The Best Online Reborn Help Forum!

dkinslow · Member

A newcomer-Help!

Dee · Guru

Hi Deb welcome to the forum, just google reborn doll kits you should be able to find what ever supplies you are looking for.

-- Edited by Dee on Thursday 5th of November 2009 03:33:37 AM

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

Hi Deb! Glad you're here! I started with the Secrist Zoe kit complete with the DVD showing you how. I'm glad I did. It helped a lot! I think Secrist has the best training DVD's for beginners. All of them have been extremely helpful. I have never done porcelain dolls, or any dolls for that matter, but I imagine reborning is different in several ways. Good luck and happy reborning! Hugs, Melinda

Tina W. · Guru

I started with a kit, some of them come with everthing. You'll even have enough paint for a couple of dolls. It's a great way to test the waters and see if you like reborning before your drop a ton of money in it. I found it the cheapest way to go for starting out.

dkinslow · Member

O.K. Thanks for the advise!! Can't wait to order and try it. I'm sure I'll have questions.! Deb

Tina W. · Guru

BB has complete kits at a reasonable price. I'll PM you a few sites that might help also as Melinda said, Secrist dvd for beginners is an awesome dvd to start learning.

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Welcome to the forum! I'm so glad you found us.

If you used to do porcelain dolls, I think you will definitely love this art. Secrist Dolls specializes in introducing beginners to the art of newborning/reborning, and has kits that include everything you need to newborn a doll. BB has these also. Secrist pioneered the all-inclusive kit concept on a large scale basis, and I am more familiar with the Secrist products because I learned the art through Secrist.

Since you have porcelain experience, I think you could comfortably jump in with Kit 3. It is for confident beginners as well as more experienced learners. Kit 3 is a springboard to more advanced skills that each artist develops, and comes with the doll parts and everything else you need to complete a doll. Check it out at http://www.secristdolls.com/inc/sdetail/60131

The kit will include pre-mixed Authentic Reborn Paints from Secrist. These paints are similar to Genesis paints except specific colors are already mixed, and paint thinner does not need to be added to the paint. Both Genesis Artist Colors (usually referred to as Genesis, Heat Set paints, or GHSP) and Authentic Reborn paints require the paint to be heated to "set" or cure the paint.

After you go through Kit 3, you can continue refining your technique and experiment with more advanced ideas. Secrist also has other materials available such as the Special Newborn Techniques DVD (http://www.secristdolls.com/inc/sdetail/34890)

Another good DVD series that Secrist has is the Art of Newborning series with Stephanie Sullivan. These were made before the advent of the pre-mixed paints, and teach you something about Genesis paints and mixing colors to achieve each effect.

As the others have mentioned there are some other sites that might also help. Some have tutorials, too. Search the web for reborn doll kits.

I know you'll have more questions so please come back and ask other questions.

Hope this helps to get you started!

dkinslow · Member

Thank-you for the help! I was pondering #3 kit,but didn't know if I'ld be jumping too far ahead. It's just learning to use differant kinds of paints and processing.As I have attended many classes on porcelain doll painting. Does the #3 class also go through the beginning of how to start with the doll?, or is it just an extention from #2? Thanks so much-Deb

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Hi Deb,
I'll try to get back to you on this, Deb. I haven't watched the DVD in a long time and cannot remember exactly how it starts. I remember thinking at the time I watched that it would work for a beginner who had some artistic experience. I really doubt you would need to watch DVD1 and DVD2 if you start with DVD3. I think it may spend less time on the beginning steps. I do know more time is spent on skills not introduced in the previous 2 DVDs. Again... I need to preview it again unless someone else knows for sure.

Buffington · Guru

Hi Deb and welcome to our forum! Glad to have you here.
I have made porcelains for 20 years and already knew about mixing colors to get the colors I needed. We also pounced our china paints and so does the Secrist method but his does it with a make up triangle instead of the large mop brush (although he gets into that now with shadowing). As far as the other techniques I think you'll do fine, and the brushes are all what we have used in porcelain doll making.

Like Linda said, if you want to learn more mixing on your own then go ahead and get 1&2. They also have a beginners classroom & advanced and I think those are excellent as you can stop them any time and re-watch a section.

If you really want to jump in with both feet then I suggest the large container set of colors (not premixed colors). That's what I got and I have done many many dolls and still have paints left. But then I like to do things the basic way (like learning on a manual camera instead of an automatic) KNIM?

So I hope that helps you more... Any more questions, be sure to ask :)

dkinslow · Member

Hello,Is there a differance between reborning and newborning?

Dee · Guru

Hi Deb, reborning is when you use a play doll bought from a store take it apart strip away paint repaint it add a new body eyes root hair or wig . newborning is buying a kit with no paint so that you can paint it and watch it become a lifelike baby.

Buffington · Guru

Exactly put Dee!

dkinslow · Member

Thank-you, Thank-you! I'm glad I asked! Now I know what I need to watch for when purchasing. I thought it was maybe the same and I was asking a stupid question! I have yet to receive my DVD or kit. So getting anxious to read and view things. Sure glad this forum is here! Deb

Dee · Guru

Deb, don't be afraid to ask questions that's why we are here to help one another, get as much information as you can before starting, I can't wait to see your first baby!

Dee · Guru

Thanks Pat

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Deb, I thought of something else to explain the differences between the DVD sets.

Secrist currently sells three types of paints. They are:

Authentic Reborn Brand Gentle Touch Paints
Authentic Reborn Brand High Intensity Paints
Genesis Artist Colors (a.k.a. Genesis Heat Set Paints, and described as GHSP" by some artists)

There is an explanation of the various types of paint carried by Secrist. You can find it at http://www.secristdolls.com/introducing_authentic_reborn_paints

The sets that are labeled "Course # 1", "Course # 2", and "Course # 3" focus on using the Authentic Reborn GENTLE TOUCH Paints that are pre-mixed.

The "Art of Newborning - Painting with Genesis Heat Set Paints" DVD demonstrates the use of the highly pigmented Genesis paints (Authentic Reborn HIGH INTENSITY paints are similar). This series shows how to mix paint with odorless thinner, as well as how to combine colors.

The "Art of Newborning - Advanced Classroom DVD" is described as teaching more advanced concepts that include how to mix your own paints, special shading, color wheel theory, etc. Once again, this features the high intensity paints such as Genesis and the Authentic Reborn High Intensity paints.

The Art of Newborning DVDs are older than the Course # 1 - 3 DVDs. Artists with advanced skills don't hesitate to mix colors--even if the pre-mixed paints are used because they know color theory. Even though the Art of Newborning series focuses on the use of the high intensity paint, the color wheel theory and advanced concepts would be beneficial regardless of which heat set paints are used.

I hope this helps you to make a decision if you haven't already.

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Deb,

It's me again. I received the following clarification from the office regarding DVD contents. I have pasted the information below.

"The Course #3 DVD doesn't just include the materials from Course #1 and #2, it expounds on them. The Course #1, #2, and #3 DVDs are set up in 3, 5, and 13 steps, respectively. A complete beginner can start on any Course kit. They are not set up by skill level but rather as depth; Course #1 is a miniature version of reborning, Course #2 is a introduction to reborning, and Course #3 is a full reborning experience. I have proposed some new names for the starter kits to clarify these differences. I think the names should reflect the purpose of the kits so people can more easily see that they can start on any kit."

I hope this helps you to make a decision. My personal opinion is that you should just go straight to Course # 3.

Please let me know if you have any further questions.

-- Edited by Play Days Dolls on Saturday 21st of November 2009 09:48:46 PM

dkinslow · Member

Thank-you! That really helps to decide which dvd to purchase. Thanks for explaining!!Deb

dkinslow · Member

That really helps explain the differances in the paints!! It's a little confusing sometimes. So,you gals sure know how to help! I hope I learn how to enjoy this as much as porcelain,if not more.! Deb

Play Days Dolls · Guru

I'm so glad I was able to explain it.

I really think you will enjoy this as much, if not more, than porcelain. If you aren't sure, I would suggest purchasing the smallest amount of paint/supplies so you can try it without a major expenditure. The paints really go a long way.