Dear Friend-to-Be,
Your doll commission would be a pleasure. As I wrote in my 2008 eBay guide about repaints: After years of coaxing a flat canvas into the forms of the human face, it is a joy to paint on a dimensional face, on a contoured sculpt. Most of my profession since 1989 has been commissioned paintings of children in oil and pastel. The dolls make me feel happy, to study the small faces as I paint on them, to admire the sculptor's work.
As of May 2011, I have finished fifty (50) doll commissions. As of January 2010, I am requesting $250.00 per doll ($150.00 for small-doll ~ Riley, Ellery, Poppy ~ size or for the second doll from the same patron). The former prices are for dolls in which I am painting the eyes. For BJD faceups (ball-jointed dolls that have inset eyes, dolls in resin or vinyl), price is $100.00 to $150.00. It takes me at least an hour to remove factory paint from even a tiny doll. There may be faster ways, but I am using a careful way to protect the surface of the doll. Then I paint in delicate layers, about four painting sessions in all, giving each layer time to dry before refining it. I blush body creases and give her natural-tinted fingernails (or French-tipped nails) and toes, too, just as the artists of reborn babies do. If you would like me to re-wig her in fine mohair, or to plait, curl, or French-braid her original hair, just let me know. The price includes rewigging work, as well as conditioning/cleaning the old wig so you can reuse it. Your only cost would be the actual cost of whichever new wig you select.
Just so you know, I have always considered correspondence and photos from my portrait-art clients to be private. Same now with doll commissions. I will do careful work for you in my clean smoke-free studio.
A 50% downpayment is requested. Please insure your doll and pack carefully. I would not need the doll box.
You may like to include her clothing if you would like her coloring to match the clothing.
Please let me know of any colors you prefer for eyes and lips and fingernails. It may be easier to include a photo or magazine-clipping of child or adult with coloring you like.
You may pay the balance and the return-shipping when you receive the finished doll.
I will send you photos of the finished doll(s) for your approval before sending it home to you.
Nancy Lee Moran's POLICY TO SHOW RESPECT FOR other doll creators is as follows:
The dolls I use were factory painted. I would never repaint a doll that the artist (like Helen Kish) had painted herself, such as some of those in the Kish Signature Line. I would not paint one in a limited edition of fewer than 300. I am NOT affiliated with any doll company, creator or manufacturer.
With kind regards,
Nancy Lee 9/06/10
Here are some links on my website to commissioned dolls.
BELOW the links is a "Question about Paint Permanency."
