This is a single layer of ink over an existing screening that took maybe 3 minutes. I did nothing to her left eye (facing you) and nothing to her top lip. Her right eye has one stroke of black over the upper eyelash. Her brow bone has one stroke of sepia that was immediately shaded and smeared downward using a dry paint brush. Her bottom lip has one stroke of magenta that was shaded upward using a dry brush.
A single layer is very subtle but you can still see a difference. The more layers you add, of course, the deeper and richer the color. You can use a dry brush or dry q-tip for shading. If you don't like it, you can use a wet q-tip to remove the ink, but you have to do it quickly.
Next I'm going to do a complete repaint using my half Bratz face that lost its screening in 100% acetone. Although you can get [white ink in a bottle] or a ["ivory" ink pen] (scroll downward at the links), I've never purchased or tried any, so I'm just using plain white paint for the eye whites. You can put this on with a brush or sponge.
Except for the white in her eyes, everything else is strictly ink. I used black, sepia, green, dark yellow and red. This took me about an hour to do. Yes, I know it's very sloppy, but I never said I could paint or draw a straight line, for that matter. 0.o This is multiple layers (3-4) of ink blended with a dry brush. The dry brush technique isn't a necessity, because you can blend the different inks with each other just by stroking one layer over the other.
From a distance, this repaint ain't half bad, so imagine what you could achieve if you have a steady hand or can actually paint. The best tip I can give is to create highlights by stroking a light color over a darker one. It will take away some of the color underneath leaving you with a gradual blended change. Also, clean off the tips of your pens by stroking over a piece of white paper until the true color shows. Otherwise, all that blending will leave you with messy tips.
Hope this helps ^_^.
Thanks for posting this! I'm going to soon start my first total face repaint, so this will be handy when that time rolls around.
ReplyDeleteVerona, you're flocking and now repainting. Next you are going to build your own body!
DeleteGood tip on the highlighting. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi, Roville. You're welcome!
DeleteGreat job Muff! Thanks for the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Georgia Girl! ^__^
DeleteGreat job, Muff and thanks for the links. The last time I tried painting a Barbie's face I was about 8 and used a biro which bled into the plastic. You can imagine the result. Maybe I should try again.
ReplyDeleteHi, Carrickters and you're welcome! If you do try painting again, please post some photos.
Delete@Muff - thanks for sharing these tips. I'll refer back to them when I do my repainting ;-D
Delete@Carrickters - OMG, I used ballpoint ink on some of my dolls, too. Bad choice indeed ;-{
You're welcome, Dana! LOL, I used to use an ink pen to draw on my jeans when I was a teenager. Good times.
DeleteIt's just wonderful what you make with those ink markers, I have not tried yet my first repaint, I'm too afraid of making a total crap!! Thanks for the tutorial, I found it very useful.
ReplyDeleteRossetti, you rescue a lot of old dolls. Maybe one of them would be willing to try out a makeover.
DeleteAh steady hands...my biggest dream ever.
ReplyDeleteThe repaint seems to be really nice, i think that with a bit of practice you will be good, really good. I could upload MY attempts, but my pride forbade me :)
Your tutorials are as ever helpful and interesting, thanks so much for sharing!
LOL, Mistakes. I guess my pride button is broken because I'm always showing the messes I've made.
DeleteThanks Muff! I am recently experimenting with a few things and it just wasnt turning out right like I hoped but i will go back and try these methods!!! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteAnytime, Jay! I hope you get the look you are going for.
DeleteI really like the outcome of your Bratz re-ink!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't have done it better myself xD I like the colors a lot and the shading is very nice! I bet that if you practise for a while you could be a great re-inker!
Thanks, Tali! I do know that practice makes perfect so maybe one day I'll really get into repaints.
DeleteHi Muf, it's great and useful tutorial. Congratulations !!!
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Poland ;)
Hi, Marille! Greetings from Florida! Thanks so much for commenting! ^_^
DeleteAnother amazing tutorial :) I'd like to do repaints, sadly I don't have a good hands and the por doll turns out like a trans
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sergio! I think the shakes is probably my greatest frustration with repaints. Technique is one thing, but when your hand wobbles around regardless, it's quite annoying.
DeleteActually, I've been wondering whether bottled acrylic ink would be good for doll repaints, or if it's too diluted. I guess as long as you have the patience for several coats it should be fine. :)
ReplyDeleteAnderson, this might sound weird, but if you apply a "dry layer" then yes, multi coats will be fine. And by that I mean don't have a heavily loaded brush. If you dip it, then wipe the excess off the side of the bottle and then brush the tip against a paper towel before laying it on a doll, you'll get "dry" application instead of a "wet" one.
DeleteBut I dunno, I wonder what a wet, watercolor effect would look like. Hmmm.
Very informative, Muff! Thanks for the tips and the links. I agree with Georgia Girl and Carrickters, you did a great job for this demonstration.
ReplyDeletedbg
Thanks so much, DBG! ^__^
DeleteMuchas gracias¡¡¡ muy buenos consejos¡¡¡¡¡ genial¡
ReplyDeleteHi, Sarai and you're welcome!
DeleteHello from Spain: awesome paint job. You are very skillful. I can not do anything. Keep in touch
ReplyDeleteHi, Marta and thanks for your compliment! ^__^
DeleteNice job! I love her new look. Any sealing required or no?
ReplyDeleteHiya, Vanessa! If you are going to be touching the face in any way then yes, I would seal with satin varnish for the lips (or gloss if you want them wet looking) and matte varnish for anything else.
DeleteOften times I don't seal because I'm not a big face toucher, but when I do, I wait a day before applying anything because if you seal immediately after inking you are likey to stroke the ink off.
Hi Muff, you inspired me to do a doll head/body transfer. I was afraid of doing it before because I thought I would mess up a perfectly good doll, but I didn't. I'll be posting pictures later on my blog if you want to see the results. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteTracy, when I click on your profile it does not have a blog link. :(
DeleteOnce you've posted your photos, please give me a link so I can be nosy and see your tranfer, thanks!
Okay, Thanks Muff. Lol
DeleteYou give me so much inspiration! I really admire your courage to experiment with dolls. Please, feel appreciated with this nomination: http://ihime.blogspot.com/2013/01/liebster-blog.html :)
ReplyDeleteAww, IHime! Thank you so much and I do feel appreciated by this comment and nomination!
DeleteHi I like your repaints! I do have a question though once you repaint the head can you take your repaint off or does it stain the vinyl?
ReplyDeleteHi, Mara and welcome! Short answer to your question is yes, you can take off your repaint with pure acetone (faster) or nail polish remover (slower). Does it stain the vinyl is a trickier response. Staining depends on several factors; the quality of the ink, the quality of the vinyl and whether or not you sealed the head with varnish before you put any ink or paint on it.
DeletePlease take a look at these other posts of mine where I go into depth on my inking techniques and attempts. Scroll all the way down in the Bieber post and you'll see a section on inking and longevity concerns.
Adventures in Repainting, Take 2
A Tale of Two Biebers
If you read through those or not, in any case, here is my final answer to the second part of your question. Using pure acetone, I just removed 1/2 of the faces from every male doll in the Adventures in Repainting, Take 2 post. So, I can say with certainty, that 1 year and 2 months later, none of those dolls were stained by Faber Castell ink. However, eye socket areas where I applied the white Gelly Roll pen are clearly lighter than their original vinyl. The only way to insure that the vinyl does not stain is to seal it with varnish before you apply any inks or paint. None of my dolls were sealed before I started.
Hope this helps!