Brown vs. Copper

I've never had brown face paints, and it's finally time to get some! I'm doing a Thundercats party in a couple weeks, and I definitely need brown/copper to pull that off.

So I was wondering... do you use brown face paint, or copper more often? Do I need both? I like the idea of just getting copper for the shimmery quality of it, but I don't know if plain brown would come in handy too.

Right now I'm just thinking about getting TAG Pearl Copper, but if people think having a brown is useful, I might grab one too. If so, any brand recommendations?

Thanks!

I use a tag brown. I use it for puppies and other animals and to mix w purple for bruising and black eyes. I actually made a split with just purple and brown. The Tag metallic copper is great too! Tag has a Foxy cake that is metallic white, metallic gold ans metallic copper.

While I am addicted to my Interferenz Copper, brown is really great for sketching in an underpainting. A brown seems to have less "ghosting" in the final product.

Here, I sketch in with the brown, and lay in the basic colors:


finished product is inspired by KaraMundy's fabulous (and much better) Third Eye:


The Beebster came to SickKids Hospital, and I got to do six of these in one day!


Then, there is the Brown Horse:


xoxo
Lisa

Thanks for sharing the pics, Lisa! Beautiful work! That horse is AMAZING!!!

It looks like having a solid brown colour would definitely be a useful addition to my kit... that eye looks super cool! I could also use it for aging makeup.

What brand are you using?

Kryolan Aquacolor is the brown I use. It can be quite matte and solid looking, as well as using it as a wash or faint outline under your painting. I will be needing to get some more, soon. I was wondering if Wolfe would be too opaque for my usage.

Thank You for the compliments! As a little girl, I loved drawing horses. At the very bottom of the horse's neck and at the bottom of the halter/bridle, you can see my first faint outlines.
xoxox
Lisa

Wow, what a talent you have Lisa!

Oh Wow! That's Really good! (Sorry to go off topic)
But back to the Question.... Get both! Lol I know I'm no help!! Lol

I am of the mind that both the brown and the copper are necessary. When I was first given the copper to try, I used it on EVERYTHING. It seemed less special. Now, I use it in small touches to give depth to flowers, princess crowns, Optimus Prime, etc. It lasts a heck of a lot longer by using it in small amounts.

Thank you for the compliments. I have always pushed myself to get better, in spite of the fact that my Grade 13 art teacher failed me because he said, "You have a disturbing lack of imagination." I am smiling while I type those words. I am so glad I chose to ignore my art teacher.

xoxo
Lisa

Lisa, your art teacher had a disturbing lack of imagination if he imagined you lacked imagination.
Maybe that onus falls on him for failing to inspire you.
We are not at our most creative when we feel harshly, critically, or unfairly judged.
Shame on him for (stifling and) discouraging you.

I have a split.. half brown, half copper. I usually mix them to be honest... brown for opacity, copper for shimmer.

This forum is such an inspiration to me. I learn so much from the amazing face painters here. I am learning to really use the paint to make it sing. I have long since embraced the creative side of who I really am, so I can make others happy, too.
I would still buy BOTH the copper and the brown!
xoxox
Lisa

I got TAG Brown and TAG Pearl Copper. Thanks guys!

TBH I got rid of all my matt browns years ago, even when I was still painting in zoos (lots of monkeys!). Matt brown just looks, umm, pooo to me, usually Used them once for a pavement camo bodypaint but that's it...

Now I use a split cake for fur I made out of asstd DFX with mainly metallics in it, and if I have to do reindeer, its copper, otters/ paler browns are all that Kryolan Aquacolour pastel grey-brown, I forget its name - a shimmery mink colour?

I think the browns with a sheen/ metallis are much better, they actually make it look like fur a bit more...

Cat