Line work...left side of the face not so good!!

hey guys...just moved from snaz paints to diamond fx paint...makes such a difference!!!

I am right handed and my line work on one side is great, but awful the side...not at all steady!! Did any of you guys find this when you first started out with practicing?

Also my line work is a bit thick at times...can't seem to control the brush with a bit of speed...if i could master that i think my lines would not be so thick and i would get good flicks at the end...any tips? or will this just come with practice?

Thanks

Vel x

When I first started off, I found the right side difficult (I'm a leftie). After lots of practice, I've found ways to improve it.

1.) Standing while you paint makes it A LOT easier. You can move around with ease, and stand at the correct angle you need.

2.) Don't be shy asking the person to move their head a certain way. When I do the right side of the face, I ask them to look 'waaaay over that way' and point to something beside them. I find it helps with younger kids instead of trying to nudge their chin in the right direction. Just say 'look at mommy!' or 'look at that chair/wall/etc!'

As for thick linework, that's just something you have to practice. You have to learn how to hold the brush lightly and when to press it down to give your lines more variety. I find it's helpful to rest your pinky somewhere on the face (where the paint is dry!) as an anchor. Also remember to hold the brush perpendicular to the face.

DOnt worry I am also the same way. Im still fairly new to this and still cant seem to get the basics. my sponging is a disaster and as for line work I practice every chance i get. keep practicing it will come to you. =)

use your pinky to help steady your hand.

Thanks guys....I think I have been pushing down on the brush to hard to steady my hand and avoid getting a wobbly line...more practice at being lighter with the brush I think!!

I'm a lefty and I have the same issues with my line work on the right side. Sometimes I practice for alot and see improvement and then I don't pick a brush for a month and my lines start to look crappy again.

For symmetrical designs, if you do your "bad" first, it is easier to get the other side to match (because you are better at doing that side).

Janna had great advice. You'll see me doing 2 of the things she suggested in my avatar to the left:

1. Standing while painting so I can move around the guest I'm painting.

2. Using my pinky to anchor my hand so my lines aren't wobbly.

Of course, the best thing is practice practice practice. I've heard of painters having "sink time" where they spend 10 minutes at the sink just practicing lines, swirls, teardrops & curls on their arms everyday to build muscle memory. It was a pretty big name that said that - I just wish I could remember who!

I try using a big brush and paint just on the tip of the bristles... that way when you move back to a smaller brush, you're more used to a light touch while painting, which allows for great line control

great advice so far! The only thing I have to add is try holding your breath a bit when doing lines... sounds weird, I know, but I find that if hold my breath during a stroke it comes out more even because my body is very very still.

On another note.... don't worry too much if your lines aren't of all uniform thickness... varying the thickness of your lines can really add depth and dimension to the design.

I have the most difficult time painting the left side of my own face - I finally realized it's because my boobs are in the way! I can't reach across... LOL!

Anyway, I, too, have a bit of difficulty painting across the face. I do well on the left side of their face but lose control on the right side. Practice!

Doe wrote:I have the most difficult time painting the left side of my own face - I finally realized it's because my boobs are in the way! I can't reach across... LOL!

THANK YOU! So glad I'm not the only one!

Im new to face painting too and practice my lines all the time. To practice I use a 1/2" flat brush and make a few lines, some straight and some swirly, and I make a few circles all in a color. Then I line (using a different color) around the squares, thick lines, swirls and circles. Also I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who has trouble painting the opposite side of what hand we paint with! -Sam

I also start with the 'difficult side' so I can do the easiest part last!

I got so fed up with my bad lefthandside, i practised painting with my left hand for weeks, sitting in the couch, wearing shorts, I painted swirls with my right hand first, then copied with my left...

It took me some time to master it, and my partner thought i'dgone insane, but I'm now able tofuently switch hands on the job...
It's a skil you learn once, and never forget, I've been doing it for about five years now, and the kids' parents notice it as well, I get a lot of ooooooh's and waaaauws when they notice i paint with both hands :-)

I find that painting your week side first then copy it on the strong side...and with time and practice you will know just how to start and finish your design and the best way to do it...