Acrylic Portrait

Morning Friends and Crafters. Well the day has finally arrived, my first show on Hochanda at 4 pm this afternoon. All of the drawing,designing and re drawing has taken me on this exciting journey and what a scary journey it has been at times, I hope you will be rooting for me and praying that I wont end up on the bloopers reel lol. Today I am sharing a tutorial for one of the demonstrations that I hope there will be time for. I have chosen this project as it gives a really strong and punchy look, but it is totally achievable for everyone to create. I have just used one stencil from the collection, any of the words or sentiments from the collection would work, but I chose to leave it, for now anyway.

You will need:

Craftascope 'Trent' Stencil

Distress Crayons Set 3

Indigo Blu Townhouse Teal Acrylic Paint

White Gesso

Cosmic Shimmer Acrylic Paint Orange Popsicle

Pencil

Purple Spritzer

Orange Spritzer

Black Card 12 x 12 9 (Smaller if Preferred)

Ste 1: Create your background with the acrylic paints and a Brayer. Build up your layers to create interest, texture and dimension. (*Top Tip* use rice paper or a piece of Calico to mop up any excess paint, this can be used for future projects. Another idea is to use an ATC size to create later.)

Step 2: Use the Spritzers to create another level of interest. Try letting the colours run either side of where your image will sit, like a sort of frame.

Step 3: Trace through your stencil with a pencil, these have been designed to give at least 3 different faces. By using either the inside line on it's own, the outside line on it's own or a mixture of the 2 lines. Remove the stencil and using the Black Distress Crayon strengthen the image.

Step 4: First using your White Distress Crayon, start by adding the shape and highlights to the face, add some white and rub in with your finger, decide where your light is coming from, here its from the right.

Step 5: Start by adding more shape with the black add the black and rub in with your finger, be sparing with this as it is a strong tone, less is more, continue until you are happy with the image. To finish your project you can add some of the brown and cream Distress Crayons to add texture to the hair.

Thank you so much for taking a look at what I have shared today, I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial and the finished piece. It would be great for you to have a go to see just what you can create. Hope you will join me on Hochanda today at 4 pm or if you have missed it you can see a repeat on Catch up. Another thing, here is a 30% off voucher to use on your first order (anything) from Hochanda, use code FEY5JBP7.

As you know I love writing my blog and helping as much as I can, well I would really love for you to add you support by adding me as a favourite blog. All you need to do in that section is choose other and add my blog address nickinbarnsley.blogspot It would be great to get a mention even if I dont come anywhere.

Here is the link to add your support for all of the categories. 

https://www.britishcraftawards.com/


Until Tomorrow, Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Time - Showing us what Matters

Hello, I've got something a little different to share with you this morning. Yesterday Kim from Paperbabe Stamps brought her Male Mixed Media, stamps and stencils to Hochanda. I bought them a little while ago, they really are fantastic. I never been able to draw a successful face so these have really been amazing to use and have allowed me to try something new. If you didn't see the shows, they will be available on 'Rewind' via the Hochanda website.

For this I used the 'Side Swept Bangs' template, the instructions are super easy to follow. I used Stick n Spray from Crafters Companion on the back of mine to hold it in place. Next I positioned the facial features, using the coordinating stamps. For the eye's I used Blueprint Sketch Distress ink.

Once completed, I used a 0.3 & 0.5 black Copic Multiliner pen to darken the lines before rubbing out all of the pencil markings.

I started building up the skin tone with my alcohol markers, blending to add shape to the face.

I continued to blend, darkening around the sides of the face and hairline. Below the shoulders, I faded to the lightest shade.

I took a warm golden base for the hair, my chosen hair colour was dark brown but I like to start with a lighter base, after adding the darker colours the tones does show to give a more realistic look.

Next I took my 2nd beige colour to start the blending. Working with the hairs natural movement, blending from the root and from the tips, leaving a bridge in the mid-lengths. 

I continued with a deep warm brown applying in the same way.

Lastly, I took my darkest brown to add even more depth and tone before blending with the warm brown I had used previously.

Then using copier paper, I made a mask to cover the whole image.

The colours I used for this background were Blueprint Sketch, Dusty Concorde and Chipped Sapphire. I wanted to blend areas while still keeping some white without it starting to look patchy.

I made a stencil from the clock die from the 'Time Traveller' collection by Sheena. I also used another from Clarity, stippling through with Blueprint Sketch and Chipped Sapphire.

With Memento Black ink, I stamped a sentiment stamp from Bee Crafty, using the 'Time' part on the left had side and the rest in the top right hand corner. I next took the Hourglass stamp from Sheena's Time Traveller collection and stamped using Blueprint Sketch Distress ink.

I finally removed the copier paper mask.

Many thanks for taking a look today, I do hope you have enjoyed this step by step and the finished piece. If you would like to do something similar, I would highly recommend the stencils and stamps from Paperbabe, they have really helped me to do something that I have always wanted to do. Hope you will join me again soon, Take care and Happy Crafting.xx