Stencil Portrait with Distress Crayons

I find drawing faces so intriguing, it's as if each face falls out of my pencil and has its own story to tell.  Using a stencil is a terrific building block, the stencil lays a quick foundation and it reinforces the positioning of the facial features.  By outlining the face through the stencil with a Stabilo pencil I'm assured that the shading will take care of itself.  The Stabilo pencil is water activated, it seems to blend into the right places on the face.  I use Distress Crayons to do quite a few of my portraits now and a quick spray to the entire surface at the end gives it a water colored appearance.  I had several posts a few months back showing a step by step tutorial on how to create your own water colored portraits.  If you follow the directions it is as simple as it looks, I taught my 11 year old great-niece how to do this with very successful results.

Thanks for stopping by, if you have any questions about this technique just send me a message.  I hope you're taking a little time every day to create some kind of art! Hugs ~ Renee

Working my way through Karen O'Brien's book Imaginary Characters

Do you buy books by your favorite artists and work your way through the techniques in search of the magic that spills out into their art?  One of the artists whose work I truly love is Karen O'Brien.  She has a book out called Imaginary Characters which I adore.  I've been having fun trying to imitate her wonderful creatures.  Her technique tips use all of those hoarded supplies like watercolors, Distress Crayons, acrylic paints and of course my ever present, Stabilo pencil.  Today's project was executed on a wooden canvas from Hobby Lobby that measures 8" by 10" that I first coated in white gesso.  Then I drew my image in Stabilo pencil and painted it with watercolors using a water pen.  When it was dry, stamps were applied with StazOn black ink and the edges were distressed with MementoLuxe Gray Flannel ink.

Supplies used:
Peerless Watercolors
Gesso
Stabilo pencil
StazOn Black ink
MementoLuxe Gray Flannel ink
Delicata Gold ink

Ranger Distress Crayons

Stamps:
Stampendous
Dina Wakley
Stampers Anon

Stencil by Momenta

8"by 10" wooden canvas

Let go of expectations and just dive into a book by your favorite artist.  Use new techniques and tips with abandon, have fun.  We don't need anyone's permission to play and art is a great place to exercise that right.
Thanks for stopping by, I always appreciate your visits, leave a comment if you have the time!  Hugs ~ Renee