Swirls and teardrops, the sequel

Okay, so I have my swirls and teardrops down to where they generally look the way I want them to the first time I put them down... both backwards and forwards... Whoo Hoo

Next step..... how in the sam hill do ya'll get pretty accents on them without ruining them? I don't know if it's my lack of hand-eye coordination or what, but I aim for these wonderfully delicate accenting lines, and they are all jacked-up. And I can be okay with not-exactly-lined-up because that happens sometimes, but dang. Dang.

Any thoughts?

Can you post a pic of an example of what you are trying to accomplish?

Alot of times I put dots on my tear drops and swirls....I always use the wolfe white on wolfe cause it seems to not smear like other whites I have tried. Now for accent lines...I'm kinda bad at those too so thats why I do more dots for the accents . It just takes practice to do the lines I'm sure.

Heres some of my dot work

Ooh, pretty, Debi!
I'm almost always on my blackberry, and rarely take pics of my boo-boos, but I'll see if I can find one.

those are great!








I need to seriously work on my swirls and tear drops. They are pathetic! (And no I WON'T be posting pics until they get better!!! eek!)

My teardrops are AWFUL! I'm not too bad with the swirlies......but depends on the day....LOL

I blame the brushes!!

I finally realized I needed some finer brushes for outlining and swirls. I do feel like some brushes "flow" easier..but I'm obviously no expert so I am just experimenting! I really like the comfort grip ones I got though (Whatever size they are)

What are the best brushes for painting teardrops? I usually try a round (4/6) and it's usually a disaster-why!?! I guess I just need to practice more..

In any case this is definitely one thing I am taking a few small group classes in at the CT convention-(teardrops, swirls,etc!).

oh and I also just got some Wolf white and black from the forum shop. I think the Snaz is not crisp enough? Or is it just my technique? (or lack of as of yet!? not sure?)

Both probably

Yes, it is easier to work with Wolfe for that sort of stroke, but, you also need the technique down pat - they you can do it with any brand.

Generally I work with a 4 or 6 round, but also use filbert sometimes - it's more what I grab than specific, IYKWIM.

And I like using sables for drops as I control the pressure and lift off - acrylics have more spring in the bristles and can pop off before I want them to!!

those darn rodents again! (good thing I have some though! hehe) I will try this!

I think I found a really good brush for me, a white taklon with just the most perfect shape to the brush. Now, I must seek out more, as I only have 1 like it.
I'm deciding that I need more practice, and to discover another magical brush for accenting. Although it is probably more the case of me needing more practice.

I use several sizes of brushes of each color. For white and black I have the most. I have a tiny detail brush, and a bigger #3 or #4 for those thicker lines. Having the separate sizes helps a bunch! Even so Marcela told me it NOT ABOUT THE BRUSH, IT IS ABOUT HOW YOU USE IT. She can make tiny delicate lines with a #4. I am still struggling with that, but the concept is one I have taken on.

I have two photos in the Gallery here on the Forum that show varying line sizes some I used a #4, and worked on tiny delicate lines. Some I just grabbed my tiny detail brush!

http://www.facepaintforum.com/gallery/Personal-album-of-LillyW/Venetian-Fantasy-Face-by-Lilly-Walters-pic_1680.htm

http://www.facepaintforum.com/gallery/Personal-album-of-LillyW/Fantasy-Face-by-Lilly-Walters-pic_1679.htm

Lilly Walters
www.funfacepainting.com
Face Painting Classes In Southern California

Hallelujah! I think I just mastered teardrops. I feel like such a dummy...........really.

Funny how something just suddenly clicks, and you don't know why you couldn't do it before. It happened to me with long division at the end of 3rd grade. 4th grade happened... and easy-peasy.

Lily: The links that you posted don't seem to have a picture attached. I tried your album but there weren't any pictures there either. I'd like to see your pictures, so if you have a minute would you mind posting them again?

Just did a Wolfe course & they did the whole thing using a no 4 brush,apparently they dont use anything else.
Its purely the way they use it, its simply finding the right one for you.

I had THE hardest time learning how to get my swirls and accents to look just right-with my right hand, then I had to worry about making equally nice swirls with my left hand!! It took me several events and lots of practice (with a lot of help from my mentors/grandparents) but I have got it down pretty good now!!

I have found that using mehron liquid paints work amazingly for line work, they stay put and wash off easily-plus they give me more paint on the brush which makes my strokes more fluid as well!

possumranch wrote:I had THE hardest time learning how to get my swirls and accents to look just right-with my right hand, then I had to worry about making equally nice swirls with my left hand!! It took me several events and lots of practice (with a lot of help from my mentors/grandparents) but I have got it down pretty good now!!

I have found that using mehron liquid paints work amazingly for line work, they stay put and wash off easily-plus they give me more paint on the brush which makes my strokes more fluid as well!

I paint with your left AND right hand?? I just use my right. you're magic.

Debi's Doodles wrote:Alot of times I put dots on my tear drops and swirls....I always use the wolfe white on wolfe cause it seems to not smear like other whites I have tried. Now for accent lines...I'm kinda bad at those too so thats why I do more dots for the accents . It just takes practice to do the lines I'm sure.

I had a go at this yesterday and I loved the dots for accents! So quick and easy and the girls just loved it!

Ashley Pickin wrote:

possumranch wrote:I had THE hardest time learning how to get my swirls and accents to look just right-with my right hand, then I had to worry about making equally nice swirls with my left hand!! It took me several events and lots of practice (with a lot of help from my mentors/grandparents) but I have got it down pretty good now!!

I have found that using mehron liquid paints work amazingly for line work, they stay put and wash off easily-plus they give me more paint on the brush which makes my strokes more fluid as well!

I paint with your left AND right hand?? I just use my right. you're magic.

LOL... believe ME it was difficult, and I paint two different ways with both hands (of course hhhaaa), so it takes a lot of practice and adapting to how each hand operates....but it has been worth it so far!!


Plus, it works better than putting my arm pit in kids faces trying to paint with my right hand on the left side... LOL!!!!!

Being able to paint with both hands can be really practical, but often I find it is faster just having the kid looking to the other direction / turning their head than switching hands.