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FREE WaterBorne ™ ETHNIC Painting Tutorial

Art & Magic WaterBorne™ Paint Advanced Ethnic Colors by K. Ingham & S. Tackett

 These are just suggestions, and the way one successful ethnic artist used the paints.  You may find that you need more or less water, Flow Medium or Slo-Dri than is suggested.  The beauty of being an artist is you get to develop your own formulas and techniques :) 

Base Coat

Clear Base Primer

Add generously with a paintbrush then pounce with sponge. (I like to pounce until the tacky sound is gone) 


Veining

Midnight Blue Tinting Color - 1 drop

Slo-Dri - 1 drop

Adhesion Additive - 1 drop

Flow Medium - 1 drop

Distilled water - 1 drop 

*Note: I like to paint a vein and then dab it off to break up and blur any look of a perfect line.

 

Mottle, Capillaries and Nails

Crease & Capillary Color - 2 drops

Eggplant - 1 drop

Flow Medium - 3 drops

Slo-Dri - 3 drops

Adhesion Additive - 2 drops

Distilled water - 4 drops

 

Mottle #2

Crease & Capillary Color - 3 drops

Slo-Dri - 2 drops

Adhesion Additive - 1 drop

Distilled water - 2 drops 

*Note: I add this to blushed areas such as cheeks, knees and tops of hands and feet.

 

Skin Tone

Med. Ethnic Flesh - 4 drops

Slo-Dri - 3 drops

Adhesion Additive - 3 drops

Distilled water - 3 drops 

*Note: To darken above mix (for adding dimension) add 2 drops of Burnt Umber.

And to darken the mix further add 1 drop of Black.

*I like to add different shades of brown to give dimension, shading and to allow highlighted areas to "pop". 

Lips

Crease & Capillary Color - 1 drop

Eggplant - 1 drop

Burnt Sienna - 1 drop

Slo-Dri - 2 drops

Distilled water - 2 drops 

 

Dark Creases

Darkest Flesh - 1 drop

Slo-Dri - 1 drop

Flow Medium - 1 drop 

Blush

Crease & Capillary Color - 1 drop

Med. Ethnic Flesh - 1 drop

Slo-Dri - 1 drop

Adhesion Additive - 1 drop

Distilled water - 2 drops

 

Highlights

Raw Sienna - 2 drops

Slo-Dri - 1 drop

Adhesion - 1 drop

Distilled water - 1 drop 

Ear Blush

Crease & Capillary Color - 3 drops

Slo-Dri - 1 drop

Adhesion - 1 drop
 

Eyebrows

Raw Umber - 2 drops

Black - 1 drop

Flow Medium - 1 drop

Slo-Dri - 1 drop

 

Base of fingers (before the nail)

Crease & Capillary Color - 1 drop

Darkest Flesh - 1 drop

Black - ½ drop

Slo-Dri - 1 drop

Flow Medium - 1 drop

 *Note: I add this to the flesh part of the finger at the base of where the nail grows out.

 

Nail Line

Crease & Capillary Color - 1 drop

Raw Sienna - 1 drop

Burnt Sienna - 1 drop

Adhesion - 1 drop

Slo-Dri - 1 drop 

*Note: This is used near the tip of the nail to highlight where the nail tip starts (Underneath the white line)

 

Final Creases

Raw Umber - 1 drop

Black - 1 drop

Slo-Dri - 1 drop

Adhesion - 1 drop 

*Note:   Any dark areas that need extra "popping" add this to bring out more dimension.

ONCE YOU ARE FINISHED PAINTING, EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN IT IS BEST TO LEAVE THE FULLY PAINTED DOLL TO DRY FOR 48 HRS BEFORE INSERTING EYES OR ROOTING THE HEAD OR ASSEMBLING.

This tutorial can be downloaded from our Facebook Group The Art & Magic of Reborning - ask to join! We'd love to meet you and help you be successful using these paints. There are also files containing color photos of real ethnic babies to help you with referencing skin colors.

These are only suggestions and guidelines developed by artists using the actual paints.   Feel free to experiment for yourself using this as a starting point.

© STackett/HBRS 2025