Featured Sculptor: Mirte Kooi

Meet the Sculptor: Mirte Kooi

Next up, let’s meet an up and coming young artist in our community, Mirte Kooi of Mini Miracles by Mirte!

Mirte is a Dutch artist renowned for her exceptional artistry. At 25 years old, she has been creating beautiful reborns, and began sculpting her own creations in 2020. ​ As a sculptor, Mirte has now developed several sculpts, including her newest Wes and Elsie, which she tells us are some of her favorites! Sculpting allows her to create the exact characteristics she envisions, which adds to the uniqueness of her dolls.

Mirte attended her first doll show in 2019, showcasing her work at the Rose Doll Show in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has since gone on to exhibit at the Dolls of the World Expo in North Carolina, where she will be exhibiting again in 2025!  

Mirte’s dedication to her craft and her continuous growth as an artist have solidified her reputation in the reborn doll community. The future looks promising for this young artist, and her work is eagerly anticipated by collectors. As the reborn doll community grows, she will likely continue to be a significant figure, constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in this amazing art form.

She maintains an active presence on social media, sharing her work and updates with followers on Instagram.​ I hope you enjoy learning about this amazingly talented young artist – I know I did!

The Interview

What brought you to the reborn doll community? 

When I was 14, I saw a video of a silicone doll on YouTube and fell in love with reborns. My parents were not fans of reborns when I told them I wanted one. A few years later I bought one second hand. Once I got it, I was a little disappointed, That’s when I decided to start painting them myself. I painted my 1st reborn when I was 15 or 16 I think. That’s almost 10 years ago now! I painted reborns for 6 or 7 years before starting to sculpt.

What inspired you to start sculpting reborn dolls?

My absolute favorite sculptor right from the start, was Bonnie Brown, I loved (and still do) her sculpts. It just looked like a lot of fun to do, so I thought, why not try it myself? On top of that, I loved silicone dolls, but they were so expensive, which made me want to try and make them myself. I remember the 1st time I ever tried to sculpt a face. Nikki Johnston replied to that story and shared some tips, so there’s definitely people that encouraged me to continue sculpting as well.

How do you decide on the facial expressions and features of your sculpts?

I love facial expressions that make me feel something. Usually that means that I like quite expressive faces. I mostly use Pinterest and Instagram to look for inspiration. If a face really stands out to me, and I can’t get it out of my head after that, I know I’ve found my next inspiration baby..

Do you use real baby references or work from imagination?

I mostly use real baby faces. Sometimes, once I have the basic shapes, I’ll stop looking at the picture and adjust it in ways that I like.

How long does it typically take you to complete a new sculpt from start to finish?

Depends on if I’m in the zone and know exactly how to get the shapes I want, or if I need time to figure out how to place the clay. I’ve sculpted faces in 2 days, but it can take a lot longer if I don’t like where it’s going.

What materials do you prefer to work with, and why?

I use Super Sculpey for the faces and hands and feet if I sculpt a silicone doll. I use Monster Clay for the body and arms and legs for a silicone doll. For vinyl I only use Super Scupley. I find Super Sculpey easy to work with and add details to. Monster Clay doesn’t have to be baked in the oven and can be melted down and reused. So, I like to use that for big parts like the body of the silicone doll.

What are the biggest challenges in sculpting a realistic reborn doll?

Making it look lifelike, even before it’s painted. I haven’t been a sculptor for a very long time yet, so with each new sculpt, I try to do better than the last. It’s a challenge to get the proportions right, not just the arms and legs, but even to get the clay in the right places on just the face can be difficult to get right. I also still need to figure out how to get more symmetry in the faces… but I’m determined to keep learning and growing with each new sculpt.

How do you ensure the proportions and details are as lifelike as possible?

I must admit that I tend to just eyeball it.

Do you have a favorite sculpt you’ve created? If so, what makes it special?

My newest sculpts, Elsie and Wes definitely have my heart, but I always see things I’d like to improve once I’m finished. This doesn’t mean I don’t love them, but it does mean that I’m excited to make a new sculpt and grow more!

What’s your process for creating limbs and body parts to match the head sculpt?

I want their arms and legs to reflect the characters I see for them. Usually, I have ideas in my mind and then I look for pictures that come close to what I’m imagining and use those for inspiration.

How do you feel about AI-generated faces or digital sculpting tools?

I don’t like AI generated faces.

Do you ever collaborate with reborn doll painters or other artists? or digital sculpting tools?

Now that I’ve finished 2 sculpts for vinyl production, I am looking for prototype artists to work with.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start sculpting reborn dolls?

Don’t be discouraged if your 1st sculpt doesn’t look like what you wanted it to. If you have a dream to be a sculptor, SCULPT! Nothing will make you grow and learn more than just picking up that clay and starting again and again and again. 🙂

Do you take custom requests, or do you prefer to work on your own ideas?

I prefer to work on my own ideas.

Have you ever sculpted dolls based on real babies for customers?

I dI’ve done so a few times, one as a giveaway winner sculpt and the other was life-size, but I will not be doing that again, I think.

Where do you see your sculpting career going in the next five to ten years?

I hope I’ll be able to keep making silicone dolls and vinyl kits as well. That would be the absolute dream!

What’s the most meaningful reaction you’ve received from someone about your work?

People say that my sculpt, Elsie, already looked so lifelike without paint. Just a few days ago someone told me that Elsie is what they would call their dream sculpt. And that she hadn’t had that in almost 10 years! It made me tear up a little… I also really appreciate other sculptors complementing and supporting my work.