Bill
Jones represents another type of customizer – one with an extensive background
in Fine Arts and Theatre. Bill lives in
San Francisco, California and currently works for the San Francisco Opera as a
principal makeup artist.
He
recently retired as a Professor of Theatre Arts at San Francisco State
University and for over 18 years created the costumes for “Beach Blanket Babylon.” He also designed costumes for the opening number
at the 1989 Oscars® and has made puppets, costumes and dolls for over 50 years.
His customizing achievements include a first place
win for his “Tatiana” faerie and a second place win for his “Attila” in Barbie®
Bazaar Magazine’s 1999 Bazaar’s Make-over Artists Awards (BMAA).
Bill’s
initiation into fashion doll customizing came as a result of a request by his
daughter for a companion to her Bob Mackie Neptune doll. “She said,” Bill reveals, “You can make
dolls as beautiful as this. I want a
doll to keep this one company.” So he
made her a Marie Antoinette.
When
asked where his inspiration comes from, Bill says that he uses all kinds of
sources. His Attila doll was based on
makeup he did on Samuel Ramey in the Opera “Attila” although he changed the
costume some… “Because I wanted to try to do chain mail in that small
size.” His faerie, “Tatiana,” is copied
from makeup he did on his daughter for a commercial.
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