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Thanks for your reply, Danielle! So are you saying that I didn't thin the paint enough with the thinner? When I first started it was very thin and I could hardly notice anything on the doll so I thickened it up a bit. Is that where I went wrong? Also, I'm not happy with the coloring at all...she is very pale. If I want to add a little more coloring to her should I do this now or apply the glazing step like you suggested first? Sorry for so many questions! Thanks for your help!

Kim,..
You can add just a tiny speck of pyrrol red to your flesh 08 ,..yes i guess you used a little too much paint.

I've been told (and will find out on my next doll) that if you use the thinner with the flesh tones you are more likely to get a chalky finish. But if you use the Genesis Heat Set thinner it doesn't happen. Basic rule of thumb is to use the paint thinner when you want a transluscent look (like veins and blushing) otherwise use the Genesis thinner!

from my experiance it's the thinner brand that actually contributes most to this issue. I use Archival Oils oderless sovlent, when i've used other brands i've had some issues with the lighter fleash tones going chalky, however i never have this problem with using Archival brand.

Sometimes i use VERY thik layers - i often start out with a "yogurt" like consistancy of paint, i'll pounce this over all the vinyl surface, i don't like to leave the vinyl showing through my paint work as i feel this leaves a still very "plastic" look to the baby and detracts from the realism. No matter what the consistancy of paint i use, with the Archival solvent i never have a problem with chalkiness, i've only tried 2 other solvents but both these other brands would need great care taken to avoide going chalky. After my fist think covering, i use the paints allot thinner and build many translucent layers on each other to creat a truly "liveing skin" complexion.

SO my advise is to try and get the Archival solvent - but i'm not sure if this is an international brand or not (i'm in australia) if not, then you may want to play around with a few different brands available where you are - i trully believe it is the thinner/solvent that is the primary cause of the "chalky baby"

Naomi
(aka precious lullabies)

im in queensland where can i get the archival oils?

Chalkiness usually means you didn't bake it long enough, or at the right temperature. To fix, bake longer or higher. Another thing to do is to give the doll a slight rubdown with a thinner or glaze (not sure on the exact product).

I think I pounced it  into oblivion. lol It is really hard to judge not having ever seen, in person,  a doll at this stage. I put #8 on first and I am going to do another layer of #7. Perhaps this may add depth to what now looks like a smooth factory finish.  Is there any limit in the times that you put on skin layers? I mean the flesh tones. Perhaps I should do another number 8 before I do the 7.  Blushing. Oh blushing.  I am sure I will have challenges with that as well.
This time I am going to pull small dots out of the sponge. Someone told me that would help especially if I am an over pouncer which I think I definately am. I have a hard time stopping. lol

Perhaps I should go to the nursery at the local hospital and say I'm a grandmother to that child will you bring it close to the window. lol Don't think I'd get away with that but once. lol

Yep I am hard on myself. I want things to be perfect the first time. My bad. lol
I am still trying to figure out how to pounce those pesky dots. I cannot see them even with my glasses on. Now on second layer. First was 8 now 7.  I did well on the veins. Woohoo. They are still showing through. I did them under the layers of skin thinking that would look more realistic and it does but had to darken one or two because the skin covered them.  I do like putting the veins on the outside. works much better than inside.
I plan on putting at least 1 more skin layer on because the kit was quite peach colored and I want to make it less so.

The baby is 21 inches long which is the length of both my children when they were born but the head on the doll looks larger. More like a 2 month old so I don't think I want to put as much mottling on it. I think they have outgrown that stage by 2 months. I may do a little on the top of the legs. Seems I remember that 2 months olders still have some on the delicate skin above the knee.  Am I correct about this?
Still blue between the eyes. I remember my babies having that forever. a year old or so before that disappeared.

Anyway onward and upward. lol Then the real fun begins with the blushing .  Gotta get a grip on that. That is dotted too?

Thanks for all the help. I am lost here. lol
Lynda

  lol yes it is back to the dvd.  

I have finished 2 layers and only lost a couple of veins. I have put them back and am going to do another layer or two. I have a Bareunger doll and the color was what seemed to me to be too peachy but then someone told me that B doesn't make peachy dolls just pink. So there ya go. I think I am just trying to get rid of the peachy look and it isn't working yet.

My two children and all my grandchildren were olive complexioned. AND I am blonde.  Go figure.  What skin colors give you that tone?  I am thinking that if I get good at this I'd like to make a baby that has darker tones.

But then I think I am getting ahead of myself. lol

Thanks again for all the help and "rooting me on"

Ya, sometimes I keep going like the energizer bunny! lol
Definately check on your colorwheel if you're not happy with the color. And mix a tiny toothpick tip of the correcting color with your flesh tone, you'll be amazed. A little goes a long way.

Georgia , maybe you should completly. Remove the paint with acetone , and thinner and start over

ok, I ran a bit of acetone over all the parts...it took the edge off the whilte stipled paint I made with too much skin texture paint, but really didn't remove it...I just ordered the fleshtone 08 as it didn't come in the kit with all the other paints and I painted one layer on so far, extremely thin. Looks better already...not so white like flour. It's making the skin texture look better too, so I will do a couple more coats of that before I'm done and it should be just fine. Great newbie lesson to learn, though!