The artist creates are so realistic dolls that already goosebumps

Russian artist and sculptor Mikhail Zaikov refers to people, which nature has generously endowed talent. Just look at the dolls, which he creates. Their faces are so realistic that they seem alive.

Zaykov graduated from Kuban state University in Krasnodar in 2009. In the period from 2010 to 2013 he worked in the puppet theatre. He became famous after his exhibition in Moscow in 2013. For your ball-jointed doll artist uses polymer clay eyes, hand-made in Germany, and French mohair for the hair. Costumes for 70-inch dolls sewing designer Irina Kuzmina.

Puppeteer Michael Zaykov says about his work: "creation of a doll starts with a search image. And I'm looking for it in the old pre-revolutionary photographs. At least at this stage of its activities.

It is, as a rule, European girls 13-16 years of age of the late XIX — early XX century. That is retro. Try to do it more realistic and emotional. To convey personality and individuality.

With costumes helps me minded Irina Kuzmina. It acts as a fashion designer for dolls and plays authentic vintage clothing from that period, antique fabric and antique French lace.

We use a special puppet materials — polymer clay Fimo, Cernit and LaDoll, which in the finished form look like porcelain. But, unlike him, the fall did not fight.

Eyes of dolls are custom-made German glass Lauschaer Glasaugen.

Wigs are made of French top quality mohair or llama wool, imitating natural hair.

My latest works are estimated at around 70-80 thousand rubles, in the galleries they are slightly more expensive. Why such a price? Because the manufacture of dolls uses expensive materials and the work itself is very time consuming.

In the design of jointed doll 13 joints, which makes it mobile, allowing you to take absolutely any posture. In addition, each doll is individual and is made in a single copy. Hence this price.

In the process, between the artist and the doll dialogue takes place, during which the doll itself often "dictate" what she wants to be.

In the end, what is obtained at the output, sometimes it turns out quite different than originally conceived the character.

This is one of the most interesting points that is inherent in the work of the artist-puppeteer — the ability to animate matter, to create an image, which then begins to live an independent life. That is, each doll with its own character and whims."

Sculptor Michael Zaikov.