Hobby & Digital Art of Pixel Dolls
Who Are Dollers, and Why Do They Doll?
An explanation of dolling, one of the lesser known digital art forms.
If someone were to tell you that they create dolls, what would be the first thing that came to mind? Odds are you would conjure up the image of the cloth variation of them, the ones that most people have played with or owned at least once in their lifetimes. However, what you might not have known is there is a second variation on the word; there is a digital form of dolls.
What are dolls? How are they created?
Pixel dolls, by definition, are a form of pixel art. They are created by the use of various programs and methods. What sets these dolls apart from the other types of pixel art is the use of a base body, which is described as being akin to a digital Barbie doll. These bases typically lack clothing, hair, and in some cases even faces. The 'doller' pixels the lacking elements onto the base, creating a finished doll by the time they are through. However, there are many dollars that create their work without the use of a base.
Dolls can be a portrayal of just about anything or anybody. There are dolls created of fictional characters, real people, imaginary creatures, and much, much more. Not all dolls are of the humam variety; you can find ones of elves, fairies and mermaids, to list a few other possible species shown.
Who creates these dolls?
Anyone that creates pixel dolls, either as a hobby or otherwise, is called a doller or dollist. There are many sites created solely for dolling by many of these artists, and you can even find web forums where they come together to talk to each other and show off their newest pixel work.
These websites range in topics and themes; Eden Enchanted, for example, has more of a fantasy-based theme and is a child-friendly forum. On the flip side, Corrupted Carousel is a mature forum for dollers. As the title suggests, the theme is a corrupted carnival, and it focuses on more mature dolls.
Another facet of the dolling community is the base makers. These are the people who create the bases used by most dollers. Many dollers fall under both categories of doll maker and base maker; some even go as far as to use their own bases exclusively.
Does this 'community' have rules?
There area few restrictions that most dollars know and abide by. A common one is that no doller or base maker should ever steal another's work. The etiquette behind dolling is, for the most part, simple and easy to abide by. As long as you respect the rules laid down by the individual creators and respect the people themselves, you will get by just fine.
Why should I get involved in dolling?
Dolling can be a fun pastime. Some dollers do it to relax, while others create their dolls for a more artistic purpose. Dolling can be an outlet in many ways, just as other art forms can be. It is a way to convey emotions and ideas. It is possible to meet some new, interesting people in the dolling community, and a good way to make friends too.
