Layering breakthrough

[sheeba]

Hay all

It\'s been a long time since I posted. I have been working on my painting.

I just wanted to tell everyone that after 4 year of painting, yesturday I finally figured out how to layer properly. I know im a slow learner.

The key to me was two things.

1. Thining paints properly but not tormenting over it.
2. brush stroke has to go tword the shadow when painting shadows and tword the highlight when highlighting.
3. lol sorry thought of another. When I find the transaction is not tomy liking. I find the closest light color of the two and use extra watered down of that color and paining on the transaction until it is as smooth as my mind would like it.

I hope this helps others.

I will post WIP when I take some pix next weekend.

Michael
Houston

 

[Aidan K]

Cool!! Im still getting there with my layering, but the tip to alwas stroke towards where you want the high or lowlight is excellent!

 

[sheeba]

that\'s great

I think the point is that if the paint is thinned enough that it can be translucent over the area were the brush starts then when you pick up the brush it leaves a little dot of paint, which will dry thicker.

A little note on paint thinness. keep adding water until the paint is thin enough to be translucent when brushed over black type in a newspaper. That\'s at least what I do.

Michael
Houston

 

[Shawn R. L.]

Brush stroke direction can make alot of difference.

 

[Temporary Sanity]

I\'m noticing that\'s true, about the direction you paint. I used to think in terms of blending, painting lengthwise on a cloak fold or something, but using layers. It would never turn out right. I could always see the transition, even though my paints were very thinned.

Ever since I changed the direction of my painting, I\'m becoming happier with how things are turning out.

 

[Ogrebane]

Congrats Sheeba. Im still trying to work it out. The brush stroke thing is interesting.

 

[schmackeroo]

the brush stroke thing sheeba is on about is like feathering/hatching to break up where two shades meet. if you apply several thinned down layers for each highlight you get more of a blended effect, use feathering, layering, wet blending and practice(and patience) you will get that flawless blend.
spend lots of time practicing, ENJOY

 

[freakinacage]

hatching was something i have learnt from jeremie bonamont. he pointed out that you build up colour quicker if you do one thin layer in one direction and then another in the other (much as you would when painting a wall)