That is called "mottling" and we have a new DVD out that shows how to get that and also how to use the berrymakers to get it. Here is that link: http://www.secristdolls.com/inc/sdetail/34890
hi, the way i do the motling is this, i do my normal skin colour and then the last couple of layers i will mix my crimson with a little of the periwinkle with the thinner , only a little periwinkle, and then use my sponge which is about 2cm wide to apply the colour , it is only subtle but it works for me so far! i am new and learning allthe time, good luck.
I'm sorry you are having a kerfuffle there about the doll.
Please do not bring that discussion here as we are a family forum and do not need a heated discussion/argurment going on here. That is between the people in that forum to get settled there. Sorry!
What they say is true: "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Some think it's nice, some don't and some of each appear to know the players. So no one wins. I hope they get things worked out one way or another.
I know of 2 forums that were demolished because of that type of thing being brought in. We don't want that here. I hope you understand.
I am simply trying to acertain what the alleged problem is - I agree that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I was sickened and chilled to the bone when I read this and didn't know how to cope with the ferocity of the attacks. I just wanted to know if there IS a problem with the baby (which I can't see) and if care needs to be taken with mottling and inside purple washing. This baby, to my eyes, is what we are trying to achieve - that beautiful just-born look. There was no intention to offend. I apologise if it seemed that way. I am very new to this - and I thought that this baby had the look we are striving to achieve, but there seemed to be controversy over this and I was confused.
I'm sorry you are having a kerfuffle there about the doll.
Please do not bring that discussion here as we are a family forum and do not need a heated discussion/argurment going on here. That is between the people in that forum to get settled there. Sorry!
What they say is true: "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Some think it's nice, some don't and some of each appear to know the players. So no one wins. I hope they get things worked out one way or another.
I know of 2 forums that were demolished because of that type of thing being brought in. We don't want that here. I hope you understand.
I don't really think we have to worry about that. It isn't like all the people who post there are jumping over here to start arguing about it! I can understand her bringing it here to get our thoughts.
I think the baby's coloring is just fine--rather better than the baby that is shown for comparison. The body looks a bit off, but that would be easy to fix.
I think that the problem is that many people are disappointed that the reborns cost so much (buyer's remorse) so they feel that they have been taken advantage of if the doll is not perfect. Buyers tend not to realize the time or expense that goes into making a reborn.
The other problem is that selling things over the Internet is hard because buyers don't get to see the product up close and in person--but for those of us who live in the middle of nowhere, there is no other option.
If you are worried about this happening to you, I would say that the best thing to do is to make sure you take lots of pictures and post your policies on your auctions. Then make sure you keep in contact with your buyers. I haven't had any complaints from any of my buyers, but I suspect that most people (buyers and sellers) would rather resolve things through email (and possibly a return) than to be the focus of someone's blog criticism.
WOW! Thank you so VERY much for your reply. It was very helpful and reassuring indeed. I feel exactly the same way - but I'm such a newbie, I am not sure that my opinion is valid - and I did not want to post to this discussion. I am such a learner to newborning I need all the information I can get. I have not yet started painting with the Genesis HS Paints (nervous) but have a Lollipop kit in the big box (Secrist Deluxe "Art of Newborning") that I'm waiting to start on. I am an artist (painting on canvas, etc) and have used ordinary artist's paints for years - but the GHS Paints require very different treatment.
Albie - I agree with baby buntings suggestion. Use a holey sponge and keep the paint thin (so you can barely see it). You can also put a thin wash of paint on with a brush and then use a berrymaker to remove the paint in little circles. This is definitely harder than the sponge technique and takes some practice. You have to work in small areas or the paint will sink in/dry before you can take the color off.
Cuisle - From what I could see the painting looks quite good to me. But I'd have to see more close ups of the face to be really sure. It's definitely better than the doll she compares it to . It does appear to have the body on backwards though ...and the head obviously needs tightened if it's falling off .
Cuisle, don't psych yourself out over the GHSP. I, too, use to (and still do) paint on canvas. It's only a little different. In fact it's easier, if you don't like what you did you can just wipe it off (prior to baking ). Just think: Thin. Thin layers are the secret. You can always add more, but you can't take it off (after baking...unless you strip the whole doll ). Thin
i think the hannah sculpt looks beautiful, such a dewy milk'y complexion. the "comparrision" doll looks orange and jaundice. but i guess eveyone has their pref and i'm a little shocked to see the voilent debate going about this doll, ppl are being so rude and horrid to each other. If the woman who got the baby doesn't like it they she is very much intitled to her opinion.
I always offer a 100% satisfaction money back on my babies (less postage and ebay listing fee), i've only had one return ever and that was from a first time reborn buyer who didn;t realise that mohair was animal hair to which she has extreme reactions. I'd rather ppl be happy with what they receive and feel safe to buy from me, than to end up with a disgruntled buyer tarnishing my good reputation.
if your worried over the possibility of someone complaining against your babies and want to learn some things from this persons example - here are some issues that i've observed ...
the way the hannah's head is slumped back and body bent forward is to do with the weighting of the head. Obviously the weighting in the head is all pooled in the back of the skull and not dispursed enough. it also may have too much weight in the head. I've also found this slumping to occure if my body weighting falls just in the lower torso, or may simply need a greater amount (density) of polly fill in the upper part of the torso in order for the head to be suppoted while baby is in a sitting position and not for the weight of the head to squish down the shoulders and chest area that can be seen in the doll of question. This can be acheived even with the head remaining somewhat floppy when set of centre, so that it still has that natural movement to it.
to mottle my babies skin, i use a sea sponge or even a piece of sponge from a kitchen sponge - you know the type that come in rectangle's and about 1cm thikness... they have an inconsistant holie/rough surface, dabbing this very lightly so that the random patters from the sponge surface leave a random mottling effect on my baby's skin.
Hello, I'm a newbie on the site, but have been watching the Roborning movement for quite a while now. Thankyou Buffington for mentioning the link to the dvd for mottling the skin, I will be purchasing this myself shortly. I am currently reborning my second practice doll and think that my first one a sleeping 22inch berenguer came out okay, although the needles I used for the rooting didn't seem to be doing the job properly and left quite large plugs where the hair went in. All of my painting with the genesis heat paints went quite well, so much so that when a friend I hadn't seen in a while came round and saw her laying in the moses basket with her little layette and bonnet on, she actually asked who's baby I was looking after! So am VERY pleased there! She was amazed to find out that Cerina was actually a doll and has asked me to make one for her, too! I am currently awaiting the arrival of Secrist's new 15inch preemie Louise, and I also have two other dolls on the way from an ebay supplier, one of which is an ethnic baby and the other is an anatomically correct little boy.
When I mottle at the moment I take my pouncing sponge and pull it in half to get a jagged inside edge and I use this for pouncing instead of the usual outer edge. I find this gives more of a natural build up to the paints when done over several days (with Cerina I used 22 layers of very thinned down paint, but this was partly due to the internal veigning and internal wash being invisible due to the thickness of the vinyl, so I had to build the colours up ever so gradually on the outside). I also used a ****tail stick to add small milk spots and also to assist with the eyelid veining which I also continued onto the nose and just onto the cheek slightly. It added alot of realism.
I was kinda impatient and just got started and felt my own way as my dvd's etc from secrist hadn't arrived at the time. I always enjoyed art at school, plus I used to paint the warhammer 40000 figures - trying to make them look as real as possible, and I also paint statues and busts, again trying to make them look as real as possible. It's a kinda hobby of mine. I like to try and out-do myself each time.
Anyway, I have now ordered the german no barb needles and also the 42g 1 barb needles which I am going to practice on some cheap dolls from the bootsale with. I am thinking of having a go at rooting eyebrows too when I get the hang of it right.
By the way, Cuisle - I had a look at the pictures you've posted the link to. I do think maybe the body could use some adjustments which as LovesDolls has said can be acheived quite easily enough. Her colouring however (in my opinion) looks absolutely gorgeous, whereas the doll she has been compared to seems a little too orange for my personal taste, and (again, in my own opinion) looks too fake for my liking. I would much have preferred to buy the first one. Her complexion looks much more natural and in keeping with how I would expect a baby of that age to look.
the german rooting needles are fantastic!!!! I've found them far easier and better to use than the old felting needles, even though they do say that they need practise and experiance, personally i found them easier so *shrugs*
What can I say but THANK YOU EVERYONE! I have learnt so much from what you have written here. Yes, I was upset about the way people were behaving, but I really wanted opinions too. I also want to try this mottling - AND on a Hanna mold. I didn't know how to do it, for a start, and I was terrified about the reactions of people. I didn't like the orange tones - that's what I wanted to avoid. You have all been very, very helpful and I am very grateful to you all. Thank goodness this is a "family" forum - I can't handle animosity. Now I'm going to go ahead and try mottling - even though I'm very inexperienced.
I have a warning though if it applies to anybody here. The "cooking" temperature of GHS Paints is 130 degrees Celsius. I got it wrong because I couldn't convert Farenheit to Celsius - melted a "practise" toy doll (made in China) and almost had a disaster with my beautiful Lollipop - the limbs picked up some green dye from the teatowel I had them on, and were "textured" with lined texture. Only tiny bits. I managed to disguise the green colour by overpainting, but couldn't remove the linen texture. All because I couldn't convert Farenheit to Celsius.
I do want to really thank you all for posting on this subject "nicely". Obviously we must be a cut above the others on that forum as we were not catty or crude/rude about it. And since this IS a family forum I appreciate you keeping within the rules about snipping and playing nice . I'd hate to have to send anyone to their room for a time out .
If I offended anyone asking not to bring that here, I deeply appologize. I did not mean to offend, I just wanted to keep the peace, which is part of my job here as moderator. lol
And I am not allowed as moderator to get involved in discussions like that from other forums (even if I do have a personal opinion). So if anyone was offended or I made them mad, I appologize.
I think you're a great moderator. I was getting very worried about things - wondering what on earth this dolly world was all about. Then I discovered all the lovely people here and I gained new "heart", if you like. I really love dolls, and art. In coming to "newborning" I'm combining three of my hobbies - dolls, art, and craft (knitting and crocheting outfits for the baby dolls).
Thank you everyone for being so kind and helpful - you are a lovely bunch and I appreciate you all. I'm very happy about discovering this Forum - thanks to the Secrist CD (the one that went with the newborning DVD in the big (ultra) "newborning" kit.
I've tried using the berrymakers for the mottling and am having no success with it whatsoever. *sigh* I cut the tips off the berry makers. Used the x-large one with the coral color, then did a purple wash, I then went over that (curing each layer) with the medium berry maker with the pale blue. The only place I can tell I did anything is where the purple wash got into crevices! ARGHHH! HELP?
I need help with the mottling too. I tried, using washes, ddaubing the circles, curing, another coloured wash, same procedure - but all I got was a mess. I finally decided to make her "normal" - an older baby. I used a lot of paint.
However, I won't give up - I want to try again. Are there any other ways of getting the mottled look please?
What I teach my students with the motteling is to use a "natural" sea sponge (the synthetics don't cut it IMHO) and put on one color of paint at a time. Then when you have your flesh 07 on for example, take your cosmetic sponge and lightly pounce the colors just enough to blend A LITTLE but to flatten them out so there's not all that texture.
Then I do the same with a different flesh color (baking in between though). Then I do some of my blushing color the same way. Be sure to keep all layers thin. Eventually (and you gotta have some patience) you will see the fruits of your labor come through.
Give it a go this way and see if that works for you. You may be surprised!
Also, did any of you get the Special Reborn Encyclopedia where Danielle shows how to use the berrymakers? If not, I recommend it, if so, well, I know I need practice, practice, practice with them!!!
There are soooo many different ways to do the mottling. If you're just starting out I'd just pick one you feel comfortable with and keep working with it for a while until you feel more brave about experimenting.
It also depends on what kind of mottling you're looking for.
If you just want the natural variations of skin tones I'd go with the method on Secrist's Painting with GHSP DVD. This is really good for 'visual' learners too.
If you want even more variations, I'd try some of the tutorial books from Excellence in Reborn Artistry. She works a lot with various sponges.
In the new Secrist Tutorial Encyclopedia DVD they do a method of putting on a coat of red and then removing the paint in small circles with a berrymaker. (There is more to this technique...but I don't want to be accused of stealing their work )
There is also the 'flushed newborn skin' tutorial (there's a link on the Secrist site to Angelsun's tutorial...and it's also in the Secrist tut/catalog) where you ADD the whiter spots using a berrymaker. NOTE: I find this technique works better if you use the Genesis thinner.
Even if you just go with the idea of using sponges, there's a LOT of sponges to choose from. Also I think using a stencil brush to do the blushing helps a lot. (Even it out slightly with a cosmetic wedge....or don't ) How much you blend it all in makes a differnce too. (You can leave some parts more 'rough' looking.)
Something I've done recently is: after I've done all my painting, I put a very light coat of pink/red all over and then use a berrymaker or my round StyleStix (like a berrymaker but round on the end...made by the same people that make the berrymakers) to remove the paint in little circles. (Kind of like a honeycomb.) I'm really pale, so I can look at my own skin for examples of mottling .
My best advice is find baby pics on the internet (or look at babies in real life) and study all the variations in their skin. Try to recreate the things you saw when you paint (if you're REALLY adventureous ((Like I am...sometimes )) think of how you would paint it to get it to look real if you didn't know any reborning techniques. You might come up with something new and better.)
I should also add Stephanie Sullivan has a book out (on her site) with a nice (advanced) mottling technique toward the end.
Matygirl -- thank you for all the helpful information. I ordered the Secrist $7.95 book and hope it helps. The Angel's Unaware tutorial hasn't been very helpful to me. I'm hoping the book is better. I will try the removing paint rather than adding it. Should be interesting. I plan on doing this for a while so I'll have plenty of dolls to practice different techniques on!
Hi, this may sound ridiculus, but one day I was trying to find ANYTHING around the house to make small spots. I happen to look down and seen one of my Granddaughters larger flat legos!! I know, funny!! LOL But, what I did is take a piece of aluminum foil and mixed up my blood color. I rubbed the lego in it, rocked it on my dolls leg and arms. I had a sponge with a little thinner on it and right after I did the dots I pressed the wet sponge on it to take some of the color off. Then I have this brush, lord I wish I could remember what it's called from painting my crafts years ago. It's flat, long bristled and has a feathered end. ? I then took this brush and dipped it in the color and and squiggled lines from dot to dot and then did the sponge thing again. It really makes the mottling look real!! Can ya believe that? I was excited to think a lego would work! I had tried sponges and all the other recommended things also like the berry makers without it looking good or normal. I just had to share this crazy discovery! Talk about funny stories that are true. Tina
I just wanted to note that when I published the "Flushed Newborn Skin" http://www.angelsunawares.net/tech1.html tutorial with the berry makers back in 2006 on my website, that this was intended as an advanced technique for experienced painters. It was never intended to be used as basic mottling. Basic mottling is a entirely different subject.
The color palette was developed specifically for the Interested Berenguer shown in the tutorial. Dolls from various companies vary dramatically in their base color and adjustments have to be made to the color palette accordingly. The exact same colors across the board are not going to work on every doll or at least they're not going to give the same result. (The exception being if all of the dolls are from the same company in the same vinyl color.)
Additionally, this technique was done with paints mixed with the non-toxic Genesis thinning medium. For those who are not familiar with this method, there are FREE instructions here: http://www.angelsunawares.net/genesis2.html Being an asthmatic; I only use the non-toxic medium for mixing my paints, so cannot speak as to whether or not the method works with alternate products/mixing methods.
Hope this helps clarify some of the misconceptions.