Reborning could be the art of transforming a vinyl doll (either whole doll or kit) into a reasonable looking baby doll (usually of an individual baby- but sometimes elves or chimpanzees might be made). The one who makes this transformation is called a ‘reborner” or reborn artist. The more realistic looking the doll could be the more successful the artist is considered. Once completed the doll is called a ‘reborn’, ‘reborn doll’, ‘reborn baby”or ‘fake baby’ ;.There are artists throughout the world who do reborning. Some reborn artists will have a factory made doll, bring it apart, repaint it and reassemble it.
In more recent times artists use a manufactured vinyl kit made especially to be reborn. The manufacture of kits is now an expanding industry with more and more talented doll sculptors having their creations turned into vinyl kits. Kits are sometimes limited editions and in demand worldwide. Some reborners and collectors or reborns collect kits as keep these as prized possessions only giving them up when personal financial pressure necessitates it or they trade them for even more desirable kits. New kits come out regularly and they are more and more detailed and varied. In very recent times we have seen some kits resold on eBay for 10 times their original value since they are limited editions, sold-out worldwide and in much demand.
‘Reborning’ begins with washing and then painting the vinyl parts with oil, acrylic or water based paints. Paints are increasingly being developed especially for the art. Paints are applied with brushes and sponges to have as realistic skin tones as possible. Here is the ultimate goal of the artist and the range of techniques used is large and a person develops these techniques over time. The paint sinks into the vinyl and tints it (like water colour paint does on paper) as opposed to sitting on the surface of the vinyl. The paints are somewhat unreliable in their behaviour so the process required judgement to incorporate a paint layer, check outcome against what is desired then repaint another layer. The reborner needs to have a powerful notion of what complexion or affect they want to achieve.
Some paints require baking and there has been controversy over medical effects of the fumes to the reborner. Artists paint on veins, capillaries, birth marks, 3d eyebrows, scratches and newborn red patches (ie stork bites) to have the absolute most realistic affects. Hair (usually mohair) is then micro-rooted into the dolls head a few strands at the same time so your head looks natural and realistic. For toddler size dolls good quality wigs might be used. Some artists may paint the baby’s head one hair at the same time to get a very realistic look.
Micro-rooting a newborn doll size head usually takes more than 40 hours to make sure a reasonable appearance. Some artists can produce exquisite skin tones on the vinyl and some who can produce wonderfully realistic hair rooting pattern (painstakingly one hair at a time) including crowns and parts. reborn dolls UK Eyelashes are either applied by gluing to open eyed dolls or micro-rooting on sleeping dolls. The vinyl legs, arms and head are then weighted, filled and linked to a similarly weighted and filled cloth body. Once the head is connected the doll is regarded as ‘reborn’ ;.Belly plates, magnetic newborn belly buttons and other parts of the body may be added for realism. Reborn dolls are used in movies and advertisements and as clothes models.
Physiotherapists utilize them for their patients and they are used extensively in senior years homes as older people find holding a baby very relaxing and soothing (you only have to see what happens to the overall population when someone brings a newborn to go to great grandma in a nursing home- everyone desires to see the baby and touch it- to know the wonderful value they can have here. Most of them can’t believe they aren’t real. ‘
I personally am not overly maternal, don’t collect dolls (except for my daughter) but when I pop the head on a reborn for the initial time- I will always have a talk to its little face- a similar way I actually do to the dog. In the same way it’s proven that pets are therapeutic in nursing homes- so are reborns. They often aren’t considered as suitable for children. I disagree with this particular in addition!!! There are individuals who collect reborn dolls because they love babies, dolls or art. Many people are very potty concerning the dolls and the comraderie that the various forums that like minded people and artists frequent, provide them.
You will not hear anyone on these forums calling them ‘fake babies” ;.They call them reborns” or perhaps babies and many folks have lots of babies in their collection (also known as nursery). The media try to produce out there is something wrong with artists and collectors, but that’s just media hype. The collectors don’t take themselves too seriously and lots of baby talk is tongue in cheek. What they do object to has been made out as ‘freaks” or that they are actually trying to substitute a wish for a genuine baby with a reborn (for example because they’ve an ’empty nest’). They know they are not real and treat them like porcelain doll collectors have done for countless years- that is with respect and admiration for their beauty.
A not many quantity of reborners can create ‘reborns’ for parents who’ve lost their babies either at birth or soon after. Many people believe an individual wanting a doll that appears like their dead baby is not normal or is ‘sick” ;.I say to each their own. If I’d lost a baby (and I cannot even imagine the inconsolable grief associated with this), knowing now what I know, I think having a lifelike doll to put on would be or incredible physical and mental therapeutic value during the time of losing and something lovely to possess and value following the worse of the grief has passed. After expecting the physical need to nurse and hold a baby can be as basic as the physical need to chew food even though it absolutely was all served up as mush. I believe this is a location where we will see more reborns used in future.
There are particular artists who’re internationally renowned for their work and they are more desirable to collectors. ‘Prototype’ dolls are popular, usually created by these artists and command higher prices. When a new kit (or sculpt) is first produced the artist will send the initial few kits to the well-known artists to reborn. They’ll then be put the finished dolls on eBay to increase sales and advertise the release of the kit.