The Art of Reborning: An Interview with Mayra Garza
Mayra Garza is an artist whose work transcends the boundaries of traditional doll sculpting. As both a skilled sculptor and reborn artist, Mayra brings her creations to life in ways that few can. We had the opportunity to sit down with Mayra and explore her incredible journey in the world of doll sculpting and reborning, the process behind her lifelike creations, and her unique artistic vision.
The Journey to Reborning: A Passion in the Making
Mayra’s journey in the world of doll sculpting began in the year 2000 when she first started sculpting figures of Baby Jesus. It wasn’t long before commissions began to roll in for miniature baby dolls, and from there, her passion only grew. Over time, Mayra expanded her work to include larger, more realistic baby dolls, ultimately leading her to sculpt for doll companies and produce reborn doll kits.“When I held my own vinyl creations in my hands, the idea of painting them to make them look even more lifelike came naturally to me. I’ve been painting with various techniques since I was young, so reborning my own babies felt like a natural extension of my creative path,” she shares.
Reborning “Twice as Nice”: Bringing a Vision to Life
For Mayra, reborning one of her own sculpted dolls—like her popular Twice as Nice—is a deeply fulfilling experience. “Reborning my own sculpts gives me the opportunity to complete the vision I had when I first started sculpting the baby. It’s very fulfilling to bring it to life exactly as I imagined it.”
Paradise Galleries' Twice As Nice Twin Doll Set sculpted by Mayra Garza, before and after reborning.
A Step-by-Step Process: The Art of Reborning
Reborning is a meticulous art, and Mayra takes us through her process to show just how much attention to detail goes into creating these lifelike babies. Her approach begins with disassembling the doll and removing the factory eyes using a heat gun. Once that’s done, she moves on to cleaning the doll thoroughly before beginning the painting process.
“Reborns can be painted with either air-dry paints or heat-set oils. I use heat-set oils, which need to be baked between each layer. I apply several translucent layers of paint to create natural skin tones, baking the parts between layers,” explains Mayra. She uses a combination of fine brushes and textured sponges to add depth and realism, ultimately giving the doll its lifelike appearance.
Once the doll’s skin is painted, Mayra reassembles the doll, adding glass eyes and micro-rooted eyelashes or painted hair. “I sometimes micro-root mohair strand by strand for a more lifelike look,” she adds.
Essential Tools and Techniques for Ultra-Realistic Results
Achieving ultra-realistic skin tones is an art form in itself, and Mayra relies on the right tools and techniques to make this happen. “It’s essential to use paints made specifically for vinyl dolls and to work in thin, translucent layers. This helps build subtle color variations that create the realistic look we all strive for,” says Mayra. For tools, she swears by soft nylon brushes in a variety of sizes, mop brushes, and makeup wedges to create the different textures needed for the fine details.
Inspiration Behind the Creations
When asked about her sources of inspiration, Mayra reveals that real babies, photos, videos, and her own grandchildren are often her biggest muses. “There’s something so powerful in capturing the subtle expressions, tiny details, and unique personality each baby has,” she says. “When I reimagine my own sculpts, I try to see them with fresh eyes, sometimes picturing them with different coloring or a new mood or story behind them. It’s a mix of observation, emotion, and imagination.”
For Mayra, reborning is about striking the right balance between realism and creative expression. “I try to make my babies look as realistic as possible, but I always add a bit of my personal style to each one. I like including little details that make each baby unique, without losing that lifelike feel,” she shares.
Advice for Beginners
For those who are new to reborning, Mayra has some valuable advice: “I highly recommend watching reborning tutorials for beginners on YouTube. Reborning isn’t difficult if you use the right paints and follow the proper steps. Don’t be afraid to get creative, let your imagination flow, and above all, have patience. Reborning takes time and attention to detail, but it’s such a rewarding process.”
Dream Projects: Looking to the Future
As for what’s next, Mayra is working on sculpting two new babies that will be released as reborn kits. “It’s always such an exciting part of the process for me,” she says. She’s also revisiting some of her past sculpts, giving each one a new interpretation.And when asked about her dream projects, Mayra reveals her ultimate ambition: “I’d love to create a full-body silicone version of one of my babies. There’s always another little one waiting to come to life in my mind!”
Mayra Garza’s artistry is a testament to the passion, creativity, and patience that goes into every reborn doll she creates. From her humble beginnings sculpting Baby Jesus to her current work sculpting and reborning lifelike babies, Mayra’s dedication to her craft is truly inspiring. Whether you're an aspiring reborn artist or a collector of these incredible creations, Mayra’s work stands as a shining example of what can be achieved through passion and perseverance.