Help with my tiger? Feedback wanted please!

Hi All! I need help figuring out technique. This is my first time trying a tiger, and ALSO the first time I have painted myself. I know the muzzle is all wrong, and I need to work on... well... the whole thing. But we have to start somewhere! So how can I improve this, and what do I need to work on in my techniques? I am practicing teardrops and thin, thick, thin lines today. They are HARD!

Your tiger lines are pretty good but there are some of what I call common mistakes there. The chin should be white and small. Look at a real tiger photo. Their mouths come almost to the bottom of heads so a lot of us don't even do chins and if you do, make them white.

The muzzle is too round and doggy-like, needs to come in a bit. The nose needs to be more feline and dip in the middle a little more to avoid the dog look again.

Here's my guidelines to avoid common mistakes:

Thanks Denise! This is exactly the help I'm looking for! Do you have any more of these "common mistakes" photos?

Paint your arm, then practice your tiger/zebra stripes.

No, but I have been encouraged to make more. I just have the tiger and butterfly.

D.

Where's your BUTTERFLY ONE! LOL The tiger tips have helped me out immensely btw. I am finally happy with tigers. Lately butterflies are peeving me out!

Oh Oh Oh..that is awesome Denise..thanks for sharing.

I found the butterfly one. Thanks!!!

here is one of my tigers I don't paint on the chin with I do mine...but I love how denise did hers I had 1 line mess up on the muzzle not enough paint on the brush..but you get the idea..

[img][/img]

here is another on on the same girl lol[img][/img]

Nice Barb! I love the green and gold. What a nice combo. Would be great for Irish festivals.

yes it would...the last line of the muzzle was not clean..I was kinda upset as the whole cat looked good but that 1 line..but she liked it..
the metallic make great tigers and cats

I don't like to paint full tigers, and I am happy with this mask now, I like the way the lines make a shape mask and the best thing is only 2 minutes WOW.

barbb919 wrote:here is one of my tigers I don't paint on the chin with I do mine...but I love how denise did hers I had 1 line mess up on the muzzle not enough paint on the brush..but you get the idea..

Barb, that green and gold is gorgeous!  And I bet she didn't even notice your messed up line.  

I don't paint chins either.  Full mouths always seem to get messed up at parties and fairs anyway.  

You guys are inspiring me, I can do my tiger faces in my sleep, but now I think they could use some refining.

That is an awesome help, Denise! It's amazing what your trained eye and hand can pick up! Thank you!

artyfacesbyluz wrote:
I don't like to paint full tigers, and I am happy with this mask now, I like the way the lines make a shape mask and the best thing is only 2 minutes WOW.

So pretty!! Love this!  

I love it, too, Katurah! This is a great design, Luz! Good job, as always!  

I thought I would add my updated and hopefully improved tiger.  This is my niece... I think she's a much cuter tiger than I was!  LOL!

The lines are a little off on the forehead, but I think it's an improvement overall.

What do you think? How do I make this better yet?

Tons! Go ahead and leave the chin off. My illustration is a little confusing...I was trying to show a TINY chin but honestly, for most jobs, with young kids, I just do tiny white teeth (no outline so it doesn't smear.)

The only other thing I would suggest is to make your stripes FAT in the middle by pressing your brush down at least half way. They have great sharp ends. The ones on the left actually look like they are nice and thick. Think of them as two teardrops joined at the head...only done all at once...that's how hard you need to push.

Looking good.

Thanks Denise!  What size/type of brush do you use for tiger lines?  I think this was a #4 round.

I also notice that the lines on my eyes need to move in closer to the nose and curl down around the eyes a bit more. Any other "line" stuff I am not seeing?

Here's a photo of a Mark Reid Tiger. You'll see in the middle of the stripe, especially turning a corner, they get nice and thick. He presses and twists at the same time. A #4 should be fine, just squish it good.

http://vbuckmeier.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/body_painting_face_tiger.jpg