Meet the Artist ~ Anastazia Custom
What is your name?
Anastazia Custom.
Where are you from?
I actually live in Paris, France, but I'm from the countryside on the Atlantic coast, in a very small village called Poiroux (prononced Puaru).
Age?
I'm 32 years old.
How long have you been customizing?
I started in the end of 2013, so it will be since 4 years.
What got you started?
Before starting to customize dolls, I drew. A lot. In fact, I've been drawing since I was a child. But I drew always in black and white and I was fed up doing the same thing. So I looked for a new activity in which I could continue to draw. Then I saw the videos of Nicolle's Dreams. A revelation.
What types of customs do you do?
I customize Monster High dolls in collaboration with a lot of artists for optimum quality.
What sorts of mediums do you use?
A lot of pastels, watercolor pencils, and Posca pens. For wigs, I love to use viscose because that fiber is very soft, but I just discovered nylon, and I am thinking about trying to make wigs with that fiber.
Are there any products you just can’t live without?
Mr. Super Clear of course (laugh). Not a product in particular because everything is replaceable. But as I said, I work a lot in collaboration. The only thing that I can't live without is the relations that I have with the artists who work with me. Some of them became my friends like Haute Plastic (Lovely Woods) and La Petite Clinique des Poupées. We've worked together since we started. A product is material. And you can find it everywhere. The complicity with other artists who have the same passion as you, it's invaluable.
What is your most favorite custom that you have made? It's Automne. I must to send her to her new home, but that breaks my heart.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b7062d_1bb9bc39a72e42899dff7c49ce24787f~mv2_d_1500_2250_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1470,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b7062d_1bb9bc39a72e42899dff7c49ce24787f~mv2_d_1500_2250_s_2.jpg)
What is your least favorite custom that you have made?
I would say Avatar. Not one in particular because I made several, but in general. She's related to problems I had with people who like to gossip. Still. I no longer worry about the opinions of others, but if I had to choose one, it is her.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b7062d_3ed25c6da0ca4e1b86473450b10e5f06~mv2_d_1500_2250_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1470,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/b7062d_3ed25c6da0ca4e1b86473450b10e5f06~mv2_d_1500_2250_s_2.jpg)
A lot of beginners get so frustrated when their customs don't come out the way they want them to, and often compare themselves to their favorite artists and give up. Can you show us your very first custom?
Of course! I was inspired a lot of Nicolle's Dreams customs for the faceup. I didn't know yet how to make a wig but here is the very first doll I customized.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b7062d_c79745b581194d87a6de2ce2772ed339~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_720,h_960,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/b7062d_c79745b581194d87a6de2ce2772ed339~mv2.jpg)
What is your most recent custom? It's the one for the Lolita SWAP ;) Because I cannot share, here is my most recent custom on instagram.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b7062d_e67c661cc2c54149aae4e2c9f0a52213~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_564,h_705,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/b7062d_e67c661cc2c54149aae4e2c9f0a52213~mv2.jpg)
What is the worst injury you’ve had from working on customs?
The nerve of my wrist gets stuck quite often. I am henceforth obliged to do through a friend to remove the hair from my Monster High dolls, because otherwise, I may have to put my medical wrist strap again. When you have a full time job, it's not a good thing to not be able to work because your hobby.
Who/What inspires you?
I'm lucky to have an overflowing imagination.
What projects are you currently working on?
I'm working on the dolls for the convention at Paris in next January. I will have a stand, and I hope that I could make 30 dolls for sale.
Do you have any odd habits while working on customs?
I speak to myself (laugh).
What types of art do you enjoy?
I really love BJD and original sculptures.
Do you take commissions?
Yes I do, but I have so much work to do, so my deadlines can be very long (approximately 6 months).
Where can people see your work and contact you?
FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/Anastaziacustom INSTAGRAM : https://www.instagram.com/anastaziacustom PATREON : https://www.patreon.com/anastaziacustom EMAIL : Anastaziacustom@hotmail.com
Any advice for people just starting out?
Never give up, even if you are persuaded to never succed. Gifted people do not exist, success comes with practice.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b7062d_b46f799bf51249c79f31ec2cfb38860c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_564,h_564,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/b7062d_b46f799bf51249c79f31ec2cfb38860c~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b7062d_39338cc914ac4fa28f2e4c8c5021d543~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_564,h_564,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/b7062d_39338cc914ac4fa28f2e4c8c5021d543~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b7062d_b91baed0d87043c384cb84ecada4bf4d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_564,h_564,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/b7062d_b91baed0d87043c384cb84ecada4bf4d~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b7062d_3c548c13f92c442da5f481654ddeccc4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_564,h_564,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/b7062d_3c548c13f92c442da5f481654ddeccc4~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b7062d_8a032a1cbda8450fad8ca10db709c6f4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_564,h_564,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/b7062d_8a032a1cbda8450fad8ca10db709c6f4~mv2.jpg)