The following article is written by Betty Ruth Burchfield, AKA Little Reb.
This doll is particularly dear to me as it is named after my sister, Midge Detwiler. Midge is my baby sister and a very good sister.
I could not resist making a “Midge” doll into a Marie Antoinette. Even though I had previously made one for the Debbie Doll, this doll just seemed to have the features I was looking for. She has a very mysterious look and would catch the eye with or without her mask at the Masquerade ball.
I hope you will enjoy making this outfit as much as I did. The pattern is now available. You can view this mold and other patterns at http://www.littlereb.com.
Midge as Marie Antoinette
Slip —————— T.M. Porcelain – Flesh
China Paints —— Primrose Pink, Black Matte, Flux, Rosewood, (For Painted eyes -
Ivory, Delft Blue)
Wash ————— 3 Parts Malibu Glow to 1 part Bronze Glitter – Seeley
Medium by Bell – Lip Medium #CPO285,
Painting Medium #CPO275
Eyes —————- 12 mm Realistic Glass Eyes grey/blue or blue RG10 by Mini World
Wig —————– White Martha Wig -Kemper -
(Purchased from Linda Plaskett – linda@dollcreations.com)
Eyelashes ———- Monique Eyelashes – black – #81017
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“The Art of Glamour Painting” is steadily becoming more popular now that the “lady” dolls are more in demand. The goal is to paint the doll to look “glamorous” without the appearance of her wearing theatrical makeup. Her eyes are enhanced and her lips voluptuous without the use of harsh colors, distinct lines or bright splashes of color on her cheeks.
Make a “shadow brow” by making three dots along the brow bone with a mixture of Jumeau Brow. Along the brow bone make a small dot directly above the inside of eye, another one for the arch above the outer edge of the iris and another at an angle above the outer edge of the eye. Note: the “arch” will be slightly above the brow bone.
With just a small amount of paint on your brush, connect the dots and make your shadow brow. Blend by patting and wiping your brush after each “pat”. This will aid you in placing your eye brow strokes. Repeat for other eyebrow. Please don’t despair and try to make both eyebrows exactly the same. Both sides of our faces are different and so are our eyebrows.
With a small cats tongue brush, paint a nice smooth base for lips with Primrose Pink and tad of flux and lip medium (toothpaste consistency). (Note: Make sure there are no “blobs” in crease of lips). As we build up in degrees in China Painting, paint is not to be applied heavily. Remember “china paint loves china paint”. By that I mean that china paint adheres more readily to previously painted china paint. We start off with a smooth light “coats” and build up.
Add shadows around creases of nose, ears etc. with Rosewood. Blend.
Add nose and eye dots with Primrose Pink mixture and blend lightly with a patting motion.
FOR PAINTED EYES…… paint the iris with a light coat of Delft Blue. With the end of a small ball and stylus dipped into the Delft Blue, make a pupil in each eye in the center of the iris. Add Ivory to the white of the eyes.
China fire at 018.
EACH TIME YOU CHINA FIRE A PIECE, LIGHTLY POLISH WITH AN OLD SCRUBBER PAD AND CLEAN WITH COTTON BALL SATURATED IN ALCOHOL.
Add Black to crease of eyelid. Pull up and blend almost to the eyebrow line. Pat the outside lines so that there is not a distinct line. With paint you have left on your brush, paint eyelids. Replace color in crease of eyelid with a petite detail brush. Make sure there are no “puddles”.
Line the eyes with a mixture of Black Matt (ink consistency) on the top and bottom. (Note: on the bottom line, I line the eyes at the root of the eyelashes.) I like to paint in my bottom lashes. This is to your preference whether you want to paint the eyelashes or add the false eyelashes later; however, do line the eyes. In lining the upper lid, I paint inside lid along the ridge where I cut out the eye and along the outer rim.
Using the Jumeau Brow, add your eyebrows with very fine strokes using the“Shadow Brow” as a guideline. Paint the arch strokes (approximately three fine strokes) to look as if the brow is growing from the top slightly pointed at a slant toward outer edge of the eyebrow. I put my arch in after I have completed my eyebrow strokes for a more natural look.
With Rosewood, paint along crease of lips and pull paint from crease upward for top lip and pull paint down for lower lip. Line the lips with Primrose and lightly blend leaving a trace of “lip liner”. Paint Rosewood in crease of mouth only, painting a little darker where lips part. Blot the lower lip with your finger very lightly. Check your lip lines by turning head upside down and putting doll in front of a mirror.
Apply blush (Primrose or Rosewood) just under the jaw line. Blend up and out and pull a small amount down. Keep color away from nose area. Blend well at neckline and outside edges. Add more shadow if needed in creases of nose etc. Add a little Pompadour to shadows of ears. Check out the eye dots and nostrils.
FOR PAINTED EYES – Add another ring around each iris on the edge of the circle. With a fine eyelash liner, pull out color from this “ring” little streaks in small lines toward the pupil. With a small ball and stylus dipped in the black, apply to each pupil. Add more of the Ivory to the white of the eyes.
China fire at 018.
If you are using blue eyes for your doll, use Delft Blue by Bell for Eye Shadow. Apply one light coat of black on one China firing. Apply eye shadow in crease of eyelid and gently blend just a little above the crease making a narrow “rainbow shape”. Blend edges lightly. With a small detail brush or cat’s tongue, apply eye shadow color along the underside of the line on bottom of eye. Add more eyelashes on the bottom and more eyeliner. Line tops of eyes with black matte and add two eyelashes at the outer edge of the top lid. Add more brows if needed.
REFINING
Refine your lips. If the lips need to be darker, add more Primrose Pink in the same manner as before. If the crease needs to be darker, add more Rosewood.
Add more cheek color if needed, concentrating most of the color underneath the cheekbone. Also, blush on small amount of Rosewood or Primerose Pink on the middle of forehead, end of the nose and on the chin for a nice glow.
FOR PAINTED EYES…Refine the eyes by adding a circle around the outer edge of the iris with a mixture of the blue and a little black. Across the top of the eye, apply a shadow of the eyelid with the blue down halfway of the pupil. This prevents that “glary look”. Add highlights with the ball and stylus at the 10:00 position at the edge of the pupil to each eye.
China fire at 019.
WASH – I do this step after my head is completely painted. The reason for this is because if I have to remove an unwanted eyelash etc., I can remove with Whink . If I had the wash on there first, I would remove the wash also and have a white spot.
Even though putting a wash on a doll takes time, it makes the doll glow”. I use three parts Malibu Glow to one part Bronze Glitter adding just a tad of flux. Mix with painting medium to a soupy consistency. Apply a small amount of Medium over the head. Wipe away excess oil with a lint free rag. Blend using your China Mop and wiping it on a clean tee shirt to avoid getting streaks.
Apply the wash using a make up sponge.
This should complete your head. However, if you desire to refine more and wish to add another firing, this is always good as the more you fire and build up your paints, the more dimension you will get. China fire from this point at 019.
Finish the rest of the body pieces in the same manner using the wash and technique as described above. Use the Rosewood mixture for blushing the arms and legs. Use Primrose for nipples and fingernail polish. Fire at Cone 018.
The most important factor in GLAMOUR PAINTING is to make the doll beautiful but not brash and harsh. Blending is very important. After you have completely finished firing your head, you may want to paint your lips, eyes, and fingernails with no fire tears to make them shiny. If so, just paint the bottom lip only for a nice wet look. Clear polyurethane does well for this step also.
2001 Original Creations by Little Reb
MIDGE MOLD BY VAN HELLEN’S MOLD COMPANY
Pattern “A Rare Moment” is available.
email littlereb@knology.net
Web Site is http://www.littlereb.com
