Ever since I was a child I always wished I could play with barbies and girl toys but it was extremely ground upon by my friends and family. I feel that western societies have come a long way since the 90’s in letting kids express their gender more freely and not construct what is only for boys and what is only for girls. After all biology never dictated what toys boys can play with and what objects are masculine and feminine. As I grew up I become gained exposure and participated in the art form and community of drag. Drag to me, was something to be ridiculed in my childhood. And in my 20’s it became something to glorify. As I attended drag con (the largest drag convention in the world held annually in New York, LA, and London) I realized how family friendly it was. I used to think drag was limited to adults in nightlife but as TV shows like Rupaul’s drag race gained popularity it became widespread across all ages. The kids taking pictures with the kids felt no different to me than kids taking pictures at Disney with their favorite characters.
Kids at Drag Con
Having this in mind I came up with the idea of making a drag toy. Something kids of both genders could play it they liked dress up toys like I did when I was a child. I chose to base my doll on Priyanka, a Canadian drag queen, winner of Drag Race Canada and the host of a YTV kids show called the Zone. I began drawing Priyanka as a man AKA Mark Suknanan. I used procreate because I could layer the image and add the drag elements. I made a layer for each accessory that I could add on individually or all together to create a full drag look. Drag queens go through many steps to feminize their bodies. They tend to rely on wigs, corsets, padding, breast plates, and many different makeup techniques like brow blocking, color correcting, contour and highlight and false lashes to achieve their feminine look. I made a layer for each one of these steps.
When it came to physically creating this toy I was hit with limitations. I’m currently quarantining in Brazil and I do not have access to the NYU facilities or American stores that are way more fruitful in materials. I decided that I could make this a paper doll. I was inspired by the Barbie Netflix special in The Toys That Made Us. Before Barbie that were used to dress up.
traditional dress up paper dolls
I printed my images and started cutting. But my doll had very fine detailed elements that are impossible to cut by hand and I don’t have access to a laser cutter. Also makeup was a challenge because unless I cut an entire face and just put it on top of the old face I would be able to layer individual makeup elements.
The best way to address this problem that I found was to work with transparencies. I took my images to a graphics place here in Brazil last Friday, and they will print each layer in transparencies. However as things do not function in Brazil with the same efficiency as they do in America, I was only able to secure these prints for the following Friday as they have a one week time constraint to deliver their requests. As I get these prints I will update this post.
*** Updates.
I faced major problems this week with my project. The graphic printer place called me and told me their transparency printer was not working. The biggest problem I have is that Ive been quarantined in a small beach town in the state of Rio, called Angra dos Reis, with my family. Its two hours away from the big city where Id have more access to fabrication tools and equipment. I had to take a boat and a 30 minute drive to go to the closest printer and then they call me and tell me they can't print what I had asked them almost one week after I asked. The service in Brazil is very hard to compare to American service. And while I love my home country it makes me thankful Ive been able to live in America for the past 10 years and can't wait to be back. With the printer delay, I have to come up with a new idea that is still in development.
So for this week I did what I love to do which is further my illustrations. Since we have to turn in 3 different renditions for a final project I decided to create two new looks. I actually have four full renditions of the Priyanka doll. The boy priyanka, and 3 drag looks based on looks she's actually worn in the past. I will print them and see if I can make cardboard dolls or hopefully Ill get more inspired soon. The problem I have with making my paper cut out dolls is thhat my illustrations are very detailed and impossible to cut by hand and I dont have any access to laser cutters. I actually looked for one in all of Angra dos Reis and it doesnt exist. Im frustrated with being so remote but at the same time I firmly believe hard circumstances push us to be better thinkers. Im hoping to turn in something good for my final as Im very passionate about drag, my project, what it stands and Im proud of my illustrations and want to do them justice.
When it came to making my final physical doll I struggled so much with finding materials. Im in a remote beach town with minimall operating businesses. We get our groceries delivered by boat. Plus I don't have a car nor a Brazilian drivers license, which I hold NYC responsible, considering I lived there for since 18 and never needed one. In addition my parents are much older, my mom is in remission and they are terrified of Covid and don't appreciate me leaving the house. I knew my toy would have to be of paper and recycled materials.
Angra dos Reis, Brazil. Where Im quarantined. Most common method of transportation here is boat and I am 2.5 hours away from the big city by car and 4 by bus.
I found a medical folder that belonged to my mom that she let me use to recycle. I ended up using as the base of my project. I wanted the Priyanka doll to live there and be seen in boy form and you could pull out and cover boy priyanka with one of her amazing looks.
I cut out a hole so you could see Priyanka.
The drag version of Priyanka would live inside the folder and can be pulled out when the user wants to. and covered it in post its
Overall I wish I could have done more or planned better. It didn't cross my mind how much my fabrication tools and materials would differ from my colleagues. I wish I had better colored paper (I used post-its) and had access to wood and a laser cutter which could have made the mechanics of the pull and push way better. I also wish I could layer piece. by piece of clothing and wigs and makeup instead of having to choose between the whole looks. This was my fault because I made detailed illustrations that were impossible to cut unless I compromised the image or added white borders and. im very proud of my illustrations. I didn't want to change them. I love my concept and what it stands for. I hope to keep working on this and make the Priyanka doll at ITP campus one day with the right tools and better planning.
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