Jane Davenport has a wonderful CD about how to draw
whimsical portraits. I first became aware of her work when I tried out some of
the stencils she created for Artistcellar. They were really fun and easy
to use.
I am all about recycling and downsizing and trying NOT to
purchase too many unnecessary art supplies. Kind of an oxymoron, isn’t it? With
my art addiction, supplies are always necessary. But I try not to splurge on
every new tool or supply that catches my eye. However, I DO love faces. And
looking at my published work…well, it is pretty much all faces.
Back in the 80s I took a class in pastel portraits where I
learned the basic mathematics of drawing a face and how to mix the pastel
colors to get a nice flesh-tone. But, Jane’s faces were so enticing that I
decided to break down and order the DVD from Cloth Paper Scissors so that I
could learn her secrets.
Jane’s step-by-step DVD kicked my face drawing talents up a
notch. I learned how to do “pretty” which was a big change—I usually have
abstract or ugly or disturbed looking faces…and I probably will return to doing
weird faces, but I may be using Jane’s method—which is practically foolproof.
In the first photo, I drew the basic shapes with colored
pencil, then used a flesh-colored acrylic over it.
In the second, I added more detail and lines with colored
pencil.
The final photo has more color, blending, and white accents.
A few strokes of Tim Holtz’s distress stain in antique linen, with a
couple strokes of white gesso was all I needed to give a blonde hair effect. I
think she looks a little like Morgan Fairchild, but my daughter says she
resembles Elsa from Frozen.
