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Step by Step
Painting Dimensional Hair with the Amazing Hair Brushes
By Glenda Martin
Have you ever wondered how to paint realistic hair on dome head dolls? Seeley’s Hair Brushes (SBR85, SBR86) are designed to paint perfect strokes on dolls with painted hair. Use these fantastic brushes on both modern dolls and reproductions alike—dolls such as Heubach character children and dome head Hildas. You will be amazed at the ease with which you can even achieve hair strokes on China and Parian dolls.
These brushes come in two sizes — small (SBR85) and large (SBR86) — for controlling length and density of hair strokes. They are constructed of a superb quality of synthetic hair, which allows the paint to glide smoothly onto the porcelain. The base of these odd-shaped brushes is thick so that it can hold a large quantity of paint when loaded. As you lay the brush on the surface to paint, the sparser hairs on the tip of the brush naturally separate. The result is that the painted strokes simulate individual hairs.
Mix paint to a fluid consistency using either Line Medium (1910) or Ultra Fine Line Medium (1914). Condition head with Ultra Fine Line Medium (1914) applied with a Super Doll Sponge (SDS4). Dip the end of the Hair Brush (SBR85 or SBR86) into water as a secondary medium, and then load the brush with paint. Paint consistency is important; you want liquid, light strokes. If the paint does not flow onto the porcelain, it is too thick. Apply light pressure as you place the brush onto the head, beginning at the crown. Lighten the pressure on the brush as you move forward toward the hairline. Stagger the layers so that you have a natural hairline, not a “helmet” look. For a more dimensional effect on modern dolls layer with different colors of paint in separate firings. Begin with darker colors and highlight with red and blonde tones. Dimension can also be achieved by using both the Small (SBR85) and the Large (SBR86) Hair Brushes in different firings. Lightly sand between coats with a piece of craft tulle. Use a Doll Caddy (DOLLCADDY) to fire dome heads upright. Fire each layer to witness cone 018.
These brushes will quickly become your essential tools for painting hair!
Supplies Needed
Small Hair Brush (SBR85)
Large Hair Brush (SBR86)
Line (1910) or Ultra Fine Line Media (1914)
Super Doll Sponges (SDS4)
Doll Caddy (DOLLCADDY)
All molds, brushes and supplies available from Seeley’s, Oneonta, New York. www.seeleys.com, seeley@seeleys.com
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