Air Dry Paint Tutorial

I’m going to break this up into a few parts over a few days as I haven’t finished painting yet but thought it would be good to get started on the write up.

Please note this is not the only way to use the paints it is just how I use them, it is always good to experiment.

I am using bloomers n bows air dry paints but I believe these techniques work with the other brands of air dry paints available, you can use the same techniques you use when you paint with ghsp its just the mixing that is different

You will need:
Paints
Blending gel
Thinner
Water (2 -3 containers)
Brushes, sponges
Matte varnish (optional)
Paper Towel to cover your work area
Damp towel
Dry towel
Tooth picks for cleaning creases

ADD IN OTHER DETAILS FOR BIRACIAL AND AA TUTORIALS....

Important, Gayle suggests to do between one and 3 layers of each colour depending on the look you want and how thick or thin you have mixed the paints.  You can test the thickness of your paint on the top of the doll's head if it is too thin you can add more paint or do extra layers if its to thick just add more thinner

Step 1: Set up your work area with paper towel or what ever you choose to protect your work space with. You will need a damp towel I use this for dabbing my sponges on. I like to have 3 tubs of water, 1 for cleaning brushes in, 1 of dampening sponges or paint brush and 1 in case I make a mistake. I also fill up a paint well on the little palette with thinner this is helpful to clean up mistakes also.



Step 2: Add small equal amounts of flesh base and flesh highlight and roughly an equal amount of Ultra Matte - Mix Together using Small Spoon or Wooden Mixing Stick.

Next add a very tiny amount of Blue Belly Veil as a Color Neutralizing Wash (you want the blue to be only just slightly noticeable in your mix) mix thoroughly into the paint puddle and then add aprox 10 to 12 drops of thinner, paint on to a cosmetic wedge and dab your wedge on a damp towel to remove excess paint. Pounce with your sponge all over blending in your pounces so that there are no noticeable 'edges' to the paint application from the cosmetic wedge.

After each layer gently go over creases with your Dry Feathering Brush to remove any paint build up.


Try to keep layers light and thin, feather in-between layers as they dry to keep creases from collecting excess paint. We suggest 1 to 3 layers for realism - remember to keep them thin and light.  Remember 'Less is Best' when applying paint to reborns.

Step 3: Blue Thin Skin Layer - - take the Blue Belly Veil and add a touch of the Lip & Nail Berry tint.  Mix in Ultra Matte as above, add 10 drops of thinner. Paint on the areas where thin skin naturally appears (Inside of arms, temples, wrists, ankles, in front of ears, etc) then blend with your sponge, repeat until you are happy with the colour strength and natural appearance.



Step 4: Mix Blue Belly Veil with a tiny touch of Purple and a tiny touch of Flesh Hi-Lite tone with thinner to the consistency you like and paint your veins.  Try to give veins a natural look, they look best with no defined beginning or end to their look.

Step 5: First Blush - - Mix Rosy Cheeks blush with Ultra Matte and approx 10 drops of thinner. Paint onto a sponge and dab paint off on damp towel, pounce over your baby.



Step 6:  Mix Flesh Base and Flesh Hi-Lite with a touch of Purple plus a touch of Ultra Matte, adding approx 10 to 12 drops of thinner the colour change in the paint should be barely noticeable



Wet your Kitchen Textured Sponge squeeze out excess water and press between dry towel so the sponge is barely damp. Paint onto kitchen sponge or other textured sponge dab off excess paint and pounce randomly over baby

Step 7: First Mottling Layer. Mix a touch of the Purple with Lip & Nail Berry with a touch of Blue Belly Veil to come up with a nice dark red/purple. Blend together and then Mix in a touch of the Ultra Matte. Add 12 to 14 drops of thinner. Paint on the edge of the damp kitchen sponge folded in half... dab of excess and roll over area you want mottled using a dabbing and rolling motion so there are no defined edges to your work (eliminating the appearance of defined sponge edges to your paint work will help reborn's kind look more natural as it dries)



Step 8: Mix Flesh Base and Flesh Hi-Lite with a touch of Asian Yellow Ochre plus a touch of Ultra Matte, adding approx 10 to 12 drops of thinner the colour change in the paint should be barely noticeable.  Wet your Kitchen Textured Sponge squeeze out excess water and press between dry towel so the sponge is barely damp. Paint onto kitchen sponge or other textured sponge dab off excess paint and pounce randomly over baby



Step 9: Second Blushing - - mix equal parts rosy cheeks blush and nailbed blush & lip tint with Ultra Matte and add 10 to 12 drops of thinner. Paint onto a cosmetic sponge dab excess off. Blush your baby.