Keet Invites You, Yes You, to Paint Your Own

Something happened that strikes me as odd/funny (although I think I know where it comes from, and I appreciate it): in recent weeks, a few people have actually asked me, so nicely, if I would mind if they painted their own wooden dolls like mine. Of course I don't mind!

It is very OK by me if you paint (and even sell) wooden dolls like mine. It is not rocket science. I do not own a patent on painting on wood, something people have been doing for who knows how long, and you know, those smiley faces of mine are surely the result of having admired the sweet simplicity of Sanrio product design when I was a tiny kid and onward. Even still, no two smiles are ever exactly alike. Sometimes that is on purpose but mostly it's a happy accident.

Obviously we shouldn't violate copyrights or steal someone's art. I struggle futilely to define the subtle difference between art and craft, but I feel certain this is craft, and I think the major power of craft is in the sharing of it. So, I am really happy to have shown some people something fun they can do, maybe with their families and friends, or to pass a quiet evening alone. If painting these dolls seems like fun to you, you should go for it, and be sure to share the pictures.

Here are some of my recommendations (do comment if you have your own recommendations to share):
1. I buy unfinished wooden dolls in bulk from craftparts.com but have seen them in smaller amounts in the big chain craft supply stores. The dolls I use are 3.5 inches tall and 1.5 inches in diameter. The currency in the photo above is to give you an idea of scale. I had a one- dollar bill there but the excellent photographer Sammy upped it to a Lincoln, 'cause he's such a big spender.
2. I'm sure the wood you get from craft stores and lumber stores has been chemically treated at some point, so even though I'm pretty sure my acrylic paints and water-based varnish are non-toxic, I still wouldn't let a baby gnaw on these things. And man, do I feel for all of you who still have babies that are in that gnawing phase with all the lead paint scares now. My kid was never too gnaw-y, thank goodness.
3. My favorite paint for this purpose is Delta Ceramcoat. I sometimes mix up some Liquitex artists' paints, or use cheaper craft paints. You may notice that a lot of brands of red paint just don't go on well and require many coats, but that Delta Ceramcoat is soooo good: even with the red it's one coat and you're done, and it still goes on smooth as buttah. I don't know how they do it and hope it does not cause seven types of cancer in five parts of the body. But it is good.
4. Keep the brush pretty dry as you're not working on a 2D surface and it'd be sad if your colors went all runny on you.
5. The plastic palettes they have for sale at art/craft supply stores... I mock them. This is what takeout containers are for! I also use cheapie tiny Gladware lidded cups to store mixed colors I'll want to use again.
6. For the bitsy details, such as the eyes and mouth, you can use a tiny paintbrush, but since the doll is not a 2-D surface you may find you have much better control with an opaque paint pen. I tried lots of brands, and Zig Painty Fine Tip is my favorite by far: it's the only one that means fine tip when it says fine tip. I only depress the nib for 30 seconds total, I keep looking to see when the paint starts flowing down the wick and as soon as there's the tiniest glimpse of paint, no more depressing -- I stop and wait for the whole wick to absorb the paint. Zig Painty is definitely NOT non-toxic, though. It's oil based and smelly.
7. A Sharpie will work for fine features too, but not as well. I also had wacky and disappointing results with my otherwise well loved uni-ball Vision Elite pens. I use these with watercolors on paper, and they don't bleed. But when I draw on the wood with them, and apply with water-based varnish well after the ink has dried, it's still smear city. Also, if you like a more natural look and you use a Sharpie or uni-ball Vision Elite on unpainted wood, it will bleed a lot. Use a pencil or paint instead.
8. I never want to make the same doll twice... and since I am really not that disciplined a painter, it would be impossible for me to do anyway. So if you find yourself with the time and inclination to make lots of these, vary them! Change up the hair color and skin color, or see if you can model them after loved ones. And have fun.

Sometime this month I will have a big etsy shop update featuring my own wooden dolls (gotta pay for the habit, you know!). Watch this space. Also, I wish to giddily announce that Nini should be landing here in the US -- for good -- any minute now. I am so excited and so grateful to her family and friends for sharing her with us.

Comments

[Sammy]

I am now sounding the woot for Nini arrival.

WOOT!

[Libby]

I linked here through your flickr. Thanks so much for your tips. After seeing yours last week, I tried my hands at wooden dolls to make ornaments for a craft sale benefitting a charity I do a lot of work for, The Preemie Project (www.thepreemieproject.com).

You can see my first attempt at an angel here:
http://flickr.com/photos/13781508@N00/1515067626/

Thank you so much for the inspiration. I think these will sell well with 100% of proceeds going back to the charity.

[supa]

These dolls! So cute. Holy crap. And thank you for the tips. And for explaining the money in the photograph. (I wondered to myself if I would be painting with nickels.)

[Mamakeet]

I am contemplating a trip to Michael's to get the supplies and try my hand at making some of these little dolls. I would like to make a set of pilgrims from the Canterbury Tales.

[Mamakeet]

The comment about Canterbury Tales pilgrims is mine. Not sure how it got somebody else's ID on it.

[staci]

Thank you so much for writing this entry. I kept seeing these wood dolls on peoples Flickr sites and wanted to do them but had no idea where to get the supplies or what type of paint to use, etc. I found your blog through your Flickr picture, got the items you listed, and am now addicted to making these. I will probably order from the site you mentioned because I cleaned out 3 of the craft stores supply of the wooden dolls.
:)
By the way your husband takes great pictures. They all look so cute in the different rooms, the pantry was my favorite.

wow this was a long comment........ sorry.

[Heather]

Aren't those wooden dollies so wonderful. Since I have boys, mine/ours are mostly railroad conductors and such. If you want to try a different form, there is another store online called Casey's Wood out of Maine. You can buy as many or as little as you want and they have so many fun shapes and things to create with.
So glad to have found you. :-)
Hettie
via the Advent Calendar on Flickr

[Dees]

Thank you so much for sharing!WOW I must admit I do feel very tempted to try and make one myself and I do feel more comfortable knowing I am not a copy cat if I do!that is so BIG of you putting down in words of encouragement!!!thanks and a merry christmas to you!xoxoDees

[Sharon]

this is way late, I know, but I just found your blog via your Flickr photo site. I have seen these wooden dolls in other places and thought they look like such fun to make. thank you for being so generous in your instructions. There are a couple of things I would like to ask, though, and that is where do you find your Zig Painty Pen? I can't seem to find one in the local craft stores? also, some of the paint on your dresses of your dolls look almost glittery, rather than a flat color. Is this a special kind of paint that Delta Dreamcoat has?

Again, thank you so much for all of your wonderful information on how to make these. I can't wait to try one. What skin color would your recommend for paintng an African American wooden doll?

[Bunny]

I have seen lots of different wooden dolls, and they are so cute. Sometimes I use a wooden egg and a dowel cap hot-glued to the top.

[Bunny]

Sharon: I have seen a "pearlizing medium" from FolkArt paints, not sure if Ceramcoat has the same thing. I'm pretty sure that either FolkArt or CeramCoat or both have ready-made pearl colours.

[Kellie]

Thanks for all of your info. I have just started making these little dolls, and I am still trying to figure out what paint works best. I just bought a set of good quality artist acrylics, and just love the way it goes on (I also have a ton of the regular crafting acrylics). One type that I love would be the Joann's brand "gloss" paints. Do you sand your wood first, and use a primer? I bet you will be hearing from me again soon! :'P Kellie