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Aesthetics First faceups in years

Feb 21, 2016

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    1. More faceups in the comments :)

      Hi all! I've been taking a break from my dollies the past few years and just started to get back to them since Christmas. These poor darlings arrived right near the beginning of my hiatus so these are their very first faceups!

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      Our subjects, Littlefee Chloe and Minifee Mirwen

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      Chloe- Happy with her blushing and lips, I think I made the eyebrows too high, I was trying to give her a sweet and innocent look. I wasn't sure what colour I wanted to use on the lower lashes and I think it shows!

      [​IMG]
      Happier with Mirwen, especially the eyebrow shape.
      [​IMG]


      General constructive criticism accepted, but the main thing I'm looking for advice on is, I find the watercolour pencils look grainy when drawing hairs, can anyone help me with that? I sharpened them as much as possible with a pencil sharpener but maybe I need to use a knife? They're Faber Castell and I use them dry.

      Thanks for looking! ^^
       
      #1 Chibi Kitsune, Feb 21, 2016
      Last edited: Mar 28, 2016
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    2. You can go over the pencil with a thin brush and some water. Or dip the tip of the pencil in water. When you use a pencil sharpener be sure that the blade is sharp and take it slow, half a turn at a time, turn your pen very slowly, that way you will not eat down your pencil and will always get a sharp point.
       
      #2 skumring, Feb 21, 2016
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      • x 2
    3. Also, you may want to apply lines multiple times with the pencil. If you seal, then draw on top again, they will come out less grainy. :) And the more times you do it, the better it should look.
       
      #3 AirimirOfGondor, Feb 22, 2016
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      • x 1
    4. I always find watercolour pencils - for individual hairs and precision work I always think a brush and watered-down acrylic paint is the best. I really like Mirwen's eyebrow shape though, I'm envious!
       
      #4 Mossmose, Feb 25, 2016
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    5. #5 Lighthouse Asylum, Feb 26, 2016
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    6. For them being the first faceups in years, they are pretty good. :) A good tip is to paint the upper wet line of your Mirwen. It can give a greater depth to the eyes, but also make the eyeline more conturing and even! I agree with the others, great eyebrow shape! But it seems your watercolour pencils haven't been totally sharpened, maybe? The lines would be less grainy if you had used a super sharp pencil! I used to make that mistake when I first started, but a sharp pencil can improve fine lines so much. Especially for brows and lashes! :thumbup But as I said, great start on getting back to the hobby!
       
      #6 kia20, Mar 6, 2016
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    7. I love the lips. :) Beautiful and glossy.
       
      #7 simplysweetminis, Mar 6, 2016
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    8. What sealant are you using? When I first started doing faceups, I was using a terrible sealant that made all of my pencil work look incredibly grainy. Then I switched to MSC and pencils look so much better now.

      If you're already using MSC, disregard my comment :sweat

      Good work on the faceups though! I really like Mirwen's brows and freckles :)
       
      #8 koloish, Mar 17, 2016
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    9. I use Purity Seal now, but I used to use MSC and had the same problem so I don't think it's the sealant. Overall I like Purity Seal a lot better, it's not as temperamental in different weather and pastels stick to it well.

      Thanks everyone, I'll try sharpening my pencils more and maybe dampening them :)
       
      #9 Chibi Kitsune, Mar 21, 2016
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    10. Adding a couple more I've done since, using sharper and damper pencil for the eyebrows (or none at all sometimes) and watered down paint for the lashes which I think looks much better
      [​IMG]

      [​IMG]

      [​IMG]

      Feel like I'm making progress, thanks everyone who commented! :)
       
      #10 Chibi Kitsune, Mar 28, 2016
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    11. These look terrific. Your little Chloe made me go, AWwwwwwwuh!" ...so sweet!
       
      #11 rosalynmouse, Apr 26, 2016
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