You definitely need a lot of patience to make a good quality doll. Sometimes takes years of practice to make your ‘perfect’ doll. I made my very first doll in 2013 and am still learning things. It’s a great hobby, but definitely very time consuming and expensive. I’ve been frustrated so many times since I’ve been painting dolls. But there is a lot of great advice on this forum and topics to read through thanks to all of the lovely people on here answering questions and helping others. If you really truly want to make dolls but don’t want to practice on any expensive doll kits, I recommend maybe trying to paint on a regular cheap baby doll. You can build up your own techniques and find out how you prefer to paint your dolls. 
2 Likes
Whatever you do decide. Just know, that if yoi come back here to seek the same answers youve already asked many times, your going to get the same answers
9 Likes
I know you’re not crazy about the idea of trying to sell, but if you do sell your first babies, you can make money to buy more kits and keep practicing.
I had the intent to sell from the beginning, that’s what I did. I marketed them as boo-boo babies and sold them CHEAPLY. My buyers were ecstatic. I undervalued my reborns quite a bit, I’m sure, but I wanted to make back enough cash to buy more kits. That was my goal, way back then.
I think you should consider this, if you really want to push through and try to keep reborning. But you seem so ambivalent.
1 Like
Why don’t you keep painting over the same kit or even part of one until you’ve nailed it then try another? It would be far less expensive than a different kit each time!
If you aren’t selling the dolls though and want them only for yourself getting them perfect quickly really shouldn’t matter as only you will see them unless you choose to show them someone. Do what you can to begin with, keep practising and improving then go back and alter/redo the first ones. That’s what I’ve done with my dogs.
5 Likes
It would be beneficial to stop buying new kits until you get the hang of it. Have you completed any?
2 Likes
No i havent and i brought them all a few months back
just think you need continued encouragement. If you wanted to give up, you would be selling everything. I’ve been there so many times. I’m Not a natural. I started in 2017 and have struggled along. I do it because in a way it keeps me sane, and I don’t stress too much about finishing a doll. I don’t take customs… that’s a hassle and stressful. I can walk away from a doll and go back to it to work on it anytime. Or I can throw it in the bag and forget about it and begin another kit. Most of the time, I finish what I start. I’ve had a lot of encouragement along the way, and I hope I can encourage you if you’re going to continue. Take your time. Watch lots of YouTube videos. I started off with heat set paint and still using them. I tried air dry and it was not good for me. Hugs and do your research
Edited to add…I can easily walk from painting for a while also, as I’m an artisan soap maker and a baker too, so I have plenty to keep me busy…find more hobbies to mingle together
2 Likes
Yeah true. I have used heatset irhsp and didnt like it. I dont really like working with oils. So i have gone back to air dry. I do like it but its hard
1 Like
Well, at least you have direction to stick with air dry! You Tube has a wealth of information on air dry painting reborns. They make it look easy, but keep going and practicing. 
1 Like
You need to find an online tutorial and follow it to complete a baby. You can’t tell if it’s good or not after 1 or 2 layers.You can go step by step by pausing your computer to do what the instructor says, Then unpause for the next layer.
3 Likes
Why don’t you try these:
It says they just paint straight on with no mixing required and dry in 10mins. Might be easier to get the hang of.
1 Like
I paint dolls just for myself. I’m not that great compared with other artists’ work-- but I enjoy the process and the feeling of creating my own babies. I get sentimentally /emotionally attached to each one lol even though they aren’t “perfect”. And I learn each time.
I use air dry and I go in cycles- like sometimes I spend months admiring others work online and enjoying my own collection, sometimes I get excited about new kits I’m anticipating, and sometimes I have a go at painting.
I could have just bought a very expensive perfect doll a decade ago and not gone through the process of trying to learn to reborn. But I LOVE the hobby- it makes me feel calm, happy, peaceful and I look forward to seeing new sculpts and artists work - even tho I will never create dolls that look as good as that. Reborn dolls are one of my “happy places”. I LOVE my dolls!!
If it doesn’t make you happy, but is a source of frustration, as others have said repeatedly, maybe it’s not for you.
But if u find that you’re okay with less than perfection I think it can still be a very enjoyable hobby. If not, you can try to buy a completed doll that has the look/features you want and save yourself a lot of time and enjoy the work of an artist that enjoyed creating your doll. That is okay too. It’s okay to try new things and it’s okay to stop doing things that don’t bring you joy.
3 Likes
If this is how you truly feel about it then I do not understand the many posts here you have seemingly in despair about it. You do not need the approval of us to keep doing something you enjoy if it brings you peace regardless of how imperfect your work may be. If it is for you and you are happy then that is your answer. If not then I see you can draw and do other things. You just do you boo. That is all that matters.
6 Likes
Thank you eveyone. Im going to persevere because i really do like reborns and want to be good at painting them. I want to learn the primary method as i feel that will be better for me then using the flesh tones from the paints themselves.
2 Likes
I really want to get good at it and be proud of myself. I have decided to persevere and learn the primary method of building up layers of skin tones. My question is. Can you use the primary colours for blush,lips and nails
Darling… as recommended, you need to find and follow a tutorial…
9 Likes
There are literally hundreds of tutorials on YouTube. You need to watch a bunch, take notes, watch again. I watched them over & over for months before I even considered buying the supplies or starting to paint. We keep telling you to watch the tutorials, learn the process, and practice. You’re not willing to do that so any little tidbits of info/advice anyone here gives is not going to fix your problems. This is not the hobby for you. Sorry to be so blunt. A lot of people like to take the sweet helpful uplifting approach. But I say why beat around the bush. Sometimes the truth is just the only thing to say.
8 Likes
I agree. Im not sure what the barrier here is, but its getting frustrating. Same posts, same questions, same self doubt. Yet its very clear no tutorials or research has been saught after. At first it was like oh hey keep going. But at this point you should stop. You asked, we answered, yet the oppsite is always done. I dont get it. 
I dislike being mean but i highly doubt any learning will take place at this point. Maybe its the community you seek? Its ok to just collect dolls, you dont HAVE to paint them
7 Likes
I have learnt a bit from watching tutorials online but im the type of person who learns by doing rather then watching. I dont quite comprehend things the same way as others so sometimes i get things wrong. I suspect i suffer from adhd as im on antipsychotic medication which lowers my dopamine. Im neurodiverse. I have done my art like that from when i was young up to now. Its a completely new type of art for me and tbh i am struggling with comprehending and where to place the paint. I have looked up on how to do it and it does help.
I have retained some of the information from this and it is helping me. I also struggle with the way the paint drys on the vinyl. Its splotchy and leaves an out line which was why i was so upset with the first one i did. People have been saying to add slow dry and retarder but i dont quite know how these work.
Everyone has their own way of working with it and i am trying my hardest.
Thank you so much for this, im watching now
2 Likes