Any tips, critiques, or applause welcomed!

I've been working on free-handing designs as requested since it seems to hold my attention more. Sponges are my best friends right now, but does anyone have a better way to get large blocks of color up quickly and neatly? I have several places on this painting where my color extends beyond my lines but timing was not on my side this time, the model had a place that she needed to be and I didn't get to clean it up like I would like to. This is my problem with sponges, I can't be neat and accurate with them yet. Yeah, the design extends beyond the range of social acceptability... that's just how I roll, I guess?

Oh, my goodness! Fabulous.

I'm not quite experienced enough yet to give tips or critiques, so you'll have to make do with another applause. Poor you

I will say that I don't personally like using sponges to put down a base over larger areas...kabuki brushes are the way to go for me.

Tamara,
I did pick up a kabuki brush a little while ago, but I have not tried it yet. Do you just use your regular paint with it, or do you use a powder? I am using Mehron Paradise paints.

I think its awesome, great work.

Breathtaking!
I love the texture of the wings.
When I want absolute flat color, blot with a sponge, do not drag the sponge. Having said that....I still love the texture that you created. It is beautiful, even if you think it is an accident.
Lisa
fesspenter

It's a win!

( sorry no applauding emoticon!)

Wonderful! A kabuki brush would work well

all i can say is wow!
it would be awesome as a full body..twisting the feathers around to the front..i love it

I really like using makeup foundation brushes to cover big areas. They look like giant round brushes.

You peacock is kick butt. I need to find me a body model. I just get akward around semi naked or naked people

Thanks everyone for the hints on brushes and application methods! This is the kind of feedback that really helps out.

Eva, you just live up the road in Cincinnati... drive on down to Louisville and we can have a painting party on my model if you like. The awkwardness of being around semi naked and fully naked people doesn't seem to register for me. I get so wrapped up in the painting that I stop seeing the naked body. As a healthy American man, this bugs the heck out of me in retrospect.

You better watch out James I may take you up on that. I know of a few painters in my general area that I may be able to get to go on a road trip to Louisville. We have all wanted to jam, but busy schedules are killing it. BTW.. love your avatar, I think it has inspired me to bust out my kit.

I wouldn't offer an artist the opportunity to create art and not expect them to take me up on it. Seriously, people painting together is a great way for EVERYONE to get better. We can set something up!

I am seriously loving your avatar too .... did you enter it in the tribal comp?

Love the placement of the tail! And the way the neck sits on the spine for more dimension!

Lovely job! I wouldn't get too caught up about going a bit 'out of the lines'. The eye does not register that much...it takes in the total. BUT even as I say that I feel your pain. I hate it when I have overlap!

Try sponging just inside the edges and then brushing in the edges to the specific location, you can then go back with a sponge to get the texture. I love it, absolutely fantastic and I would love to see the socially unacceptable portion, I'm curious how you handled the buttox:)

round of applause coming your way.

You can use the kabuki (blusher brush) with your normal face paint, it cover's a large area very quickly. Have you seen Nick & Brian Wolfe paint? They do virtually a whole design with only their sponge & then use a round brush for the detail. They make it look too easy..

my profile pic is of Nick & Brian, Nick painted the design on my face here & used a sponge for mostly all of it, then just the round brush for the detail. They are awesome painters.

Here's a link to some close up pics of the design. http://www.facepaintforum.com/t6585-changed-my-avatar

great job

Thanks again folks for the encouragement! I would definitely like to see the Wolfe brothers paint sometime. I have not entered my avatar pic into the tribal contest, mainly because the part that would almost qualify as "tribal" was really just an afterthought that I painted on to help accentuate the skull. I may design something for the contest, though.

TheJamesNapier wrote:Tamara,
I did pick up a kabuki brush a little while ago, but I have not tried it yet. Do you just use your regular paint with it, or do you use a powder? I am using Mehron Paradise paints.

I also use Paradise and yes, I use the kabuki with paint. I've found that it's awesome for creating seamless blending.

i love this peacock! i hope the place she had to be next was a nude drawing class! imaging her walking in looking like that! the students would love it! =0)

i actually dont mind the overlay at all. i use the brushes that have handles for my butterflies and i get sharp edges and it lays down pretty quick, but Ive never done body painting. I still want to clap! my lil one also clapped for the 'pwetty bwird' earlier!
lovely job

applause all round!! Welcome to the group. Can't wait to see more.

James, beautiful!!!

For the Kabuki brush(I have a Vargas one & love love love it). You get it wet(I like to spray it or the cake w/ my spritzer bottle). You load the paint on it in a circular motion. You apply the paint to the body in a circular motion. If it starts to streak, reload your brush. I painted a full front(breasts & stomach area) w/ one color in about 7 minutes! If you use it like a paint brush it will streak. It blends well also. I'm still getting the hang of it, but think I can get my base for body painting down super fast once I get the hang of it.