Creative Ways to Paint a Russian Nesting Doll

Art is a great way to bring joy and creativity into your life. If you would like to explore different mediums and techniques while developing new skills, try painting a Russian Nesting Doll! The Russian Nesting Doll (also known as a matryoshka or babushka) is a set of dolls consisting of one larger doll, which sits inside another and can continue all the way down to the smallest doll.

The nesting dolls are a great project for children and adults alike. Painting them is an excellent way to make the craft more interesting, from adding details to just making them look prettier. In this blog article, we take a look at the history of the first Russian nesting doll painted and how some effective painting tips could assist you to beautifully paint your own custom nesting dolls.

How the First Matryoshka Dolls Were Painted?

The first Matryoshka dolls were painted with watercolors and pencil. The watercolors were used to paint on the dolls’ faces, hands, and clothes. They were then filled in with color pencils. Russians have played with the idea of nesting dolls for centuries. Originally, they were simple wooden dolls that were painted on the outside and had holes cut in them so that you could stack them inside each other. These days people paint the dolls and use different materials to make them look more realistic.

A portion of these dolls are produced using earth and formed with the goal that they resemble individuals or creatures. The first Russian nesting dolls were created by Sergey Malyutin, a member of the Karlinsky family in 1890. The family had been responsible for impressing painted designs on pottery since 1832. The doll was created by painting layers of colors onto a mold of her daughter's doll using oil paints and Russia-leather dyes.

Brush and Tools Used

The brush used in this project is a water-color brush. A great water-color brush can be found at most art stores and will cost between $3-$12. Painting with a water-color brush is very different from using a paintbrush, so it’s important to practice before starting on the nesting doll. The brush and tools that you use to paint the inside of a nesting doll are much different than those used to paint the outside. Brushes with long bristles, like a pastry brush, are great for painting the inner layers. A smaller brush with shorter bristles is better for painting the outer layer of the dolls.

What Should You Paint?

We recommend that you paint your nesting doll with something familiar, like your family's coat of arms or your state flag. It also helps if you have something creative in mind, like a picture from a magazine or an inspiration from nature. When painting a Russian nesting doll, you'll need three to five paint brushes of various sizes and shapes.

Various round tipped brushes are needed for Painting Nesting Doll the detail work on the fronts of the dolls. Level sided brushes are great for painting the backs of the dolls in bigger strokes. For more design-minded patterns, try using a little bit of masking tape to divide the surface into pie-shaped pieces before painting so that each piece has its own unique pattern.

What You'll Need?

To paint a Russian Nesting Doll, you will need the following materials:

• A large bucket or container to hold the doll

• Variety of colors

• Two paint brushes (1 Natural Bristle & 1 Synthetic)

• Tape

• Water in a small container

• Paper Towel

Steps For Painting A Russian Nesting Doll

• Use a small paintbrush to outline the desired design.

• Use a fine brush and watercolor paints to fill in the design.

• Allow the picture to dry before continuing with the next step.

• Use an appropriate surface to paint on - a hard, flat surface with no peeling paint

• Prime the doll's surface with a primer coat.

• Paint the doll in colors that work well together. It is best to use colors that are similar on a color wheel, such as complementary colors or analogous colors.

• Allow your painting to dry before adding more layers of color and details.

• Protect your work by sealing it when you're done to avoid smearing and fading colors over time

After reading this article, you should now be able to paint your own Russian Toy Dolls in many different and creative ways. Be sure to choose colors that will coordinate with the doll itself. You can use an image from the internet or from a magazine as a reference for painting the dolls. If you have any craft supplies around the house, like beads or sequins, these are also wonderful items to use when embellishing the outside of the doll.