I could use some constructive criticism on my latest work. I'm not finished yet of course. I still need to work on the black and white belts the red piping onnthe coat and the gold tassle. I'm going to try using inks on the tassle. That should be interesting and a good simple thing to learn on.

I'm most interested in opinions on the flesh and maybe some suggestions on the highlights on the fabric of the coat and hat. I really do feel like there are improvements in the face compared to my first two tries. Still nowhere near some of the amazing work I see here but it's at least going in the right direction.

I made the pictures way too big and it really magnifies my lack of skill.

Really like reds and blues. Face looks good, needs some more blending.


Steve

Yes, I agree with that. I'll give it a try tomorrow. I need to find the balance between the paint being thin enough to be transparent and not running all over the place.

Oils on the face?

Hi Albert
That's coming along nicely.
As Steve says it could do with a bit more blending between the colours I'd suggest using very thin paint (roughly 70% water) and mixing a colour between the two shades and rather than applying with strokes of the brush use tiny dabs of the tip. The colour won't appear to be doing much initially because the water has to evaporate (Remember the paint colour is suspended in water) give it time to dry and you will see that the transparency overlapping both colours appears to give a 'mid tone'. Take your time and gradually build up the colour till you are happy with it. Don't overload your brush to stop the paint flooding off the end (I have a piece of kitchen towl handy to wipe off the excess before touching the tip of the brush to the figure)

If you'd prefer to use slightly thicker paint you can use little lines to cross hatch a mid tone between the shades, although I find this works best with clothing.

Hope that helps, keep at it and it will come
Cheers
Paul

ps
I've added some extreme skin close ups I've done which if you blow them up should show hopefully what I mean

Looking good so far Albert. Agree with the others re the blending (I use oils in the main so can’t really offer much in the way of advice if it’s acrylics your using other than just keep going and you will no doubt start to see subtle improvements the more you paint).

Neal

They are Vallejo acrylic paints.

Paul,
Thank you for your detail explanation. I had an eye doctor appointment this morning but gave it a quick try before I left the house. When I tried before I had it thinned but had way too much on my brush. Your explanation hit home with me.

Here is the results of one quick application using the dots as you suggested. It's easy and I like the results so far. It of course still needs work but as you say it's a slow process.

Glad it helps Albert

Your explanation was a light bulb moment. The improvement shows more in person than the oversized photos. I'll do more today. The eye doctor put so much junk in my eye yesterday that I was done for the day.

I better pay more attention to references. I thought it was gold. Maybe I will try a little yellow ink to change the tone a bit.

Thank you Steve. I'm really enjoying it and will stick with it.

Here's what it looks like after a bit more work following the fantastic guidance from you guys. To me the transitions look way better.

I have a question for you guys based on your help with this bust. Should I have been using thinner, more transparent paint from the start? Is that how you guys get such smooth transition's and texture? I'm basically putting the paint on a wet pallet and using it straight without thinning until the suggestions that were given here.

That face is looking better Albert. Now it's a question of keeping going backward and forward till you are happy with every area at different angles. (Don't forget to do the same thing on the other areas as Nap says)

Another technique to try is using a glaze. In addition to thinning the paint with a little water you add some medium (glaze medium in this case) and paint thin thin coat over a transition area or to add tints to parts of the face such as the earlobes or under the eyes. The medium sort of holds the paint together so that it doesn't seperate into little granules suspended in water and gives a smoother effect than using water alone. Use very little colour in the glaze and build it up slowly allowing the paint to dry so that you can see the effect. (I'll use a puddle of water/medium about 6 or 7mm diameter and just touch the very tip of the brush into the colour and mix this in. It will look like you have just wet the surface until the paint dries, probably take 3 layers to get enough of a tint)

In answer to your other question yes the paint needs to be thinned.
For the base coat on an area try thinning enough that it takes 2 or 3 coats to cover fully and this will give you an idea of the sort of milky consistancy you are aiming for.

Cheers
Paul

You guys are the best. I’ll pick it back up tomorrow using your suggestions. I do have some Vallejo glaze medium but have not tried it yet. Now I have a reason and better idea of how to use it.

I hope I’m not being a pest. Your detailed explanations have been very appreciated.

Used the glaze medium with midrange colors on the blue and flesh. I'm starting to understand how the glaze and thinner layers work.

Looking good Al. Nice work.

Steve