Starting face ups!!

Custom dolls are really interesting for me to look at so I've been thinking it would be fun to start my own. If I want to start doing face ups what are the basic materials should I start off with and where should I get them??

Maybe an explanation of what the materials are would be good too since customizing is very very new for me XD

#1: MATTE SEALANT.

 

You definitely will need this, especially if you do shading with pastels. However, there are only two sealants that I know "play nice" with vinyl: Mr. Super Clear and Volks Zokeimura Powder Spray. Other clear sealants like Testors Dull Coat react badly with the vinyl, making a sticky mess. I know the those two above aren't exactly cheap, since both are imported from Japan, but it's worth it. In fact, I think MSC has ruined me for all other sealers. I put this one on top as it's likely you'll need to order it online, so personally I think it's the first thing you should hunt down to minimize your waiting time.

 

#2: ACRYLIC PAINT

 

You'll want some kind of paint, probably, for your eyelashes, and maybe other details. Acrylics are the preferred faceup paint to my understanding, since they're easy to find, often affordable, work on both vinyl and resin, and dry fairly quickly. I recommend picking up black, white, red, and dark brown for sure, and you may be sorely tempted by some of the more exotic colors.

 

#3: CHALK PASTELS

 

This is for doing softer shading, most often on the cheeks and lips. What you do is take the chalk pastel, shave it with an X-acto or similar knife, to create a powder. Then you apply the resulting powder with a brush. Most people I think pick up a small set, though some stores will sell individual sticks. Cheap ones are useable, though you'll be grinding up more to get the same saturation as a higher quality, more pigmented type.

 

#4: RANDOM OPTIONAL STUFF

 

Things for special effects and/or alternative approaches.

 

-Acrylic gloss, to add shine to eyelashes, eyelids, and/or lips.

-Pearl-Ex or other mica powder, to add a subtle sparkle. (Goes on top of your wet sealant or mixed in with the gloss; the matte sealants are matte enough to cancel the sparkle if you spray it on top of the powders.)

-Watercolor pencils, as an alternative to acrylic

 

Side note: I'm going to soon be trying an alternative approach to faceups, using heat-set Genesis oil paints. I have no clue if it's going to work, so I will report my results when I have them.

Woah thats a lot of help thank you so much !!!

So these materials are just something you can find at any store that sells acrylic paints, they aren't special paints or anything? And same with chalk pastels? Also where are acrylic glass and pearl-ex sold?

Sorry if these are dumb questions, but thank u for the help xD

Most of them are, except for the Mister Super Clear/Volks Zokeimura, those you'll probably have to get online.

 

The acrylics will be just acrylics, your choice on how much you want to spend for quality. The gloss should be found where the acrylics are, since it's usually made with a similar base to be used in conjunction with ordinary acrylics. Any craft/hobby store should have these, and even some Wal-marts will carry at least the paints. (Not sure on the gloss, especially since many Wal-marts have downsized their craft sections.)

 

The chalk pastels I don't think a Wal-mart will sell, but a true craft store like Hobby Lobby or Michael's will have them. I haven't gone to get pastels in a while, as I usually just mooch from my mom's massive collection, but I remember seeing sets more often than individual sticks at the really common craft stores. Fancier and/or independently owned art stores may actually have individual sticks for purchase.

 

Pearl-ex I know I've seen at Hobby Lobby, don't remember if I've seen it at Michael's or not. I think I found it near either the glitters or the polymer clays.

 

Of course, all of these can be bought online, too. I got my last batch of Mister Super Clear at Amazon, and all the rest should be available at D*ck Blick, which often has better prices than craft stores, presuming you're willing to wait for shipping.

 

EDIT: It censored that? Really?

Ohhh I always thought they were special materials its good to know I already have almost all of this stuff

All of my questions were answered thank you :D

Nope, the only really special thing is the sealant. Like I said, most of them turn the vinyl into a sticky mess except for those two I mentioned. :/ (There may be other safe ones out there, but that would require experimentation most of us aren't willing to do. ) Bonus though is that since vinyl and PVC are related, they're safe on polymer clays like Sculpy and Fimo too!

 

Looking forward to seeing your custom girl when you get her face on. Got a head in mind?

Just picked up some things I didn't have today like new acrylic paint, acrylic gloss, and pearl-ex today :D

My goal is to do a Kasugano Sora face up, but I'm not sure what head to use and I'll probably also need some practice before too.

 

Side note: I'm going to soon be trying an alternative approach to faceups, using heat-set Genesis oil paints. I have no clue if it's going to work, so I will report my results when I have them.

 

Wait... you're going to effectively try to do cloisonne makeup?

mitsuki posted this Volks faceup guide a while back - it may be helpful to you too!

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=201

Wait... you're going to effectively try to do cloisonne makeup?

 

Had to look it up, but it looks like you're thinking of these as enamel like Scripple did, which isn't *quite* right. Think of the Genesis more like the paint equivalent to polymer clay, an oil-based medium that stays workable until you bake it in an ordinary oven, at around 260 degrees F. I've heard of people who've had success with these not only on polymer clay (chemically related to vinyl), but with using them on vinyl reborn dolls, so hopefully this can work. I'm using a damaged head though, so there's not anything much to loose if it doesn't.

Not really. I was thinking you were going to put something on the face for makeup that you'll be able to keep working until melt it.

 

Which sounds about right based on your description.

 

Side note: I'm going to soon be trying an alternative approach to faceups, using heat-set Genesis oil paints. I have no clue if it's going to work, so I will report my results when I have them.

 

Wait... you're going to effectively try to do cloisonne makeup?

 

 

What is cloisonne makeup? ^^"

 

Side note: I'm going to soon be trying an alternative approach to faceups, using heat-set Genesis oil paints. I have no clue if it's going to work, so I will report my results when I have them.

 

Wait... you're going to effectively try to do cloisonne makeup?

 

 

What is cloisonne makeup? ^^"

 

Cloisonne (I don't have accents on this computer but it should have an accent aigu...) is a process where enamel is applied and baked onto a metal in order to create a pattern.

 

Here's an example.