03-11-2015, 09:57 AM
Yep. what really helps me is to nail the angle and position relative to other "correct" features first. Sometimes I do this just with short indication lines not even drawing the full thing. If you get these two right, everything else is just adding more detail. Almost anything on the face (or reproduction anything with drawing) can be reduced to a bunch of angles and their position in space.
accurate measurement is crucial to nailing likenesses. Otherwise you are just smooshing paint about.
Also undo your stroke every time if it isn't perfect, instead of going over and over it with new ones. Undo, take another look at reference and go for the stroke with full energy and vitality. It kinda goes against this idea we tend to idealise of painting like a leaping, gamboling lamb in a meadow with butterflies, free as the wind, but actually it stops a whole lot of messing around and you give each stroke your full attention. Sargent was not a fool!
accurate measurement is crucial to nailing likenesses. Otherwise you are just smooshing paint about.
Also undo your stroke every time if it isn't perfect, instead of going over and over it with new ones. Undo, take another look at reference and go for the stroke with full energy and vitality. It kinda goes against this idea we tend to idealise of painting like a leaping, gamboling lamb in a meadow with butterflies, free as the wind, but actually it stops a whole lot of messing around and you give each stroke your full attention. Sargent was not a fool!