2017 #10 Dark to Light: Facelift anyone?? {by Hazel Agnew}

2017 Topic 10: Dark to Light: Contrasts & Layers

I adore the way Hazel jumps in the deep end and challenges herself to try something different. In this post she bravely experiments with colouring a face dark to light, the absolute opposite of how we would normally work. The good thing about colouring faces with unusual shades is that there are no expectations of right and wrong, so come on...what's the worst that could happen!

Hi everyone, it's Hazel Agnew from Mellifluous Meanderings with you today, and I'd like to share with you a portrait for the non-drawing fraternity and also incorporating some fab stamps from Emma Godfrey.

The topic of dark to light lends itself easily to portraiture, and as some of you know I have practised my face drawing quite a lot since I attended a great class by Dina Wakley a few years ago. I recently discovered a technique to get around the drawing part and you can tweak your squidgy bits too, hence the title about facelifts!

I had so much fun creating this and laughed so much at the grotty stages that my face went through. But it made it, with fuller lips, stronger jawline and brighter eyes! Well, a girl has to do this! 

Here are my colour choices for the flowers and my face. I used opposites on the colour wheel for my background, Pumpkin Soup, Banana and Tikka Fresco Chalk Paints.

Here is my master board for the flowers starting with brayering. You will recognise many PA mini stamps. I used EEG14 flowers and heat embossed with white to make them stand out.
    

Whoops, happily sponging the background and then realised that I should have left the face area clear. Hand gel to the rescue, it cleared the paint away really well. 

I forgot to mention that printing out your photo in black and white helps you to pick out the contrasts when you are painting. Here is my tracing. I used baking parchment.

This was the scary part, putting down the dark layers first. Then have fun and build up the colours using your photo as reference for dark to light shades.

So, there is my facelift enhanced by Emma's beautiful flowers.

You could have a go with a magazine face if you wished, not so many lines to paint in, or you could paint a picture of a child perhaps.
A good way to start is to make a few copies of your photo and and paint directly onto it  to get the feel of it and then chuck it into the bin.
I hope that I have encouraged the "I can't draw" brigade to have a go!

So, its hi and bye from Hazel, Mellifluous Meanderings, aka craftroomgran and thank you for looking at my ugly, but enhanced mugshot!

Wow Hazel, what an amazing lesson that is! I love your face lift! I also love how you have cool colours, but it looks like towards the end you have a few warmer layers in there too! Looks like a lot of fun to me!! ~ Leandra

We always hope that you  learn something interesting from our blog. 

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Why not join our 2-weekly challenge by blogging your create response to the current topic and link it here?

The current topic link Topic 10 (Dark to Light) will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, August 5th 2017, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

All links go in the draw to win a £50 voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store.