Monday 3 February 2014

GD: Clare Lloyd #2 Make A Face (Part 1)

Hi Clare again and tonight I have a photo story to share with you. One of the ways to develop your art journaling or work a canvas is by adding a face or figure. Now for many that may be enough to send you running to the hills but hear me out and take the risk even if you only try something on a scrap of card/paper. 

I am still on my own creative journey when it comes to figures/faces, but Leandra has encouraged me to share what I have learned/discovered so far. There are so many so called 'art rules' but naturally some rules are made to be broken...LOL!

 
In my photo story I talk about how to draw on facial features, simple ways to paint using Fresco Paints and how to add shading/dimension using pencil crayons.


It all starts with a couple of hand drawn stencils and a snippet of a kitchen sponge.


Watch my photo story video to find out how to do a person like this for your tag.



Leandra says: Please take 5 minutes to watch this vimeo vid from Clare. She clearly shows you step by step how to sketch the building blocks you need, then how and where to position facial features, and lastly, how to add depth with paints and shading with pencils to bring the face to life. Practise and you will master this technique. Once you know where the face bits go, then you are on a roll! It's really not that hard, promise!

Materials used in my portrait:

I really hope some of you might take the plunge and try out some faces in this week's challenge. I will be back again tomorrow showing you how I added my portrait to an art journal tag.

Leandra Says: Fabulous Clare. I did an online class with SuziBlu a number of years back, and the way she taught placement of facial features is deliberately not realistic. I found this made it so much easier to 'do' a face because the 'no rules' means you could over exaggerate position, size etc to manufacture a cartoon-style face. This sort of face has become so popular for several years now, and certainly can make your art more personal. Having never drawn in my LIFE, it was amazing with a few simple guidelines, how it really isn't as hard as you expect, and the more of them you do, the more you develop your own style of face too. I would encourage everyone to have a go. It's quite a confidence building exercise in acknowledging your own often unrecognised ability.

Gillian Says: This is something I would love to try, thanks for sharing this with us Clare ... now on my to do list.

 
If you would like to join in this week's challenge and play along with Clare's techniques, then do link up your creativity here, and go in the draw to win some PA stamps of your choice! You need to link your entry by 17:00, Sunday February 9th 2014.

15 comments:

Hazel Agnew said...

Looking forward to the challenge Clare. I always strive for realism so this will make a nice change! X

Anonymous said...

Oh Clare, what are you doing to me??? I CANNOT draw faces!!!! However, your face is fantastic & the video is hugely helpful, so I might have another go.....

Deborah Wainwright said...

Great face Clare I will be playing along x

Craftyfield said...

Promise I will watch the video... but oh drawing faces so daunting!

Karen said...

Ooo what a wonderfully clear video to follow and a lovely sweet face! Thank you x

Julie Lee said...

What a brilliant idea! I love faces! I doodle them all the time, but rarely have the courage to place them on my projects. This is a new way to create them. I must give it a go! Thanks so much for sharing something that so many people would love to be able to do effectively. Julie Ann xx

Debs M said...

Great tutorial Clare - I painted a lady over the weekend for moonshine and now wondering whether to go back in with some pencils x

Claire said...

Uh oh drawing faces is sooo scary! Great video tho - lovely how you shared all the steps. Claire x

Unknown said...

Lovely face hunni. Great tutorial! xx

APG Jamie said...

sometimes I just go Doh!

make my own head & neck stencil !!

Why didn't I think of that?

great Tutorial I hope everyone will give it a try

ps thanks for you visit to my place

Unknown said...

Looks like the challenge is on, can't wait to try x

Julie S said...

Excellent video, Clare. You make it look so do-able. I think you might be tempting me to give it a try.

ionabunny said...

I thought, you can not be serious!! You want me to draw!!! Uh, but I read your opening and what's a girl to do but try..... Will study the video a few times and may even share my attempts. If they aren't totally rubbish....... Thanks in advance for kicking me out of the cosy chair.

Claire said...

Thanks so much, that video is fab. I had a go at sketching a face a couple of weeks ago but bottled out of adding any colour so her little pale face is still staring at me lol. Thanks for the tutorial, I'll have to get out the paint and pencils and have a play
Claire xx

Dana said...

Great video Clare!! I loved it and I love your idea for a handmade stencil/template =0)