Mythical Masterpieces
Updated: Jul 11, 2024
One of a Kind Fantasy Dolls by Zer0sD0lls
This June for 🌈 Pride Month, I wanted to show my lovely FairyFindr Fam some talented LGBTQ+ folks to watch (++ buy from instead of corporations). Today’s Pride Month Artist Spotlight post is highlighting my online friend from the Instagram doll community, Zer0sD0lls / Ryan. He makes really interesting and unique customized fantasy dolls and each one is captivating in its own way. He's seriously one of the sweetest and most down to earth online friends I've ever had the pleasure of getting to know. He's always made doll customization seem so approachable for everyone, which I really appreciate about him. I have actually been following him since pretty close to the start of my own doll customization journey, ( @MarvelousMagicalMiniatures ) which has been a little over 2 years now, and to watch his art and One Of A Kind OOAK dolls grow and transform over the years has been truly special, as another doll and miniature lover. So join along, FairyFindrs, on another enchanting journey as we explore the life and art of Zer0sD0lls and dive into his inspiration and love of fairy tales, folklore, and magic!
(Image: Ryan Aka Zer0sD0lls with the Chucky Monster High doll!)
Hello Ryan, thank you for joining us today! Please start off with your name, pronouns, how you identify on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, where you’re from, and a bit about yourself as an artist. Also include any contact info, social links, and websites you want to include here.
Answer: Hi! My Name is Ryan and my pronouns are He/Him and I identify as gay! I am currently living in New York! I like to consider my art style kinda like Pixar movie animations- cartoonish eyes and facial feature with realistic elements! I’m @Zer0sD0lls ( the o’s are zeros ) on Instagram, TikTok, and I will be back on YouTube hopefully later on this year!
Werewolf Dolls
(Werewolf Dolls by Zer0sD0lls)
Can you tell us a bit about your fantasy dolls and how you got started in the world of doll customization? Did you start off with human dolls or was it always fantasy dolls from the start?
Answer: It all pretty much starts with the brand Monster High, which is the dolls I use to create my customs! I was inspired by Monster High's take on creating fantasy dolls. For example their werewolf girl, Clawdeen Wolf from Monster High, has wolf ears and wolf teeth but human features! I sometimes follow the rules of Monster High's character creations but other times branch off to my own ideas! I wanna say 2014 is when I gave my first crack at customizing a doll! I was inspired by MyFroggyStuff's MyLittlePony Monster High customs! Of course, the dolls I made were really bad lol!
(See image below LOL)
Since the beginning I always imagined them being in the same universe as Monster High, so fantasy from the start! It wasn’t until I started getting better, a lot later down the line, where I started making humans!
(Gerard Greytail the Werewolf by Zer0sD0lls)
What inspired you to combine your love of mythical and fantasy creatures with doll customization?
Answer: I’m sorry to sound like a broken record but Monster High! It’s fun making fantasy characters especially when customizing! You get to do more wild and wacky things and still have it make sense!
(Zoey Greytail the Werewolf by Zer0sDolls)
When did your interest in fantasy and folklore begin, and how has it influenced your art creations throughout your lifetime?
Answer: Hmm, that’s a pretty difficult one-- I think honestly since day 1! I’ve always been more drawn to fantasy because of how unique and different it is. It has influenced a lot of my doll creations!
(Sidney the Werewolf by Zer0sD0lls)
What would you say to someone who thinks dolls / fairy tales aren’t for boys or men? How do you teach others to challenge gender norms and expectations through sharing your love of your hobby with strangers? Have you ever had an experience where another man or boy challenged your hobby but you ended up changing their mind in the end?
Answer: I think I would say that’s simply incorrect. Regardless of your gender, you should be able to enjoy whatever it may be, as long as it doesn’t hurt others! I, thankfully, have not had any men criticize my hobby to where I would have to have a conversation like that with them. I did have insecurities when I was younger about my interests because of gender norms, but over the years I’ve gotten very comfortable and happy with my interests and strive to make others feel the same way!
(Omid the Werewolf by Zer0D0lls)
Can you recall a specific moment or experience that sparked your passion for mythical and fantasy characters?
Answer: Since a young age, I was always fascinated with mythical and fantasy characters because they are always way more interesting then humans! Lol!
(Enzo the Werewolf by Zer0sD0lls)
What draws you to the world of dolls and miniatures as a means of expressing your creativity?
Answer: There’s no rules and endless opportunities! You can use the same base doll multiple times but you can always make them look vastly different from each other. One thing I really love to do with my customs is show my love for tattoos and piercings- another art form in very fond of!
(Blair Greytail the Werewolf by Zer0sD0lls)
Have you always been interested in customizing dolls, or is it something you discovered later on as an adult? What motivated or inspired you to start customizing dolls?
Answer: Before I started getting Monster High dolls, I never really thought about customizing my dolls! When I was about 10 and got into Monster High dolls is when I discovered doll customization videos, mainly MyFroggyStuff! It wasn’t something I was very passionate in until 2016/2017. I made a friend named RoyalChubness on Instagram, and they really pushed me to pursue doll customizing after giving up on it! They are one of my biggest doll customization inspirations!
Demon Dolls
(Demon Dolls by Zer0sD0lls)
Are there any specific mythical or fantasy creature(s) that have captured your imagination more than others? If so, which one(s) and why?
Answer: I really enjoy making werewolves and demons! I feel like the ears and teeth on werewolf dolls are so much fun to make! For demons, I really enjoy coming up with a backstory for them! I imagine in my doll universe, when they have pink eyes, it’s a sign that they are a demon. For the gruesome looking demon, Lillith, I imagine she’s a very powerful one that has consumed a lot of human souls!
(Lilith The Demon by Zer0sD0lls)
How do you approach the process of transforming a regular doll into a unique fantasy character? Can you walk us through your creative process? Be as vague or descriptive as you feel like being.
Answer: It’s kinda weird how the process begins for me! Normally I have an idea prior, if I’m making a fantasy character, but other times they just fall into the fantasy category. I normally start off with the face and hair design to block off the colors and then when the actually customization process begins I decide on fantasy character features, like wolf ears or demon horns! I try to plan out my designs prior but sometimes I let my creativity flow and come up with things on the spot! For wolf ears sometimes I’ll use ears from Monster High dolls that have them or I’ll sculpt them using Apoxie Sculpt.
(Lacey the Demon by Zer0sD0lls)
Do you play with your dolls or just display them?
Answer: I don’t play with them anymore. I used to, with my sister, a long time ago! Currently, I display them and also photograph them quite a lot! On rare occasions, I also do stop motion!
(Damon Hearts The Love Demon By Zer0sD0lls)
What challenges do you face when creating custom dolls inspired by fantasy characters, and how do you overcome them? Have you ever messed up a doll so bad you didn’t think it was salvageable? If so, what happened?
Answer: Color matching doll bodies has been one of my biggest struggles in doll customization! Some characters require it especially fantasy ones. I like to when I can use different types of doll bodies to add more diversity to my cast of dolls! The one werewolf doll I created, Gerard, got to the point of needing to be redone. I used an Ever After High head and an off-brand doll body! The body was a couple shades lighter then the head and I tried color matching -- it was a disaster to say the least. I genuinely thought he was done for and that there was no way I could fix him. I ended up stepping back from the project for awhile and returned. I had to sand the body down and start from scratch! It all worked out in the end because, now, I absolutely love him!
(Gerard's Big Makeover Diaster!)
Do you have a favorite doll creation that holds a special place in your heart? If so, could you share the story behind it?
Answer: My favorite changes by the week! There is one doll that holds a special place in my heart because of how difficult it was for me to make them. Their name is Mason Archer Finley! I really wanted to attempt making a human doll using Monster High’s sea monster, Gil Webber. When I started making the concept of the character, I decided I want to make them non-binary. Specifically a masculine non-binary presenting person. I have a friend who is non-binary & masc presenting, and I wanted them to feel seen since there’s not a lot of masculine presenting characters out there. I let my friend name them as well! I’m also just super proud of how they came out, because like I said above, color matching is a very difficult task and I pulled it off pretty well with them! Super duper proud of this custom!
(Monster to Human Transformation: Mason Archer Finley by Zer0sD0lls)
How do you select the materials and colors for each custom doll to accurately represent the essence of the fantasy creature it portrays? Do you make custom clothes or upcycle old doll clothes?
Answer: It depends on what the character is! For example werewolves, I try to use already existing wolf ears from other dolls. I’ll either paint them or put fur on them. Some instances, though, I do have to sculpt brand new ones! For demons I also sculpt the horns, if they have, with apoxie sculpt! As far as colors I normally have a general idea in my brain as to what colors I wanna use for the character. I then go into a app called Portrait Maker and essentially create the character in the app just to see all the colors and what not together before I proceed with the actual custom doll. Sometimes things change in the process of making the doll! As far as upcycling, I do try to reuse a lot of old items-- mainly old jewelry I love to use to give my custom dolls bracelets, earrings, necklaces, etc!
(Max the Demon By Zer0sD0lls)
Are there any specific tools, products, or techniques that you find particularly useful in the customization process? Tell us about them.
Answer: Thin paint brushes are an essential to get thin lines with paint. Another very useful item is a kneaded eraser. It helps to shape chalk pastel when you accidentally add too much (used for face-ups and body blushing on doll customs)!
(Grayson the Demon by Zer0sD0lls)
How do you ensure that each custom doll conveys the desired personality and spirit of the mythical or fantasy creature it represents? What is your favorite way to convey personality in your dolls?
Answer: I like to use a lot of unnatural colors in the designs! A majority of my customs all have unnatural hair or eye colors. As far as personality, I think it’s mainly all in the brows! If I wanna make a sassy character I try to draw the eyebrows going upwards at the tail and give them a slightly slanted eye! For sweet characters, I bring down the brows closer to the eyes.
Ghost Dolls
(Ghost dolls by Zer0sD0lls)
What kind of emotions or reactions do you hope to evoke in people when they see your custom dolls?
Answer: Although my characters are sometimes mythical fantasy creatures, I still try to bring diversity to them by making them from all different backgrounds, genders, and sexualities, etc. I hope when people see my dolls, that they can see a bit of themselves in them and resonate with them! I hope that they make people happy!
(Yasmine the Ghost by Zer0sD0lls)
Are there any specific doll customization projects or collaborations that you dream of undertaking in the future?
Answer: I would love to be a part of a collab revolving around alternative fashion! Dyed hair, piercings, tattoos, baggy pants with straps, big boots! It’s personally one of my favorite aesthetics and I’d love to see a lot of artists takes on the style! I would also love to be in a collab for horror characters!
(Jahan the Ghost by Zer0sD0lls)
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in starting their own journey in custom doll creation, particularly in the realm of fantasy characters?
Answer: In all honesty it’s a tricky hobby to get into at first but never give up! Remember, you can always wipe the doll clean and start new! Be patient, and give yourself credit when it’s due! It took me 3 years to finally like the dolls I was making! I couldn’t even imagine being where I am, currently, with my dolls. For making fantasy characters, just have fun with it! Use whacky colors, go crazy! The more you let yourself be creative, the more fun you will have and the doll will be amazing!
(Daisy the Ghost by Zer0sDolls)
How do you stay motivated and inspired to keep creating new and unique custom dolls in the midst of challenges or creative blocks?
Answer: That’s definitely a tricky tricky thing! I feel like I get bursts every so often to create a bunch of dolls then feel pooped out for a bit after. Watching other dolls customizers create inspires me a lot when I get into those burnout funks! Another big thing is music! I can’t tell you how many times a specific song will inspire me to create a doll! For example, the song "Ghost" by Krewella was the main inspiration behind my dolls Yasmine and Jahan! Their names are also inspired by the 2 artists behind that song!
Random Mythical Creatures
(Miscellaneous Mythical Characters by Zer0sD0lls)
(Image Top: Throck the Gay Blue Orc Warrior by Zer0sDolls)
(Image Bottom: Lapin the Winter Bunny Girl by Zer0sDolls)
Have you ever had any interesting encounters or interactions with fellow doll enthusiasts or collectors who share your passion for fantasy characters?
Answer: Yes! multiple! I’ve been in 2 doll collabs to create mythical characters. One being a Gay Blue Orc Warrior and the other being a Winter Bunny girl (pictured)!
Have you ever received any heartwarming or memorable feedback from someone who connected deeply with one of your custom dolls? If so, could you share that experience?
Answer: Yes, a couple times, actually! One of them being my friend who I mentioned before about my Non-Binary character, Mason. One that comes to mind is my werewolf character Enzo. There’s not a lot of male dolls out there, let alone with vitiligo. A podcast reached out to me about him because they were so blown away by seeing a male doll with vitiligo and that moment right there made me feel so happy and proud that they were so happy to see him!
(Enzo the Werewolf once again because we love him! Customized by Zer0sD0lls)
What role do you see your custom doll creations playing in the larger world of fantasy and mythology enthusiasts?
Answer: I hope my dolls show that there’s room for everyone to be represented in the fantasy mythology world, regardless their race, sexuality or gender! No one should ever be excluded from something for being different!
(#MerMay Mermaid Custom Doll made in May 2023 by Zer0sD0lls)
Are there any upcoming art projects, fantasy dolls, or collections that you're currently working on or planning for the near future?
Answer: Yes, actually! I have a new werewolf character planned! She will be very punk-heavy! Her main color scheme is neon green and will have neon green braids and green graphic eyeliner to match! I can’t wait to get her finished!
(Arion the Vampire by Zer0sD0lls here's a before and after of a makeover too)
What are your thoughts on the potential educational or cultural value of custom dolls inspired by mythical and fantasy creatures?
Answer: I think that’s awesome! It’s always great to learn new things and experience new cultures via mythical/fantasy dolls and other things!
(Zarina the Alien by Zer0sD0lls)
Lastly, do you have any advice for folks who want to get into doll customizing but are scared or intimidated by the skill level of most others in the hobby?
Answer: I know it can be scary and intimidating, but it’s always worth a try! It may take awhile to get to a point where you like your customs but it will happen! I highly suggest watching a lot of doll customizers on YouTube to help you figure out what your style is and what materials you want to use! Some people use a bunch of materials and others just use acrylic paint. It’s all about preference! But always always remember, water down your paint, and don’t be too hard on yourself! Thank you so much for having me be a part of the FairyFindr Fam! ❤️ ~Zer0sD0lls
(Lance the Faun - a deer/human hybrid) by Zer0sD0lls)
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Please leave a comment or message below and let us know how YOU got started in your magical or fairy related artwork or creative avenues! We can’t wait to hear your stories!! If you want to be a part of the blog and do your own magical interview of your dreams. Please feel free to find all our links on our LinkTree or connect on our FairyFindr Website, OR email me at FairyFindr@gmail.com
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