WaterBorne™ Advanced Fleshtones Color System by K. Ingham & S. Tackett
These are just suggestions, and the way one successful artist who specializes in alternate skin tones 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 :) Please note I no longer use the word "ethnic" in these descriptions. The colors have not changed.
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
Dark Crease & Capillary Color - 2 drops
Lip Nail & Blush - 1 drop
Flow Medium - 3 drops
Slo-Dri - 3 drops
Adhesion Additive - 2 drops
Distilled water - 4 drops
Mottle #2
Dark Crease & Capillary Color - 3 drops
OR Lip, Nail Blush if you want a lighter pink blush
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. Dark 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 Darkest Flesh. 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
Lip, Nail, Blush Color - 1 drop
Eggplant - 1 drop
Burnt Sienna - 1 drop (continued--)
Slo-Dri - 2 drops
Distilled water - 2 drops
Dark Creases
Darkest Flesh - 1 drop
Slo-Dri - 1 drop
Flow Medium - 1 drop
Blush
Dark Crease & Capillary Color - 1 drop
Lip, Nail Blush Color – 1-2 drops
Med. Dark 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
Dark Crease & Capillary Color - 2 drops
Lip, Nail, Blush – 1 drop
Slo-Dri - 1 drop
Adhesion - 1 drop
Eyebrows
Raw Umber - 2 drop
Black - 1 drop
Flow Medium - 1 drop
Slo-Dri - 1 drop
Base of fingers (before the nail)
Dark 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
Dark 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 2026