What do I need to Start Repainting Dolls?
- Haley Poluchuck
- May 4, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 24, 2021
The first thing you need is a love for dolls and art. If you're getting into doll repaints because you see that custom dolls can go for a lot of money, you're probably going to burn out pretty quickly and have spent a bit of money on materials. While money is a pleasant side-effect of repainting, your main focus should be to enjoy the process.
Now that we've got that out of the way, let's get down to materials. You're going to need:
Colored pencils, preferably watercolor pencils
Mr. Super Clear fixative spray, Matte, preferably UV Cut
Acetone, 80%-100%. 100% recommended.
Optional: satin acrylics or model paints
Optional: saran or acrylic yarn (for doll hair)
There's not too much needed in the beginning. If you're just starting out, you only really need the acetone, fixative, and colored pencils. The acetone is for removing factory paint. The closer to 100% acetone you can find, the better it will perform. I get mine at the dollar store as nail polish remover.
The fixative is what is going to allow you to draw on the doll's rubber face and seal the pencil in when you're done. The brand Mr. Super Clear is specifically best for allowing you to do this. Make sure you get the matte (non-glossy) version. I also recommend getting the UV Cut spray because the sun can actually turn your doll's face orange over time. The UV Cut prevents sun damage.
Be aware that this spray is also pretty finicky and the instructions are in Japanese, so make sure to check out my other article on how to use MSC.
As for the colored pencils, most doll artists use watercolor pencils. You're able to push the color around easily with water. But if you don't have watercolor pencils, normal colored pencils work as well. They just tend to be waxier and get clumpy if you're not careful. I myself use normal colored pencils, Prisma Colored brand, though I hear Derwent is the best brand for face-ups. I only use Prisma Colors because of a crazy Black Friday sale where they had a collection of pencils worth nearly $400 for $20.
I don't recommend using paint for beginners, unless you have experience with it. In my own experience, I found paint to be a lot harder to control, especially just starting out and on such a small surface. But if you are going to use it, use satin acrylics rather than regular acrylics. Satin acrylic paint is thinner and won't clump up. You can get Craft Smart satin acrylic paint for 69 cents per bottle at Michael's. If you're really on a budget, stick to the three primary colors, black, and white, and you can make any other color you need.
Here are a few more things you might want in your arsenals:
Mod Podge, matte or glossy (Good for securing paint on a doll's body and making wig caps)
Goo Gone (Gets factory glue out of a doll's hair)
Hot Glue (Cheap and relentlessly handy)
Apoxie Sculpt (air-drying clay for body modifications like horns or elf ears)
Wire of different weights (Good structures used when sculpting)
Glossy varnish (for making eyes look wet)
Chalk Pastels (for body blushing and makeup)
As for which type of doll you want to start repainting with, I found Barbie very difficult when I was starting out. I switched over to Disney Animator dolls and then Monster High because their faces are much bigger. You can get some cheap Monster High dolls at 5 Below to practice on. Disney Animator dolls go from about $10-$30 on eBay. I see them at yard sales and thrift stores a lot as well.
I have another blog post on where you can find dolls to bulk up your inventory without paying too much called, "The Best Places to Find Dolls or Action Figures to Repaint."
Those are the basic materials needed to start repainting! Check out my blog for more articles, and feel free to message me on Facebook, Instagram, or Etsy with questions!
Love,
Haley
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