Through an Artist's Eyes - Esthetics by Lyn

http://www.softlyshewalks.net/

My name is Lyn Raftis, and I go by the business name of Esthetics by Lyn, although I am often associated also with the name of my LiveJournal: Filter: Off-Kilter. I live in Southeast Texas with my husband and four slightly deranged cats.

I have always been interested in art and drawing since I was coordinated enough to hold a crayon. I spent many years involved in the model horse hobby, painting resin, and firing ceramics, and later doing Fashion Doll repaints on Tonners.

My first exposure to BJD's came when some of the people on the fashion doll board I visited started getting dolls. The fact that they could easily change their look with different wigs and eyes was very appealing to me. When I looked more and started seeing all the really cool clothes and shoes I was hooked and I got my first doll Adrien, a CP Chiwoo in January of 2005. My first two dolls still have faces painted by the factory, since I am so critical of my own work I just wanted to enjoy them. It didn't take long though before the desire to paint one had grabbed hold of me.

The first face-up I did was a Vampire Dark Elf Soo. With her, I used my airbrush - for the first time in years - and was surprised how naturally the skills I had from painting with acrylics on resin with model horses translated over to painting BJD faces. I was quickly hooked, and shortly after I transitioned into painting BJD's exclusively, and have been doing so since last summer.

I work by commission, with the occasional sale doll. I do faceups, body blushing and sanding. I also do tattoos and ear/navel piercing. I've done resculpting and modifications in the past, but I currently do not offer that service. I really enjoy commissions and working with someone to bring their vision to life, but it is especially rewarding when I can be given artistic freedom to create something special just for them. My favorite areas to paint are the lips, and detailing the hands. My least favorite thing is seam removal. I'm really picky and detail oriented so faceups often take me longer than I would like, but I hope the results are worth the wait.

My favorite work is almost always the doll I just finished. I am constantly trying new styles and new mediums to obtain the look I want and to grow as an artist.

Commission information is available via a small faceup info page/gallery I have made. I am taking commissions, but currently for about four months in advance. Please inquire if you want to be added to my wait list.

An Artist's Tutorial

Finger Detailing by Lyn

 Detailing the fingernails and knuckles can add a little extra depth and realism to an already blushed pair of hands. The method I will be demonstrating creates more of a natural effect and is especially good for the boys. Also, since the method merely creates the effect of the actual nail at the tip, there is no paint to rub off during clothing changes and everyday wear, which keeps your doll's hands looking good longer.

You will need:

1. Blushed set of hands. (See vanillashine's excellent blushing tutorial in last month's issue last month's issue for how to)
2. Golden Matte Medium*
3. Flesh tone paint (Folk Art or Americana Flesh tone is perfectly acceptable and inexpensive)
4. Tiny drop of a cool toned red paint
5. Pointed cotton swab
6. 000 liner brush
7. Small spotter paintbrush Water Mr. Super Clear or Testors Dullcote Brush on sealer of your choice (gloss, satin, matte)

(* Matte medium is optional. I use a very tiny amount to increase the body and transparency of my paint. The same effect can be obtained with just water and more sheer layers of paint.)

Thin a small amount of flesh tone paint with water using your round or spotter brush. You want the paint to be very sheer. If you are using a matte or other painting medium add a very small amount by dipping your brush into the medium and mixing it in. The idea behind this method of painting nails is to just paint the bed of the nail, leaving the half moon and nail itself unpainted resin. If you look at your own fingernails you will see that the nail bed is darkest right at the edge of the half moon. So for your first step you will paint a sheer layer of paint in a "U" shape from the half moon back to the tip of the nail, feathering the paint as you go. If necessary, use a damp pointed cotton swab to clean up the shape of the half moon, and or remove any paint from the tip of the nail. (See Fig 2)

As you can see from the picture, the paint is nearly invisible, since the color is so close to the resin color (CP Normal Skin in this instance). When the paint dries, repeat the step, darkening the paint at the edge of the half moon and feathering it to the nail tip. I often use a sweeping side to side motion with the brush. This time, stop short of the previous layer, using your damp swab to blend the paint if needed. (See Fig 3)

For the next layer you will add the tiniest bit of red or pink paint to your mix. The idea here is to add a cooler tone to the nail bed, giving it that natural look. Take your 000 liner brush and making sure your paint is still thin and sheer, darken just the very edge of the half moon. Repeat as necessary until the nail bed has a nice soft gradation from the half moon to the tip. (Fig 4)

While that dries, take your flesh tone paint again and thin slightly. Using your 000 liner, flick the brush tip over the blushed knuckles of your dolls fingers to simulate the creases. The paint may appear too light when wet against the blushing, but wait until it dries before adding more. The idea is to create a natural and subtle effect, which was rather difficult to photograph for this tutorial. See Fig 5 for a closeup of the finished fingernail.

When satisfied, seal your dolls hands as normal using Mr. Super Clear or Testors Dullcote. To give the nails the most natural look, use semi matte (e.g. Liquitex Matte Sealer) or satin sealer on the nail. Ta Da! All done!