If you learn by doing, then keep doing. The point that doesmt seem to get understood is your not going to paint a perfect reborn. Once you let that absorb you can finish a doll. Outlines and all. I dont really know what more advice i can give at this point. Its ok if reborning isnt for you. It doesnt make you a failure. I too have adhd, we all have our quirks, just do what makes you happy, and be happy doing it
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It was more the paint that was getting on my nerves. The fact that it leaves an outline like on this?
Its just not smooth but i like the colouring.
Yea i remember these from before. And i believe several of said your paint was likely too thick. If you didnt build those colors from atleast 3 layers then yes, too thick. It also doesnt look pounced but rather painted around and let to dry. Reborns are not a paper canvas. They get painted differently. Many many many translucent thin layers. Im not even halfway done with my current reborn and i have done atleast a dozen layers so far.
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A very good tutorial i learned from to paint my sam kit was leabelles tutorials. Most of her videos are in French but she has 2 complete air dry tutorials in english. Its not just about watching someone paint and copying them. You have to understand the whys involvedâŚwhy do we use this? Why do we mix with that? Why does it have to translucent like thin milk? She explains so many of the whys in her videos. I would look them up. And i highly highly suggest you watch them all the way through before you actually paint. I watched just about every tutorial that exists on youtube before i even painted
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Yeah. Tbh i dont think i was understanding the whys. I was just copying and expecting it to turn out the same way as the other artists on there.
I watch rebornsofjess alot and i love her work. She does air dry and she is quite good at it. Although i dont watch many actual making tutorials as i get quite self conscious of my work which makes me not want to watch them.
My comprehension of things can be quite misunderstood and im sorry for that.
Dont be self conscious about things you dont know how to do. Watch the videos. if nothing else youll understand why some of your painting turned out the way it did. Youll understand the outlines, and harsh lines, by watching someone else do it differently
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Yeah true. I really like reborns of jess because she explains things thoroughly and i understand her. With most other tutorials i have found. They either do something and dont tell you why or they quickly move on to something else. And it annoys me
You have to make sure youâre blending really well and using thin layers, thatâs how you will avoid those outlines. And as for veins, you have to water the paint down more on that too and also not just letting it sit on there and dry or thatâs what will keep happening. I like to put my veins on when the piece is slightly wet and gently dab any excess paint, it allows the paint to move more freely and not look like drawn on lines. even though sheâs using heat set paint, Kim from custom doll baby is excellent to watch. Sheâs one that I started out watching.
https://customdollbaby.com/
Another one I started out with was Annette from miracle babies (I think)
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I dont feel like i can relate to her painting tutorials unfortunately
You need a smaller brush for veins and most head veins go down, not sideways. With practice youâll get it.
This is the other lady I was talking about. I used to love watching her. She is who I very first started with. Maybe youâd like her?
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Yes definitely! ill have a look.
Annette used heat set paints in those tutorials, and I noticed that she was applying paint to the creases and pouncing it out later. If you are using air dry, I would not wait till several creases have been painted to blend that paint. It will look dirty in the creases if you let it sit and dry too long. So after each one you do Iâd take the mop brush or whatever you use to blend and pounce the excess out.
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I was also using purified water instead of distilled. Could that have made a difference?
Yes, that will make a difference in the long term of your finished dolls. use distilled
Because you learn things differently, maybe the results you are hoping to achieve are not possible too begin with. There are different styles of reborns, some are dolly, some realistic, some plain, alternatives, high color/contrast etc. maybe what you have in your mind and what you are actually producing are two different expectations. Nevertheless, you need to practice the basics, then recognize the path of the outcome you are producing. You can then go from there to develop/perfect your own style. It may not be what you are envisioning in your head. You are your own worst enemy with an everything at once, right now, mindset. If that is how your mind works and you canât change it, then you need to find something less frustrating before you invest too much time and effort into it. Thereâs no more advice left to offer you.
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It sounds like you are having a difficult time.
I am guessing you love the dolls and thought if you could make and sell them or at least make them you could save or even make some money, have a fun hobby and get to collect the dolls you love without feeling weird about spending the money. Maybe this isnât you but I know a whole lot of people here who it is.
If this is the case maybe just make a couple babies, buy cheap sculpts and play, may not be your perfect baby but you have to start somewhere. As with most things (like pancakes) the first couple are for the pan, they are not they yummy ones, may be a little burned and not pretty. They get betterâŚ
If its too frustrating or you just donât have faith you will get there then by all means sell what you have here or on Reborns.com, use that money to buy a baby from another artists and discover a new hobby that brings you joy,
There is no failure.
This is suppose to be fun and if it isnât, it just isnât, itâs ok.
Making these babies is tedious, it is a labor of love especially if you are shooting for realism and you are micro rooting.
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Dude, you really need to take a break from this forum, follow a tutorial from start to finish, and come back in a few weeks with brand new photos.
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I understand what you are saying. Itâs normal to want that. But the thing is, you will have to do a lot of practice and be ready to accept that your dolls will not look amazing right away. You have to be repetative in practice or you wonât get better at it. It will take time and lots of practice. My first few dolls were UGLY and I cried. I doubted whether this was for me. But then I stuck it out and painted lots of kits to practice and grow my skills. Iâve been doing this for almost 12 years (canât believe itâs been that long) now and have grown a lot as an artist, but I still need to keep improving my skills. You come to a crossroad where you have to decide, âDo I want to continue this and do lots of practice to get better or would I be better off with a different hobby?â Only you can answer that. If you want to quit this, donât feel bad, donât feel guilty of doing something wrong becaue it isnât wrong to admit to yourself if this is something you donât want to do long enough to see if you get really good. Itâs ok to let it go and find something else you may end up liking much better.
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If it gives you joy do not give up 
But if it does not and you get unsure because of it than it is no fun to paint 
I always say sometimes i am not in the mood and than i do not paint and waith for
another day
We al have thoose days 
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