Welcome to my Tutorial for painting a MIXED RACE Reborn from a CAUCASIAN doll kit …..
When i first started reborning i noticed there were no step by step guides to painting a mixed race baby from a caucasian doll kit..
So i decided to Help other Reborn Artists in their quest for a life like mixed race-hispanic baby …
Firstly you will need to prepare your kit as you would but you MUST make sure you remove all grease etc from the kit or you will end up with a very blotchy baby ..Once you have dried your kit get a Cotton wool pad & some 70-90% alcohol gel & clean the remainder of the kit making sure you DONT TOUCH THE HEAD LIMBS OR BELLY PLATE if your using one..The best way to hold you limbs and head while painting is to insert a long paintbrush into the limbs as shown in picture 1)
Now for the paints you will need :
Genesis Flesh 07
Genesis Flesh 06
Burnt umber
Yellow ochre
Brow Brown
Mars Black
Ultra marine blue
Genesis Red
Titanium White
Dioxazine purple 07 or 08
Lip/Nail/blush pre mix (don't worry if you don't have all the colours as i will teach you to mix them as we go)
OTHER SUPPLIES
Odourless Thinners
Genesis thinning medium
Genesis Glazing Gel
Genesis Satin Varnish
¼ or ½ inch Mop Brush x 2
Sea Sponge or a Cosmetic wedge randomly attacked with tweezers
Cosmetic Wedges
Ultra fine paint brushes 00 01 02
Glass or Ceramic Mixing Tray DO NOT USE PLASTIC TRAYS with GHSP
Large Safety pin or Awl
Heat Gun or Oven
USING A HEAT GUN
If you are worried about using a heat gun here are some tips:
1) always make sure there is nothing flammable around you whilst drying the limbs as sparks do sometimes jump
2)Keep your Gun moving never leave it in one place or the vinyl will melt ,bubble or go shiny
3)It takes 3 minutes to dry each limb you will know by feeling the vinyl it will be hot to touch
4) Let your thinners Dry Before you set the paint
5) Let your kit cool down before you apply the next layer
TIPS WHEN DRYING : Use a long stainless steel skewer to hold the limb so you can rotate it ,Do the same with the head.If you have a tummy plate place this on a ceramic tile when drying.
OVEN BAKING.....If you are going to use an oven to heat set your paints you need an oven thermometer and preheat your oven to 265 degrees and place your kit on a oven proof sheet on a baking tray for 8 minutes ,Let your kit cool down in the oven before you remove it.
LETS START PAINTING!!!!!
Layer 1: Flesh 07 mixed with odourless thinners to a thin watery consistency ...apply to a cosmetic wedge and pounce all over the baby including hands and feet use a dry mop brush to remove paint from the creases as you do not want a buildup of paint in them as this will be hard to correct.
DRY
Layer 2: Veins Pre mixed Vein colour or mix a tiny bit of pthalo green 02 to Ultramarine blue...TIPS,,,I always mix my vein colour with genesis thinning medium as i find it is better for controlling where you want your veins to be and the thickness,,Remember Veins are not straight and have no start or stop point under the skin so blend blend blend ,,,,
DRY
Layer 3: Ultra Marine Blue wash very thin pounced evenly all over …
DRY
Layer 4:Capillaries I like to use the nail art fine liners as you can mix the colour and store it in the brush i mix ethnic lip/nail/blush with 2:1 thinners and equal thinning medium to a consistency that suits you..Capillaries can be found on the eyelids around the nose chin,cheeks in very young babies ears and anywhere there is thin skin.
DRY
Layer 5: Burnt Umber mixed with a tiny bit of Ultramarine blue very thin watery pounced all over EXCLUDING PALMS & SOLES OF FEET ...Be sure to blend the sides of hands and feet so there are no lines..
DRY
LAYER 6: Ok the fun starts here use your imagination or grab some reference photos......This layer will have 3 different bits done before drying,,,,A) pre mixed caucasian lip/nail/blush mixed with genesis thinning medium,use a 01 fine liner and paint the lips starting from the inside and pulling out ,Ethnic babies tend to have darker more defined lip line and lighter inside the lip,use the same paint and brush for the nails and inner ear...B) mix a tiny amount of ETHNIC lip/nail/blush into the same paint so as to make it slightly darker then take a sea sponge and use your ¼ inch mop brush to apply to sponge start at the back of the head and randomly pounce to create a mottling effect avoid palms and soles and excessive mottling on the face,Use a cup stand to let your thinners dry C) whilst the thinners are drying get a pea sized amount of GLAZING GEL and 02 fineliner and paint thin hair lines onto the brow bone no colour is used at this stage this is where we build the 3d eye brows....
DRY
Layer 7:Flesh 06 mixed with odourless thinners pounced all over
DRY
Layer 8) CREASES ,,,,Depending on the age and race of your baby you will want a very dark brown for the creases ,,,Paint needed: Mars black,burnt umber,ultramarine blue Mixed with odourless thinners...Layer 8 part B....Brow brown mixed with mars black to paint the eyebrows use very thin strokes and remember to work towards the ear.
DRY
Layer 9)Yellow Ochre wash pounced on
DRY
Layer 10) PALMS AND SOLES BLUSH...Mix a tiny amount of GENESIS RED with TITANIUM WHITE use thinning medium apply to cosmetic wedge and dab on heel toes and palms also use tis for a second coat on the lips and nails
DRY
Layer 11) Skin Shading: Mix Brow brown,burnt umber and ethnic blush with genesis thinning medium and apply to a cosmetic wedge then dab onto the forehead ears fingers between the eyes and elbows and knees.
DRY
Layer 12) Nail tips and moons ,Flesh 06 pounced all over,shading of lips with ethnic blush.
DRY
Layer 13) Burnt umber,Burnt sienna and a tad of ultramarine blue mixed with genesis thick medium use a cosmetic wedge and pounce on face hands arms and legs to replicate skin.
DRY
Layer 14) Satin varnish mixed with a little burnt sienna all over ,Go over any veins that you would like to be more pronounced,Glazing gel on finger and toe nails