Hello everyone,
Today, I'm going to talk about dioramas, a world I've discovered and find fascinating.
I've been creating dioramas professionally since 2017, but my passion for dolls goes back much further. I've always loved creating a world around them. It was while browsing the Internet that I discovered dioramas, and I started experimenting with different materials for my creations, which I'll be showing you today.
Feel free to ask me questions at any time during the presentation.
What is a diorama?
A diorama is a three-dimensional reconstruction of a scene, whether in a historical, naturalist, geological, or even religious context. It allows you to recreate a miniature world by integrating objects, characters, and detailed settings to give the illusion of reality.
Originally, dioramas were mainly used for dollhouses in 1/12 scale. However, in recent years, this practice has expanded to other scales like 1/8, 1/6, 1/4 and even 1/3. This has allowed doll enthusiasts from various universes to recreate more varied scenes, adapted to different doll sizes, whether they be Barbie, Pullip, BJD, or others.
A diorama is a small staging that allows you to highlight your dolls and create their own universe.
It is something very developed in the doll world, especially in the United States and Germany.
With a diorama, you can recreate
4. MDF or Plywood
This is the material I use for most of my furniture and dioramas.
It's sturdy and long-lasting.
It comes in various thicknesses, which you can choose based on the size of your dolls. You can have it cut at hardware stores.
- Pros : Sturdy, affordable, easy to customize.
- Cons : Without notches for assembly, it can sometimes be tricky to work with.
Furniture
If you have space, you can build your own furniture as I did for my Minifee (MNF) house. Otherwise, you can use existing furniture, like IKEA Billy bookcases, which I used to create my gothic room.
- Pros : Sturdy, easy to customize, time-saving.
- Cons : Expensive and takes up space.
Types of Dioramas
In terms of structure, you have several options:
- Completely enclosed : like a dollhouse.
- Partially enclosed : with three walls, a floor, and a roof.
- Open : with one or two walls and a floor, but watch out for fragility.
https://www.sunnyshop211.com/
- You can also repurpose existing furniture like shelves or boxes to create a diorama. For example, IKEA shelves (like the Billy) are often used for medium to large dioramas.
- Advantage: A sustainable solution, easy to customize, and ideal for permanent dioramas.
- Drawback: It can take up space and may need some adjustments to match your dolls’ size.
No matter which method you choose, the key is to adapt your project to your space, desires, and the size of your dolls. With a little creativity, anything is possible!
How to customize your diorama?
Once your structure is ready, all that’s left is to customize it.
You can use:
- Paint (with primer for better adhesion), or stain
- Self-adhesive coverings for walls or floors,
- Wallpaper (miniature or standard) to add realism to your scenes.
A few tips to get started
- Test different materials to see what works best for you.
- Start small before tackling more ambitious projects.
- Be patient—creating dioramas takes time, but it’s an extremely rewarding activity.
- Use your doll’s height as a reference
- Think about the furniture you want to place inside—it will give you an idea of the height, width, and depth.
That covers the basics! I hope this introduction helps you better understand the world of dioramas. If you have any questions, I’m here to answer them. Enjoy the presentation and dive into creating your own miniature universe!
See you soon, Stéphanie
Here is my house for Minifee
https://youtu.be/NPgo5Cv4JiI