the-art-of-claude on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/the-art-of-claude/art/GoGo-Tomago-Step-By-Step-How-To-Repaint-A-Doll-516458265the-art-of-claude

Deviation Actions

the-art-of-claude's avatar

GoGo Tomago | Step By Step | How To Repaint A Doll

Published:
3.9K Views

Description

I took so many pictures during the repaint process of GoGo that I decided to upload this little step by step 'How to repaint'-Tutorial. I hope the picture will be large enough when you click on it otherwise you are also allowed to download it ;) First of all: I don't consider myself as a pro - but I'm not a beginner anymore either. But I'm still learning with each doll that I repaint and I always like to take advice. When I started out I mage a lot of mistakes and I'd like to prevent beginners to do the same mistakes.
Before I'll describe each step that's shown in the picture I'd like to sum up the equipment that might be essential before you start your repaint:
-pure Aceton (to remove the original print - it's the best thing to use, nail polish remover might not remove the entire paint); Q-tips & tissues or toilet paper (to work with the aceton and get the paint off your brushes); a softlead pencil; fine detail brushes, different sizes; artist acrylic paints (the brand doesn't really matter..I'm always using and trying out different ones..just don't use too cheap no-name acrylic paints, especially the reds tend to bleed into the vinyl head..happend to me too often); clear water; foil or aluminum foil

Those are the things that I need as well as water color crayons - but you don't have to use them if you don't want to - and of course you'll need a good illumination (daylight's the best!)! Never ever use any permanent markers on the doll's head! (bad things can happen..)
I'm always diluting my acrylic paints with water so I'm working with a lot of layers. After I dipped my brush into the paint I'm dipping it on a tissue afterwards so that not too much paint will get on the doll's head)

The steps:
1 - Choose your base doll, in my case GoGo Tomago, and wrap it up in kitchen foil or aluminum foil and make sure the hair is tied back (you could also wrap up the hair in foil)
2 - Remove the fabric paint with pure aceton (make sure to open up a window while working with aceton!!!!! and close up the can each time after you dipped the Q-tip in. Use tissues or toilet paper for hard reaching areas. Also, it's not too bad to wear some plastic gloves)
3 - Sketch the face with a soft pencil (there are different possibilities to start out, but this is mine. It's rare that I sketch the lips..)
4 - Eyeshadow (If the lady has eyeshadow I'll always start with the eyehadow.)
5 - White the eyes! (I always skip from one step to another, so while I'm adding thin layer after thin layer of the white I'm still working on the eyeshadow in between)
6 - Base of the eyebrows (add a thin diluted layer for the eyebrows. While I'm working on them I'm still adding layers of white..)
7 - Detail the eyebrows and add the base line for the lashes (I'm always starting out with grey or brown for this line, depends on the character, in this case grey, because I'm still adding layers of white so the line doesn't have to be too perfect yet)
8 - Add the line for the lower lid and shade the eyeball (I prefer it if this line is a little lighter like grey or brown, but that's up to you. If it's a CGI character I shade the eyeball with a light blue. When that's done I'll add a final layer of white so that everything's blending well (sometimes even 2 or 3 final layers ;D))
9 - Add the iris! (I always sketch the iris again with my pencil before actually painting it. Then I'm working from dark colors to the light colors, so in this case the base is a dark brown)
10 - Detail the iris and add the lip base ( so now I'm getting lighter and lighter with the iris until I'm satisfied. I don't have a special strategy to do this it always depens on the character. Lips: Again, I start with a darker shade)
11 - Lips! (I'm still detailing the iris. While the layers dry I continue working on the lips - getting lighter)
12 - Details!! (When you're satisfied: Add all the missing details! In this case I added half of a black line on each lower lid, painted the line for the lashes really black and painted actual lashes. Add pupils and the white reflecion and blush her cheeks. In this case I used watercolor crayons for this. When the repaint is done you can work on the hair....)
I'm not always working through 1-12 in this order..it always depends on the character what I do first or what I don't do etc..And as I said: I'm still learning as well so sometimes I also try out new things and new ways. ;)

So, this was a pretty rough and small tutorial. I hope it'll still be a little help for total beginners. But always remember: At first you might consider this tutorial or others really step by step, but I promise: Soon you'll figure out your own way of repainting dolls :)
Another thing that might be interesting: I'm reading it very often that people only need like 1-3 hours for a repaint..I didn't need more time when I started out but I actually notice a big difference from my early works to my present works. Right now I need approx. 8-10 hours for one repaint..a few hours on several days. So here's my advice: Be patient, take your time and have fun!

Sorry if there are any typing errors ;)
Image size
1500x4500px 3.31 MB
© 2015 - 2024 the-art-of-claude
Comments16
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
crystal-of-ix's avatar
Very good, simple tutorial
I'm glad you said the more realistic timeline;)