Featured Reborn Artist Adrienne Anderson

Reborn Artist Adrienne Anderson

Here is my interview with our featured reborn artist Adrienne Anderson. Adrienne won our realistic reborn doll contest for April with her gorgeous reborn baby girl, Rebecca.

How long have you been reborning?

I have been reborning for just over 5 years. The first couple years I didn't make very many but instead focused on techniques. Since the summer of 2007, I've been doing it full time and love it!

What made you interested in the art at first?

I've always been interested in dolls, especially realistic looking newborn dolls. I saved up and bought a Lee Middleton doll back when I was in high school because I couldn't get over how real they looked. I was searching for similar dolls one day on ebay in January of 2004 and stumbled across reborns. I was amazed by how real they looked and knew that dolls had been taken to the next level. Once I bought my first one, I started researching how to make them and then I knew there was no turning back. To me it was the perfect hobby and luckily it has enabled me to stay home with my son. I have the best of both worlds! I get to make reborns all day and play with my almost 2 year old son.

What is your favorite aspect of reborning?

My favorite aspect of reborning is pretty much all of it! :0) Somedays I like one step over another and somedays I dread a step. Rooting isn't usually my favorite because it's the most time consuming but it's such an important step. I suppose my favorite step is the painting because after a few layers, the baby really starts to come alive. I also like taking the pics once I'm finished because I get to dress him/her up in cute outfits and marvel at the finished product.

Where do you usually sell your babies?

I usually sell my babies on ebay. I've had quite a few repeat customers who have had me make a custom for them because they loved their first baby so much. I just set up my website, so hopefully I'll get some orders that way too.

Do you have any tips for beginners starting out?

Oh, there are lots of tips for beginners! ;0) I would say the biggest thing in the beginning is patience! Most of the time, your first, second and even third reborn isn't going to look the greatest. It takes a lot of practice and trial and error. If using genesis paints, I'd say take your time and use very thin coats. You can always add more but if you put a layer on too thick, there really is no good way to undo it. Posing and picture taking is actually one of the most important steps as well if you're trying to sell your baby. Again, it takes practice on figuring out what works. Good lighting and natural poses are key points. Most of all, you have to love it! If you find that reborning isn't something you enjoy or stresses you out more than relaxes you then it isn't for you. It also isn't going to make you rich quick either. The dolls that sell for big bucks are usually worth it. The artists have worked really hard to get where they are and have made a name for themselves.

Any memorable moments?

My favorite moment with a reborn was a personal experience. I had taken one with me to show some friends and family one day. I still had him in the car later that night when we went to one of the friend's grandchildren's birthday party. She asked if I could go get the reborn and bring him in discretly. I did and she held him and walked in with him. Everyone swarmed her and wanted to know whose baby it was. We all got a great laugh from it!

Where can people find you?

My nursery name is Dare 2 Dream Nursery and my website is: Dare to Dream NurseryMy user ID on ebay is dren09 and I always put D2DN in the titles of my reborns.