Alaya Art sponsored 29 Faces in September 2015. I didn’t get all of my 29 faces completed during the challenge period but I am going to continue with them until I get them all done. It has helped develop my skills so much that I want to make sure I make it through all 29! Also, Kim Dellow over on her blog has a fun thing going called Art It Friday – Show Your Face. I discovered it while browsing some linked blog pages on Julie Fei-Fan Balzer’s regular Friday post Art Journal Everyday post which she usually posts regularly every Friday. I also found Paint Party Friday through Kim Dellow’s post. This is a fun group, too! There are some really talented artist doing all sorts of painty things over there. Here is my entry for all today, which is also 29Faces-No. 22.
I see people using colored markers, etc., to sketch all sorts of things in their journals. I’ve been wanting to try this for quite some time so today I did! I was kind of bored with my background (I need to rotate my “go to” paints in my work area and get some fresh colors in there) so I decided today was the day to try a colored-marker sketch. I guess I have this notion in my head that I prefer to use a more neutral outline for sketching. When I see others use this technique, sometimes I really like it but sometimes I really don’t. I went with a greenish marker so it at least sort of blended a little better with the background colors already there. I think I don’t mind the colored marker quite as much as I thought I might and I think it is because it kind of matches the background and doesn’t appear as stark as it might if it were more of a contrasting color. Just my personal weird preference. I may try it again sometime but I will definitely use a color that goes well with or pulls out a background color.
For this sketch I laid down a very thin layer of gesso and then used thin layers of acrylic applied with the edge of a pallet knife. It was still to bold so I covered it over with a couple of really thin layers of gesso with the top layer being smoothed with a pallet knife as well. The greenish marker is a Faber-Castell Pitt artist pen (Phthalo Green 161). Just a touch of pink Neocolor II crayon was add to the lips, eyes and cheeks (Pink and Purple colors) and then added light to the eyes with a Molotov Acrylic Marker–extra fine. I added a little water under the jaw line and lightly smeared the marker to add just a slight shadow underneath the face–I couldn’t help myself–LOL! (Interestingly enough, the Pitt markers are supposed to be water proof. However, I have found that they do not seem to be when used over acrylic. They moved and dissolved quite easily when I added just a little water.) I used a drawing by Jane Davenport as my inspiration.
I hope you have a beautiful, art-filled weekend! 🙂
Really cool love the Janesque touch to it 😀
I really liked the page, especially the eyes of your girl.
Thank you, Ozge! I enjoyed looking around your blog this afternoon! 🙂
I agree with you that the green marker goes super to the background! Lovely face – her big eyes are adorable!
Happy weekend!
oxo
Susi
Thanks for stopping by, Susi! 🙂
Her eyes are amazing! I like the green marker as it does tie in your background well. You are good drawing faces! ?
Thanks! I have a long way to go but I am MUCH improved since taking the 29Faces challenge at the beginning of September. I am determined to finish all 29 before the end of this year! LOL!
That is great, Jill! ? Art challenges have really helped me improve my skills. I know you will succeed with your goal! ?
What wonderful green eyes!!!
Thanks, Beth! 🙂
Love the bold lines you used to sketch her, and the soft background colours. I’ve had a similar experience with the Pitt markers, they don’t hold up to varnish…
Thank you, Denthe! Don’t you hate it when that happens??!
Ooo lovely! Love her eyes. Thank you for linking up to Show Your Face and for the shout out too. Kx
Thanks, Kim! I was just thinking again yesterday how much participating in your challenge and in Alaya Art’s 29Faces has really helped me to improve my portrait skills and to get me over the hump of being brave enough to start posting my art for “all the world to see.” Thanks for hosting this and for being such an encourager. These challenges were exactly what I needed and I found them at a time when I was actually ready to try. I smile when I think about it as I post to your blog every week! 🙂
I really like this portrait, especially the eyes that sparkle so beautifully. I have been seeing a number of artists using gesso in really exciting ways lately, so I used it recently over pastels and it was very effective! xx
Thanks for stopping by an leaving such a nice comment, Julie! Have a great week!
Hi Jill, thanks for visiting my blog and commenting on one of my faces yesterday. Yes, i am very late, but like you still want to complete my 29 faces, have fun
I adore line drawings. This is beautiful!
Thank you! I really struggled to start and do it in the green marker but I think I really like the results now. 🙂
You really don’t show hesitation marks and it looks very free.
Such a lovely face and beautiful big eyes. Oh yeah I recognized Jane Davenport’s style 🙂 I too have discovered some waterproof color pens not beeing waterproof.. so maybe it’s because the acrylic paint, as I too use acrylics..
Thanks for the lovely comment and for taking the time to visit, Viola! 🙂
Such a sweet, pretty girl!
Thank you!! 🙂