About the Makeover Process

When beginning a repaint, I first consider the base doll I'm working on and get a vision for the overall color scheme. Sometimes I have a clear vision of the finished product, or sometimes they evolve through the process. Of course, when I'm working on a definite person such as Vivian Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara, I do work from photos. I also use photos if I see an eye, lips or other facial feature that I like.

Repainting

First, the makeup and lashes come off the doll with non-acetone polish remover. This can sometimes be a long process, as overseas doll factories often use paint and glue that is very difficult to remove. So patience is definitely a virtue here!

All my dolls receive repainting of some sort. The dolls that are fitted with glass eyes, of course, don't have their irises painted, but everything else is. The paints I use are professional acrylics and sealers. I use various products and techniques to bring out the beauty in the doll. After applying doll eyelashes I seal the paint.

Glass Eyes

The glass eyes I use are actually silicone "soft glass" eyes by Masterpiece Eye Co., the same eyes used by many doll artists. The eyes have a lovely realistic quality that is unmatched with any other glass eyes I have seen. When fitting eyes, Since I'm using silicone eyes, the eyes themselves are set in place using silicone adhesive. My technique is described in an article I wrote for the July 2007 issue of Conemporary DOll Collector.