Artist Spotlight: Arnaldo’s Restorations

Back in 2012, my mom and I crashed the room sales at the Kenvention.  It was there that we met Arnaldo.  His room sale was practically an art gallery.  Seriously, this guy creates amazing OOAK creations.  For that reason, I decided Arnaldo should be the first doll artist to spotlight here on Confessions of a Doll Collectors Daughter. If all goes well, I plan on spotlighting a new artist each month or so.

Without further ado, I’d like to introduce you to Arnaldo.  Arnaldo was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions for me regarding his work.

Arnaldo of Arnaldo’s Restorations

Name: Facebook, Arnaldo’s Restorations

Location: Jersey City, New Jersey

Customizing since: 1995

Question:  When did you start working with dolls?

Answer:  While finishing my first Masters in Art and Art Education at Columbia University in New York City around 1989, my way of relaxing from stress was going every weekend to the Chelsea Flea Market. I found dolls and action figures but in deplorable condition. It was then that I started to repaint the missing lips and eyebrows of dolls that were in played-with condition.

Restyled Skippers/Skooter

Question: What started you in customizing?

Answer:  Most of the dolls I started to find had missing hair. Thanks to some doll magazines I learned that hair can be rerooted. Then, I found dolls with such bad hair that all their hair needed to be rerooted. To respect the age of the dolls I started to reroot using hair from similar dolls with cut faces and much damage. Later I realized that nobody was able to do that; instead other people used new hair with a different feel and texture.

Titan American Girl Re-root

Question: In what do you specialize?

Answer:  I specialize in restoring vintage Barbie dolls and her family and friends. What I am known for is for rerooting with original vintage Barbie hair. What I do appeals more to the vintage collector. Instead of customizing I consider that what I do is to restore, studying the lip color, shape, correct hair style and hair texture of the doll I will be working with. I also like to try to create dolls that were never produced like, for example, a titian #3, a titian #4, and titian sideparts. I also do Grandpa Kens that are bald and bearded. Allans were all red heads so I make them brunettes with blue, brown and green eyes – overall, dolls that are one-of-a-kind but that keep their vintage look.

Twist and Turn Pigtails

Grandpa Ken

Question: Are you a collector yourself?

Answer:  Yes, I have a big collection of vintage Barbies and Kens, including European and Japanese exclusives. I also collect GI Joes, Captain Action, Mego, Tammy, Ginny, Madame Alexander and German and Hong Kong Lillies.

Restored Lilli’s

Japanese Midge

Question:  What are some of your favorite One Of A Kind creations?

Answer:  I have many favorites. I love my #4 and bubblecuts with #1 face paint, My Midge with brown side-glance eyes, my titian sidepart American girls, my pigtail TNT and Francies, my TNT and Francies rerooted with real vintage color magic hair, my Grandpa Kens, my latino Ricky and Allans and my brunette Malibu Kens with goatees. I also adore my silkstones for which I also make their outfits. However, every time I restore a doll it becomes my favorite. It gets harder and harder to depart with them.

More Examples Of Arnaldo’s Work

Question:  What is the most fun/enjoyable thing about customizing?

Answer:  Collecting is fun because people remember the dolls they had when they were kids; however, when people get something that they know was never produced and that is special, the admiration for the work and the respect provided by the people that purchase my dolls is the most enjoyable part. The most fun part of all is the amount of doll friends me and my partner Dale have acquired through the years.

OOAK AA Francie’s

Fantastically Flocked Color Magic Kens

Question: Where can people find your work?

Answer:  I usually sell all my dolls at the National Barbie Convention. During 2013, I will be attending the (GAW) Grant-a-wish convention in Michigan during April, the National Barbie Convention in August and the Kenvention in October. Also, starting in March, I will be posting my new collection of One of A Kind dolls on my Facebook page. You can find me by searching Arnaldo’s Restorations or email me at acardonar@comcast.net. Hope all of you keep experiencing the joy of collecting and appreciating what doll artists do.

Ricky in various hair colors (How cute!!!)

Bearded and Flocked Ken dolls

Personally, I’m a huge fan of Arnaldo’s and hopefully will own one of his pieces eventually.  Which one?  After seeing his work in person, I’m not sure!  I’m a huge fan of his Ricky repaints, as well as the new takes on Color Magic and Japanese exclusive repaints.  He truly is talented!

A big thank you to Arnaldo for answering my questions and sharing his work with us.  I encourage you to visit Arnaldo’s Restorations on facebook and check out his photo albums.  There are a ton of great dolls that I just didn’t have space to feature in this spotlight!  And as always, feel free to let us all in on your thoughts in the comment area down below.