, I've seen videos of the destitute poverty and cruelty human beings are subjected to in order to further this trade. To me, it is beyond justification and heart breaking. Continually profit and self-interest tramples basic empathy.

This artwork is a message of love to promote awareness of the mines which fuel our lives. When you see this color think of the people building the foundation of our modern society. What is the true cost?

[alexzandriathegood]

The Dolls of Nebulon

Nebulon is a fictional universe I created during a particularly stressful time in my life. I'd dream up different aspects of a planet in some distant galaxy, create Pinterest boards to illustrate the lives of the people there, and spend hours of my free time making art inspired by this fictional place. It started as a daydream to keep me grounded but it took on a life of its own. Over time, this alien world became a mirror to life on Earth.

It allowed me to reinterpret history, human behavior, and the circumstances of my life. I felt so empowered creatively but my mind was seriously all over the place. It was a long road, but, eventually I decided to dedicate my creative energy to making dolls.

These are my little aliens. They take the likeness of humans yet are infinitely capable of telling so many stories real and fictional.

Science fiction is so exciting to me. There are countless opportunities to create the impossible or reimagine realities. To think it all will start with these four women... I can't wait!

[alexzandriathegood]

The supports give the print this cyberpunk vibe. I can also see her as a monolithic object a hundred stories high.

[alexzandriathegood]

Guess Who's Inspired My Doll Face!

Initially, I dreamt faces up from my subconscious mind. Using the general proportions of the human face, I'd intuitively bring an odd character to life. That era was a fun way to help me learn more about anatomy and sculpting by doing, without getting frustrated about realism. For the next chapter of my doll journey, I wanted to create a series of faces that reflect the natural beauty of real women. Arcana is one of them. And her visage is loosely inspired by a face I am completely enamored with.

SCROLL SLOWLY to not spoil the surprise!

Hint: This actor is usually cast in roles which accentuate her silent power. She dominates every scene and easily becomes the focal point of the story. Beyond the obvious, her allure is demonstrated by a piercing gaze and mysterious aura. Here she is before being 3D printed.

OK, time to guess. ....

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DRUMROLL!!!!! ..... .....

Léa Seydoux! Did you guess correctly?? As you can see, it is not a faithful recreation but definitely a work inspired by this beautiful person.