Methods for forming conformal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) receive coil devices having at least one receive coil with at least one capacitor are provided and include providing a 3-dimensional (3D) mold structure matching a curvilinear shape of interest, and forming a receive coil pattern on an outer surface of the 3D mold structure. The forming of the receive coil pattern may include spraying and/or depositing a conductive material and a dielectric material on the outer surface of the mold structure to form the receive coil pattern. The forming a receive coil pattern may include forming the receive coil pattern on an outer surface of a flat substrate sheet, and vacuum forming an inner surface of the flat substrate sheet to the outer surface of the mold structure to form a shape-conforming substrate sheet. The shape-conforming substrate sheet may be removed from the mold and used in MRI studies.