Reborning may be the art of transforming a plastic doll (either whole doll or kit) into a reasonable looking baby doll (usually of a human baby- but sometimes elves or chimpanzees might be made). The person who makes this transformation is named a ‘reborner” or reborn artist. The more realistic looking the doll may be the more successful the artist is considered. Once completed the doll is named a ‘reborn’, ‘reborn doll’, ‘reborn baby”or ‘fake baby’ ;.You can find artists all around the world who do reborning. Some reborn artists will take a factory made doll, take 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 becoming an expanding industry with more and more talented doll sculptors having their creations changed 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’re more and more detailed and varied. In very recent times we have seen some kits resold on eBay for up to 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 specifically for the art. Paints are applied with brushes and sponges to get as realistic skin tones as possible. This is the ultimate goal of the artist and the product range of techniques used is large and a person develops these techniques over time. The paint sinks to the vinyl and tints it (like water colour paint does on paper) as opposed to sitting on the top of vinyl. The paints are somewhat unreliable inside their behaviour so the process required judgement to incorporate a paint layer, check outcome against what’s desired then repaint another layer. The reborner will need a powerful notion of what complexion or affect they want to achieve.
Some paints require baking and there has been controversy over the ramifications of the fumes to the reborner. Artists paint on veins, capillaries, birth marks, 3d eyebrows, scratches and newborn red patches (ie stork bites) to get the absolute most realistic affects. Hair (usually mohair) is then micro-rooted to the dolls head a couple of strands at the same time so the 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 obtain a very realistic look.
Micro-rooting a new baby doll size head may take significantly more than 40 hours to ensure a reasonable appearance. Some artists can create exquisite skin tones on the vinyl and some who can create 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 connected to a similarly weighted and filled cloth body. Once the top is connected the doll is regarded as ‘reborn’ ;.Belly plates, magnetic newborn belly buttons and other areas of the body can be added for realism. Reborn dolls are found in movies and advertisements and as clothes models.
Physiotherapists use them due to their patients and they’re used extensively in old age homes as older people find holding an infant very relaxing and soothing (you only have to see what goes on to the overall population when someone brings a newborn to see great grandma in a nursing home- everyone desires to see the baby and touch it- to comprehend the wonderful value they could have here. Many of them can’t believe they aren’t real. ‘
Personally, i am not overly maternal, don’t collect dolls (except for my daughter) nevertheless when I pop the top on a reborn for the very first time- I will always have a conversation to its little face- the identical way I actually do to the dog. Just as it’s proven that pets are therapeutic in nursing homes- so might be reborns. They often aren’t considered as suitable for children. I disagree with this specific by the way!!! You can find individuals who collect reborn dolls since they love babies, dolls or art. Some people are actually potty about the dolls and the comraderie that the various forums that like minded people and artists frequent, provide them.
You won’t hear anyone on these forums calling them ‘fake babies” ;.They call them reborns” or perhaps babies and many people have lots of babies inside their collection (also known as nursery). The media try to create 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 wanting to substitute a wish for an actual baby with a reborn (for example because they have an ’empty nest’). They know they’re not real and treat them like porcelain doll collectors have done for countless years- that is by using respect and admiration due to their beauty.
A not many number of reborners will generate ‘reborns’ for folks who have lost their babies either at birth or soon after. Some people think that a person wanting a doll that appears like their dead baby is not normal or is ‘sick” ;.I say to each their own. If I had lost an infant (and I cannot even imagine the inconsolable grief associated with this), knowing now what I know, I think having a lifelike doll to carry would be or incredible physical and mental therapeutic value at the time of the loss and something lovely to own and value following the worse of the grief has passed. After having a baby the physical need to nurse and hold an infant can be as basic because the physical need to chew food even though it had been all served up as mush. I think that that is an area where we will see more reborns found in future.
You can find particular artists that are internationally renowned due to their work and these are more desirable to collectors. ‘Prototype’ dolls are popular, usually created by these artists and command higher prices. Each time a new kit (or sculpt) is first produced the artist will send the very first 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.