My faces always begin with the same color palette – a circle of titanium white mixed with a flesh tone. Then a layer of Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold acrylic paint for shadows behind the eyes.
This creates a surface with a bit of contrast so I can add my initial eyes and features.
For cheeks, there’s a few supplies and colors I use in every painting. One of my favorites is a florescent pink paint pen, so I have quite a few of them in my studio. After a while they start to fade, but sometimes this makes the color easier to apply and get softness rather than bright, boldly rouged cheeks (I switch back and forth between both versions).
But the other day I couldn’t find any of my paint pens (my studio table was a crazy mess). I was completely in the moment and knew I had to try something else.
After sorting through my paints, I grabbed a floresent red acrylic ink and mixed that with my titanium white acrylic paint and got the most incredibly soft cheeks.
Here’s a few of the other supplies I always have out in my studio:
* Cobalt Teal acrylic paint
* Green Gold acrylic paint
* Yellow Orange Azo acrylic ink (by Liquitex)
* Antique white oil paintstick
* Burnt Sienna oil paintstick
* White paint pen (by Sharpie)
* Water-based black pencil (a Stabilo Marks All Coloring Pencil)
Click here to learn more about my online art class Enchanted – Soulful Eyes and Faces.
In this video sneak peek I share mixed media techniquess for creating a feather haired woman, using layers of oil paintsticks, watercolors, pastels, inks, acrylics, pencil, papers and pen. You’ll learn how to paint any face more freely, so you can easily let go and develop your own style.
In my online art course Enchanted – Soulful Eyes and Faces, you’ll learn my tips and techniques for creating whimsical characters with soulful eyes and faces. This class will help you reignite your creativity and mess making, whether you’re a beginner or have a lot of experience.
Click here to watch more videos from my online art class Enchanted – Soulful Eyes and Faces.
Happy painting!
xo Juliette
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