Meet the Artist ~ Michaela Grant
- Shannon Andrews
- Oct 31, 2017
- 3 min read
What is your name? Michaela Grant but most people call me Kayla. Where are you from? UK Age? 32 How long have you been customizing? Nearly 2 years. What got you started? I studied art at high school and collage, then got a job in fashion retail so creating things took a bit of a back seat, though i did occasionally paint or draw. A few years later I gave birth to my son, went back to work from my maternity leave for a few weeks before the shop I worked at was closed down. It seemed like a good time to really get back in to creating things, as I was in a position where I had to be picky about the hours I worked at a job (looking after a child and hose is a pretty demanding job in itself and child care is pricey), so i opened an Instagram account, started making any thing I felt like and following different artists. After a couple of months I found some people creating beautiful ooak monster high dolls and decided I wanted to try it. I've been working on dolls ever since. What types of customs do you do? One of a kind Monster High dolls. Though I do keep thinking about branching out in to other dolls like the My Little Pony Equestria girls
and bjd's.
What sorts of mediums do you use? Watercolour pencils, pastels, acrylic paints, yarns, doll hair- usually nylon, fabrics (cotton, net, ribbons, etc). Are there any products you just can’t live without? Mr Super Clear matt sealant, it's easily the best sealant and I couldn't work on a face-up without it. Also, of course, a good respirator so I can safely use the sealant.
What is your most favorite custom that you have made?
What is your least favorite custom that you have made?
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?
Its pretty bad, I used acrylic paints and gloss varnish for the face...I wanted to see I liked working on a 3D serface.
What is your most recent custom? A Spectra MH doll that I've customeid as gift for a friend. I've made her in to a 'Ms Joker', she's been a lot of fun to work on.
What is the worst injury you’ve had from working on customs? The first time I tried rerooting I got a metal splinter from a rerooting needle, which put me off rerooting for a few months. Who/What inspires you?
I find most art inspiring, it all gives me the 'I want to be creating' feeling.
What projects are you currently working on? I'm working on: - A doll for the seasons/holidays swap. - Two dolls that will be Christmas gifts. - A Spectra doll from the Haunted line (she has pearly skin), she going to have a yarn mohawk reroot, jewels on her head. Plus I have four other dolls that I've rerooted, waiting for new faces and clothes. Do you have any odd habits while working on customs? I keep a lot of my tools or things I'm working on in mugs, I'm not sure if that's odd or just lazy. What types of art do you enjoy?
I enjoy most types of art, at the moment I love seeing couture fashion, seeing people sew for dolls of all sizes and seeing people sculpting or modding bjd's.
Do you take commissions? Very occasionally. Most of the time I prefer to create dolls as I want them to look. Where can people see your work and contact you? Instagram: @_kayla_jayne Etsy: AlfieKJayne Do you have any favorite tips or tricks? I like to build up layers of shading on a face, it makes it more interesting.
Any advice for people just starting out? Practice, it really helps! Also enjoy what you do, working on any kind of art project should be fun, not a chore.
