Reborning Walter - undertones, veining and mottling

 

Hi again,



Well I've been pretty busy as I have now done the undertones, veining and mottling on Walter.

 

Getting Ready

 

I always start by getting my paints, brushes, sponges etc ready

 

(I normally find I've forgotten something as I'm going lol)

 

Over the years I have built up on many brushes and now have a good selection

I have set brushes that I use for different colours and areas.

As you can see from the picture I also have a good selection of sponges:

 Make-up blenders/wedges

"Multy"  bath sponges cut into small sizes (great for mottling)

 

The paints that I use are Genesis Heat Set Paints

The colours used today are

Phthalo Blue 04

Yellow Ochre

Burn Umber

Pyrrole Red 02

Ultramarine Blue

Dioxazine Purple 01

 

There are many pre-mixed paints available to buy, however I like to blend and mix my own.

Ceramic pallets (pots) need to be used with Genesis Paints!

 

I always use Daler Rowney Low Odour Thinners which I buy from hobby craft.
I know a lot of reborn artist use low odour thinners that can be bought from DIY shops but I like the finish I get from the thinners that I use - this is just my personal choice.

 

Pipette to transfer thinners to pallet

 

I think I've covered everything that we need for now so lets get started :o)

 

Undertones

 

I always start with blue undertones.

Using the pipette I put a good quantity of thinners in one of my ceramic pots.
Using the tip of my brush I collect a small amount of paint and add to the thinners.

I want the blue very thin and watery.

Blue is rather unforgiving on vinyl so it's better to add small amounts rather then adding too much!

 

 

Now using my brush I add the blue to the parts that would normally be thinner translucent skin on a baby for example, temples, bridge of the nose, tops of the hands, wrists, ankles etc.

Not all at once of course but working each area at a time blending using a make up wedge as I go.

A good tip is to use kitchen roll to blot of some of the paint from the brush and also to check of thick/thin the paint is :o)

 

 

 

I'm not left handed but for couldn't take the pic and hold the sponge at the same time so for example throughout these pic's you'll find I'm using my left hand ;o)

 

I haven't added pictures of every area but I hope you get the idea.
At this point I also add a small amount of blue to the lips - and I mean a small amount!! lol

 

 

I'm now ready to start my veining!!

 

 

Veining

 

Using my paint brush I now mix a very small amount of ultramarine blue to my Phthalo Blue 04 just to darken it very slightly.

 

I then tip my pot up a little bit leaving some paint on the bottom of the pot.

 

(again spot my left hand lol)

 

I use the paint from the bottom that is left to paint my veins - again blotting my brush on the kitchen roll as I don't want my brush to be too full.

 

You can have a look at baby pic's to get an idea of where you should be putting the veins

I always start on the head and work my way through the other vinyl parts.
After painting the veins I gently blend with a sponge wedge as I don't want to leave a hard line.

 

 

I haven't added loads of photos but I'm sure you get the idea.  Give me a shout if not cos I'm always happy to help :o)

 

After this it's time to heat set the kit.

I have a baking tray that I use just for heat setting and use 2 tea-towels.

Never put vinyl parts straight onto the baking tray - they will come out shinny!!

I use a gas oven which is pre heated to gas mark 2 and leave my kits in for 12mins

If you are following me with this and having a go yourself please make sure you get the right temp and time for your oven as there is nothing worse then melting your doll kit!!!

You can check to make sure that your paint is set by using a damp cotton bud - as long as no paint comes off you're good to carry on, if paint does come off pop it back in the oven for a little longer.

 

Once all the vinyl parts have cooled we can carry onto the mottling.

 

Mottling

 

This is the bit I love love love as you can really see the kit transform.

I use I good mixture for my mottling.

I don't have a set order in which I add my mottling colours but my red mix is always my last layer.

I don't always use all these colours with every reborn I create, it really depends on the colouring of the vinyl and also how mottled I want the finished baby to be.

 

I have made up my Yellow Ochre and Dioxazine Purple 01

I want these colours to be barely there so are mixed with thinners to be very watery.

 

 

Using my brush I transfer the purple to my cut "multy" sponge and blot onto the kitchen roll - I don't want the sponge too full of paint as I'm after the hole effect that the sponge with give.

I now carefully dab the sponge over all the vinyl parts - I tend to avoid the bottom of the feet and palms of the hands at this point.  Once the thinners has flashed off (dries off) I blend gently with a sponge wedge just to take of the sharpness of the lines left.

I repeat this with the Yellow.

 

My next layer is my red layer but first I need to mix the colour that I want to use.

In my ceramic pot I add a good amount of thinners.  Then using my paint brush I add Pyrrole Red 02.

I'm now going to add a very small amount of burnt umber and Phthalo Blue 04

You may find this is a try as you go but the colour that you want is a blood looking colour.

Again you want this quite watery.

 

Now it's time to repeat the steps as with the purple and yellow.

 

After blending gentley it's time to heat set again.

 

And the results so far are......

 

 

 

 

I know the pic's aren't great but the lighting here at the min is very good for photos but I hope you

get the idea.

 

Next step is more flesh layers which I will update you with next time :o)

 

 

I don't know if anyone out there is reading this but if you are thank you.

I love my reborning hobby and have always wanted to try and help anyone who wanted to have a go and maybe this might help someone or maybe you might just be interested to see how these beautiful art forms are created.  Either way please feel free to add any comments or if there is anything you're not sure of or want to ask....ask away!

 

I don't tend to reborn over the weekend as the children take up most of my time when they're not at school so the next up date will proba be Monday.

Hope you have a great weekend.

 xx Lena xx



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reborning Walter

I have just started painting my 2nd Walter kit - Walter was sculpted by the very talented Laura Tuzio Ross, this limited edition is a sold out sculpt that has been very popular.

I really enjoyed creating Harvey (my first Walter)

But when I sold him I was really gutted and wished that I'd kept him, however a second chance came about when a painted but unfinished Walter came available to buy. I bought this kit some months ago but hadn't touched him until now.

First Steps
I very carefully removed the paint that had already been applied with acetone free nail varnish remover as this does not damage the vinyl, then I gave all the vinyl parts a good wash.

This Walter does have some imperfections such as a slight brown mark on the back of his head along with some rooting holes - I have closed most of the rooting holes using boiling water, though they are still slightly visible I am hoping that this will be less visible throughout the painting process as I aim to paint his hair. With regards to the brown blemish I will either transform this into a birthmark or will blend it in with his painted hair.   I intend on keeping this Walter so the imperfections really aren't a problem.

I have added some pictures that I have taken of Walter after I removed the paint and before I have started the reborning. I will try and add pictures as I go.

 

 

Yesterday (23rd Jan) I opened up the nose which I will back with black felt after painting - this is to add realism and depth. I have also painted a few flesh coloured base layers. This softens the vinyl look and gives me a good base to start adding my undertones and veining.  I have not added any pictures of this step as there isn't really much to see at this point.

A bit about me

I'm rather new to this blogging thing but thought it would be a nice idea for anyone who is interested in my reborn hobby.

For those of you who know nothing about me -
My name is Lena, I am a 36 year old married mum of 6 wonderful children (4 boys and 2 girls)


I am the sole reborn artist behind Lena's Daydreams Nursery.  I create life like baby dolls from sculpts that are available.  I'm now in my 7th year of reborning and love this beautiful art form.
I take great pride in the reborn babies that I create, lots of hours, love and dedication goes into each and everyone.  Reborning is an expensive hobby and as much as I'd love to keep all the dolls that I create I do tend to sell some of them so that I can buy more sculpts.  I have created quite a few custom orders and have many returning buyers.  My dolls have gone to many other countries and I have had fantastic feedback from all those who have bought my reborns.

I also have a website with more information regarding my reborn nursery and lots of photos so pop over and take a look.
http://lenasdaydreamsnursery.webs.com

I am hoping to keep this blog updated with future reborn babies I create so please watch this space :o)