You will only appreciate this guide if you like to do ARTISTIC painting.  I took to painting a composition doll that was below the good into the ugly doll category.  So here is what I did.

The doll was WORTH the time.  It had nice features that I liked.  The baby's legs were chubby like a baby.  It had a nice shaped head.  The body was old, repaired, and clean with no major spots.  It was a picture in the rough for me.

First I took the doll's clothes away.  The doll was wiped CLEAN with a damp, water well wrung out washing cloth.  Always make sure you dry the doll quickly and gently with a hand towel.  Also have an old kitchen towel available for your painting work.  Never leave a composition doll exposed to a sink bath.  If you see the paint coming off you may want to back off from the wash.  I might make a sketch of the dolls eyes, lashes and brows and lips before I clean her/him.  Make NOTES about the color of the skin and blushing.  Example:  This baby doll has brown eyes with a black outlining around center and lower lids.  A blue eye shade to accent above center eye.  Cheeks are peach blushed on tip of cheek rise like a half moon.  Word it the way you understand it.  Artists have their own mind set. 

Lay a cardboard or clean paper on the TABLE where you will paint the doll.  By now you have studied all the colors of the doll.  If you aren't sure then you have matched it with a good color.  You may want to think about layers when doing the hair.   Your brush strokes should be thought through for the hair and brows and lashes.  I make the skin look smooth.  This can be done by painting with medium not thick paint.  Never leave a spot where the paint has gathered to much.  Take the excess water off your brush also with your towel.  FISH the brush hairs out of painting.

Does the hair space have raised hair surfaces?  Should I leave open skin spaces?  Some are neat curls and some are wisps.  Leave the HAIR LINE on the high side if you plan on placing a wig later.  Be careful- don't get paint on the doll's cloth body.  Use an old dish towel to cover those places where you are painting or come up with a plan.

These SUPPLIES are what you will need.  Acrylic paints that you buy in a craft or sewing department.  Water base clean up is what I have used.  I pick the colors like the lightest shades of peach, tangerine, yellow, pink-- cardinal red, basic brown, white, black, royal blue, navy blue, baby blue, jade green, skin tone as beige, cream, tan, flesh.  You can use an old ice-cream pail lid as your color mixer.  MIX enough paint to do 1. face--2. arms--3. legs--4. feet--5. head.  Remember the uniform color of the body parts.  Skin has yellow, pink, red, pink shades.  Lips are peach, cardinal red.  Skin is creams, flesh, beige, tan.  Eyes are navy, royal, baby, periwinkle blue.  Eyes are also sage green, willow green, lilac, brown.  Think about the color of someone's eyes and find it.  Don't talk to yourself while you stand in front of the paints.  FUNNY!  I usually have to wait for my turn to look.  

Use good artist brushes.  I use a BRISTLE BRUSH of animal hair.  SABLE is very good.  It is soft and strong.  Use a flat 1/2", flat 1/4" and a round very fine short point.  You can use a make-up sponge but never rub too hard.  Most work must be done while the paint is very wet.  It is possible to wipe off a very bad job with wet cloth and start over again blending.  I don't want to do that normally.  It is also possible to repaint when first paint is dry.  Use a toothpick or cotton swab for a tough spot.

The NOSTRILS of the nose can be painted flesh, light red, pink or tan, black.  The dip of nostril is there; keep accent paint 1/2 of dip.  It will over power the area when heavy.

Start painting the face.  Let dry.  Paint the hair now or leave until the end.  Let dry.  Paint the neck, arms  Let dry.  Paint the legs Let dry.  Make sure that you complete each body part before you go on.  Dry where your paints will not be touched when wet.  You can cover your paints with plastic bags and ties.  The brushes should be cleaned with water before they dry.  Run water over them, gently work with fingers, towel dry.  Store in dry jar with brush tip up.  READY for next painting sesssion.

Painting the hair last is up to you.  It depends on what color and how much it will effect your brush.  All paint colors need to be washed out BETWEEN colors.  A half glass of water will work for cleaning for most of the work.  Replace glass with clean water when needed.  BE CAREFUL not to knock your glass of water over.  Have a towel ready for any accidents with paint or water.  When you are tired stop.  Stop before you are tired.  This gives you good time to clean your brushes.  Oh yes, wear clothes or APRON for painting.  Like me it is time to go to bed or do other things.

EYES are circles placed correctly, color, black dot, white reflective markings added.  White of eyes are very white, unless otherwise noted.  Outline as noted and remember some dolls need a red dot about where the tear duct is near the inner corner and nose.  I have seen one doll with a red dot at the upper inner eye.  This is more related to nose than eye.  Follow the original doll artist's path.

Let all dry very well for 24 hours.  Then you may dress your doll.  Acrylic paints dry very fast when properly applied.  If you have filled in any areas with a FILL MATERIAL then let the material dry before you start painting.

Some tiny holes can be filled in with the paint and they will disappear.  Only try this with tiny holes or cracks.  PALE PINK is a great color for finger and toe nails.

Never be in too big of a hurry.  Try to finish the doll painting in one to three day setting.  You will forget or loose your original goals to complete the doll.  Keep to the true colors and keep your notes.

I am not always very STEADY to finish the eyelashes.  Since I like this to be neat I have used permanent fine point marker.  You must be very careful.  You may never be able to take it off.  Make sure the skin paint is dry first.  Mark each lash with a dot.  You can get them even and if you want seven; it is like cutting the cake.  You can't EYE BALL the brows either make a mark where brow starts from nose side for both brows.  Small dots work here too.  See your notes for directions: full, arched, short, outside, inside, color, stroke, high, narrow. 

What do you have to lose if the doll will benefit.  I never repaint areas that are OK and part of the AGE of the doll.

Like putting on make-up the doll just needs the least amount of help.  It is best to start light and go darker.  I usually paint the hair of head tan or white first and then add the final color only when the first color has dried completely.  Since you will be able to buy a big bottle of white you can paint the first layer of paint in white then you can paint the top layer in the final color.  This is like a BASE COAT!  Not all dolls need all this paint.

You can use small glass baby jars used up and washed clean to mix and store some colors.  You will have a lid or close into bag to keep until the next day.  This is not for long term use.  Paint front of doll and don't flip over and paint more when paint is wet.  I hold the dolls neck like a real baby sometimes when I paint.  This gives me good control of the doll.  The arms and legs will flop around on you.  Don't forget about this.  You may get into trouble.  Have something to rest the dry doll parts on when not holding.  A very small box, sponge or a cardboard paper towel holder cut into smaller parts for a doll rest while drying.  Concerned about paint sticking maybe use a wax paper also or plastic mat.  A real doll stand will work.  I hold the doll close so I can see better.  Just helping you I hope.  You want the doll to REST SECURELY not roll or fall.

Before you paint the doll's MOUTH look at the shape of it.  You may paint it better the second time.  I usually think about the red color being to the INSIDE curve.  Leave flesh color to OUTSIDE for skin that opens the mouth.  Don't take much cardinal red and most old dolls had red lips.  Not shy and interesting, it was putting the life into a doll. 

You may want to doodle with a pencil or pen on paper to gain your strokes and confidence.  You can do it!!