Today began with my adding several more layers of skin tone colors to the little girl's face. I find it a bit difficult to determine the shading when just working on the skin so I moved on and began working on her eyes, her lips and a bit of the hair, especially the hair around the face. By adding these features I will be able complete the shadowing on the face.
At one point I had applied so many layers that I was finding it difficult to add more color because the "tooth" of the paper had been flattened by all the additions. I took one of my blending stubs and gently smoothed the layers together after which I applied a coat of workable fixative. When you begin to lose the "tooth" on the paper, a light coat of workable fixative allows you to add more shades with relative ease. Another tip to remember, when you have applied too much color it can be lifted off the paper with a kneadable eraser or by lighly placing a small piece of magic tape on the offending area and using a ball point pen to trace over the area you want lightened, then gently lift the tape up and it removes the unwanted marks.
Her face is beginning to come together and is now taking on a realistic appearance. There is still quite a bit more work to be done, but at this point I am beginning to feel a sense of accomplishment. Here is where we are at today's end .....
The weather here in Portland is supposed to be in the 70's for the next few days and I will be taking advantage of this good fortune to weed out some flower beds and put in some seeds for a nice herb garden. Ergo, I may not get any work done on our little girl until I get a good handle on my gardening endeavors.
Til I post again ... Happy Day!
Karen Anne Brady
PS I have been studying this drawing since 5PM (its now 8:24PM), have noticed three glaring mistakes I am going to need to correct at the first possible chance. Primary rule in art ... if it doesn't look right ... it is wrong ... I found 3 wrongs. I'm working off a photo, what works in a photo and I was trying to hard to faithfully follow from the photo ... doesn't always work in an illustration, now I am going back to "Karen Basics" ... do what feels right, not what you think you see.
PPS I am using techniques I have learned and am learning from the book "Colored Pencil Portraits - Step by Step" by Ann Kullberg and my other favorite book, by Alyona Nickelsen in her book "The Colored Pencil Painting Bible".
At one point I had applied so many layers that I was finding it difficult to add more color because the "tooth" of the paper had been flattened by all the additions. I took one of my blending stubs and gently smoothed the layers together after which I applied a coat of workable fixative. When you begin to lose the "tooth" on the paper, a light coat of workable fixative allows you to add more shades with relative ease. Another tip to remember, when you have applied too much color it can be lifted off the paper with a kneadable eraser or by lighly placing a small piece of magic tape on the offending area and using a ball point pen to trace over the area you want lightened, then gently lift the tape up and it removes the unwanted marks.
Her face is beginning to come together and is now taking on a realistic appearance. There is still quite a bit more work to be done, but at this point I am beginning to feel a sense of accomplishment. Here is where we are at today's end .....
The weather here in Portland is supposed to be in the 70's for the next few days and I will be taking advantage of this good fortune to weed out some flower beds and put in some seeds for a nice herb garden. Ergo, I may not get any work done on our little girl until I get a good handle on my gardening endeavors.
Til I post again ... Happy Day!
Karen Anne Brady
PS I have been studying this drawing since 5PM (its now 8:24PM), have noticed three glaring mistakes I am going to need to correct at the first possible chance. Primary rule in art ... if it doesn't look right ... it is wrong ... I found 3 wrongs. I'm working off a photo, what works in a photo and I was trying to hard to faithfully follow from the photo ... doesn't always work in an illustration, now I am going back to "Karen Basics" ... do what feels right, not what you think you see.
PPS I am using techniques I have learned and am learning from the book "Colored Pencil Portraits - Step by Step" by Ann Kullberg and my other favorite book, by Alyona Nickelsen in her book "The Colored Pencil Painting Bible".
Ok Karen Anne, you are going to have to tell us, what are the 3 wrongs?? Don't look at my paintings, because you will probably find 6 wrongs! LOL! I think she is so precious ;o) And, I can't wait to see more! I hope you are having fun gardening!!
ReplyDeleteLOL Stacy! #1) the shadowing on the eye on the left side is wrong, needs to start a bit more to the right.
ReplyDelete#2) I shouldn't have closed up the middle of the bottom of her nose, it should lightly work into the the nostril on the right side.
#3) the top of the nose needs to be just a little higher.
Hopefully, I'll have been able to make those corrections by the next time I scan the progress.
I am way more critical of my work than of any one elses.
Not sure I'll be working in the garden today after all. Just took Danny Boy for a walk and it is cold and damp out there! My fingers work well in damp ... but the cold isn't gonna work for me! Maybe tomorrow will be a warmer day....
PS Its the shadowing under the left eye that needs work ...
ReplyDeleteLookin' good! I like this new direction you are going in!
ReplyDeleteThank you for saying so, Lise, means a lot coming from you ...
ReplyDeleteGreat progression - isn't great how we keep learning & improving the more we create :) Hope the gardening goes well!
ReplyDeleteIt IS Shelle! That old saying "An Old Dog can't learn new tricks most definitely does NOT apply to humans ... the older I get the more I want to and do learn. That has to be the greatest lesson learns in life.
ReplyDeleteGardening is going slowly but well ... being 64 I have to limit myself or be out of commission for several days due to over exertion (not a fun part of the aging process) Today I spent about 2 hours outside getting everything kinda organized, did a bit of weeding and then realized it was TOOO hot for me .. .. 79 Wow! Portland set a record! Gonna get out there around 10 AM tomorrow, finish the weeding and on Monday start planting seeds and create a plastic green house over the seeded area to protect the garden from birds, squirrels, and the weather. Going back down to the high 50's on Tuesday and gonna stay there for at least 7 days after that ... Wish me luck with my gardening endeavors ... Big Hugs! So nice to hear from you Shelle!