What is a "Reborn" doll?

   Reborn dolls are fast becoming the most sought-after dolls for collectors and enthusiasts alike. The art of "reborning" a doll creates the most realistic doll possible. In a painstaking and very detailed process, the reborn artist spends countless hours on the smallest details to bring their creations to life.

   These dolls are selling around the globe and the art has reached such a level that many people are fooled. A reborn doll was rescued from a locked car in Australia in early 2008. Articles and news stories on the dolls have become increasingly popular since BBC UK aired a documentary My Fake Baby in January 2008 and it has since aired in several other countries. The Today Show had a feature on an artist and some collectors and Macleans magazine here in Canada had an article on them in the April 2008 issue.

The Reborning Process

   Blanks are ordered by the artist through various manufacturers in multiple countries. The blank is then prepped for painting by washing and cleaning to remove any residue or scent from the manufacturers molding process and then thoroughly dried. I use the Genesis Heat Set Paints to give the doll a lifelike complexion. This is done with many layers of the paint to achieve subtle veins, markings and coloration giving each doll it’s own unique skin tone. The result is that no two dolls even from the same sculpt will appear alike.

   Once painting of the head and limbs is complete hair is added to the scalp using premium quality Mohair and the smallest needles possible. Each strand on the head is placed to create the most lifelike look possible and then trimmed into a suitable style for the sculpt. Eye lashes are added to each sculpt in this same fashion and all hair is then secured to the head from the inside. The dolls are then assembled with a cloth body and weighted with a combination of materials to give them a lifelike feel.