Dollcraft

  Cleo is so photogenic. She looks good anywhere, but I liked this tree as a background texture that is detailed but not distracting. Cleo is a fancy girl and not fully comfortable in the outdoors. But my Lammily doll, Margot, loves nature! Margot is not as posable as the Monster High ghouls, but some height shows her adventurous personality.   Best friends Birdie and Hester watch the sun set over the lake. They enjoy their new Liv bodies and dancing freedom. (Check out my post on re-bodying dolls.) Sometimes you don't notice a mistake until looking at the photos later, like Hester's unnaturally bent foot.    Duchess is going to model some lighting problems while she dances in the flowers. Purple everywhere This set of photos was taken in the middle of the day, not the ideal time. Photographers prefer morning or evening, when the light is dispersed and golden. Noon photos risk getting raccoon eyes, or in the case of Duchess, a shadow beard...

I've found a number of guides on re-painting doll faces, but most of them seem far beyond the average level of skill. (But gorgeous!) I tried to take the tips and simplify them. Here's what was helpful for me. Materials paint thinner (everyone recommends acetone nail polish remover, but this is faster) q-tips, cotton balls a tiny paintbrush (10/0 spotter is nice to start) acrylic paints (liquid is better, I used the solid kind I already owned) sealer (Liquitex Matte Varnish is recommended, I already owned a glossy and used that) exacto blade a little bowl of water (clean brushes) clean-up cloth a lamp Tips Don't mix your paints with water. This will make them easier to be rubbed off. Mix with the clear varnish instead. Symmetry may be impossible- aim for balance. (Human faces aren't perfect either!) For practice, try painting on top of existing features first rather than wiping the face clean. Holding the brush: don't jam the brush ...