Genesis Paints For Reborn Dolls: A Step-By-Step Guide

Painting a reborn doll with Genesis Heat-Set paint is a popular choice for artists due to its convenience, versatility, and ease of use, and ability to create a realistic, life-like look. The process of painting a reborn doll with Genesis Heat-Set paint involves several steps, including preparing the workspace, applying base layers, using various painting techniques, and baking the doll in a dedicated oven to cure the paint. Artists may also choose to add finishing touches such as varnish or glazing to enhance the overall appearance of the reborn doll. With the right tools, techniques, and attention to detail, artists can create high-quality, life-like reborn dolls using Genesis Heat-Set paint.

Preparing your workspace

To prepare your workspace for painting a reborn doll with Genesis Heat-Set Paints, you will need to gather the necessary materials and create a suitable work environment. Here is a step-by-step guide:

• Invest in a separate oven: It is recommended to use a separate oven for curing the painted parts of the reborn doll. Using a regular kitchen oven can result in unwanted shine, melting, or warping of the vinyl doll. A small, good-quality oven that can reach and maintain a temperature of 265°F (130°C). A convection oven is specifically recommended for heat-setting Genesis paints as it heats more uniformly without "hot spots".
• Choose a well-ventilated area: It is important to set up your workspace in a well-ventilated area. When vinyl is heated to high temperatures (around 260°F to 265°F), it releases toxic and potentially carcinogenic fumes. Therefore, adequate ventilation is crucial to ensure your safety.
• Cover your work surface: Set up a table or workbench where you can comfortably paint your reborn doll. Cover the surface with old newspapers or magazines to prevent accidental spills and protect the furniture. Even with a steady hand, paint spills can occur, and it is easier to clean up if you have a protective layer underneath.
• Gather your painting supplies: You will need a glass or ceramic dish or palette for mixing your paints. Avoid using paper or plastic as the paint will adhere and become unusable. Along with your paints, prepare your paintbrushes, cosmetic sponge wedges, cups of water for cleaning brushes, and paper towels. It is recommended to have various sizes of paintbrushes for different effects.
• Prepare thinner and varnish: For thinning the paint, use an artist-grade odorless paint thinner or white/clear spirit. Alternatively, you can use Genesis Heatset Thinning Medium, which is a thick gel-like medium that effectively thins Genesis paints. If you plan to use a varnish, Genesis offers three options: Satin, Matte, and Super Matte.
• Wash and dry the doll kit: Before beginning the painting process, ensure that your reborn doll kit is thoroughly washed and dried. This step is crucial to ensure that there is no buildup, dust, or hair on the surface of the doll before you start painting.

Once your workspace is prepared and you have all the necessary materials, you can begin the painting process, following the specific techniques and methods recommended for Genesis Heat-Set Paints.

Choosing the right paint

The first step in painting a reborn doll is choosing the right paint. Genesis heat-set paints are a popular choice for reborn dolls because they are easy to apply, look natural, and can be set whenever you please. Most experienced doll artists agree that Genesis paint is the best option for creating a high-quality reborn.

However, it's important to note that Genesis paints require a separate oven to cure the painted parts of the doll. Vinyl releases toxic and potentially carcinogenic fumes at high temperatures, so it's crucial to use a dedicated oven and keep it in a well-ventilated space. This also limits the size of the doll you can paint, as it needs to fit in the oven.

If you're new to painting reborn dolls, it's recommended to start with a simple base layer or primer. You can use thinning medium mixed with a little odourless thinner for this step. Let it dry for 12-24 hours, then bake it in the oven at 265 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes.

When choosing paint for your reborn doll, it's important to select high-quality paints to achieve life-like tones and texture. You'll also need several different shades to create the most realistic effect. Avoid using too much paint, as it can give the doll a chalky look. Instead, use thin layers of paint and build up the desired effect.

Applying the base layer

To start, you will need to prepare your workstation. Place your base colours (flesh colours) into a glass or ceramic dish or palette. Alongside your paints, lay out your paintbrushes, a couple of cups of water, and some paper towels to clean your brushes. You may also want to cover your workstation with old newspapers or magazines to prevent accidental spills.

Once you are set up, apply some of your lighter paint to the surface of a cosmetic sponge wedge and gently blot it across the surface of the doll's skin. It is recommended to start with light colours and work your way to darker shades to avoid mistakes. This technique is called "pouncing", where you bounce the sponge straight up and down until the paint smooths and spreads, giving the doll an even foundation similar to makeup. This step may take some time and practice to perfect, so be patient and remember that you can amend the foundational tone with red, blue, green, or yellow, or brown tones to achieve a variety of ethnicities or correct any strange-coloured vinyl.

Continue applying the base layer until you achieve a consistent skin tone throughout the doll. Once you are satisfied with the tone, you can place the doll in a preheated oven to bake for 5-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the paint layer. Remember to use a separate oven that is dedicated only to baking dolls, as vinyl releases toxic fumes at high temperatures.

After the paint has set, allow the doll to cool for about an hour before proceeding to the next layer of paint.

Painting the doll

Firstly, prepare your workstation. You will need a glass or ceramic dish or palette for your paints, as paint will adhere to paper or plastic. Lay out your paintbrushes, a couple of cups of water, and paper towels to clean them. You will also need a set of various-sized paintbrushes and foam cosmetic wedges to use on your reborn. Make sure your workstation is comfortable and you can easily reach all your supplies. If you intend to use heat-set paint, cover the table with old newspapers or magazines to prevent accidental spills.

Next, apply a base layer (primer) to the doll. You can use a thinning medium mixed with a little odourless thinner, applying it to half of the doll so that it doesn't touch anything inside the oven. Let this dry for 12-24 hours, inspecting it for any dust or hair, and then bake it twice for 10 minutes, allowing it to cool down between each session. Then, repeat the process on the other half of the doll.

Now, you can start painting the doll with your chosen colours. Start with the lighter colours and work your way up to the darker shades in case you make a mistake. You can use cosmetic sponge wedges to paint layers of skin tones onto the vinyl. A pouncing technique can be used to achieve a smooth foundation skin tone. You can amend this basic foundational tone with red, blue, green, or yellow, or brown tones to achieve a variety of ethnicities. Remember, use a tiny amount of very thin paint, as too much paint can cause the doll to look chalky.

Once you have achieved an even tone that you are satisfied with, place the doll in a preheated oven at 260-265°F and leave it to bake for 5-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the paint layer. Remember, you only want to heat the vinyl sufficiently to cure the paint, and nothing more. You will need a separate oven for this, as vinyl releases toxic and possibly carcinogenic fumes at high temperatures.

After the paint has set, let the doll cool for about an hour before painting a new layer. Subsequent heating is not a problem, and you can also use acrylic paints for base layers and apply Genesis Heat Set on top. You can also add details such as eyebrows using coloured pencils. Once all the details and blushing have been completed, you may bake the doll for the final time.

Baking the doll

Oven Preparation:

Firstly, ensure you have the right oven for baking your doll. It is recommended to use a separate, dedicated oven specifically for baking painted dolls, as the vinyl releases toxic and potentially carcinogenic fumes when heated. This oven should be kept in a well-ventilated area. A convection oven is ideal as it heats more uniformly without "hot spots". Adjust the oven thermostat to 265°F (130°C)—this temperature is crucial as the paints will not cure unless they reach this temperature. Use an accurate oven thermometer to ensure the correct temperature is reached.

Baking Process:

Once you have achieved an even paint tone that you are satisfied with, it's time to bake your doll. Place your doll in the preheated oven and leave it to bake for 5-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the paint layer. Remember, you only want to heat the vinyl sufficiently to cure the paint, so do not exceed the recommended temperature or baking time.

Cooling and Subsequent Layers:

After the initial baking process, allow the doll to cool for about an hour before painting a new layer. Subsequent heating is not a problem, and you can repeat the baking process for each layer. Once all the details and blushing have been completed, you may bake the doll for the final time.

Tips:

• Be mindful that higher temperatures can melt or warp a vinyl doll, so always ensure accurate temperature control.
• Do not use the same oven for baking dolls and cooking food.
• If using a smaller doll, you may decrease the baking time by a few minutes if your oven thermometer reads just above 265°F (130°C).
• If using a heat gun for smaller details, be careful not to bake any other part of the doll accidentally.

Frequently asked questions