Hi! I wanted to do a quick illustration for my next post about a very interesting literary movement of the 50's. I managed to finish it quite fast, so I'll share pictures of the few steps in creating a stencil portrait in black.
Subject
My subject: the writer and poet Jack Kerouac.
I found various stencil/ graffiti ref photos, using mainly the one by Phillip Banken, a take on a portrait of Kerouac. I roughly sketched with a pencil a simplified version, marking rough blocks where the colour will be. It is really helpful to use a reference photo, as you are learning, and you require precision to make the subject recognizable.
Technique
I used a 0.4 mm pen and Gansai Tambi watercolours. I was scarce with adding water to the paper because of its weight.
I used a small* notebook paper. * smaller than A6. For a quick illustration, the size is okay, and I often like to paint/draw in smallscale, choosing the smallest brush.
Still something new for me
This is also a study work of this graphical style. Honestly, it is the second time I've seriously tried stencil (as much as I can remember).
Check out:
Here is my first try in stencil art: read and see the step by step process of painting Alfred Hitchcock.
I figured out that stencil painting is a good practice for understanding face in more abstract terms: shapes and lines. Also, it helps in painting faces in other techniques, too: exploring the shapes of stencil, it is easier to understand then what are shadows and how do they define one's face.
Try it out!
If you want to practice, search for a stencil artwork and use it as a base of study. Or you can create an easy stencil version reference photo yourself, using Photoshop/Gimp - I'll write a post about that, if you want to. Always refer to a work you've used if you publish a photo online.
PHASE 1
I was a bit careless and thought the first version wouldn't quite work out, so I missed a photo of pencil sketch in base. I used pencil only for the facial features, then I went on with a pen, because I like to live dangerously. Here I've run over with pen already, marking where the shadows (black part) will be. I missed a bit and drew a happy-little-accident line. It's okay, I forgive myself. Maybe I'll find a solution to hide it.
PHASE 2
Filling in the shadows with a pen.
PHASE 3
Add black watercolour.
PHASE 4
Be careful with water on a thin paper. So I didn't add too much watercolour. I could've masked my extra line with a dark cloud of a background like in the Hitchcock painting, but I didn't want to risk damaging the paper, as it would make it more difficult to scan properly.
However, as I write and look at this drawing, I think I might even try that smoke effect...
ILLUSTRATION READY
Scanned version. You can see that I've concealed that little line at the left side.
Are you ready for my next post about some cool cats?
P.S.
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Great tutorial! love the end result!
Hey, thanks a lot!
Thank you for sharing
Happy to share! :)
I've really enjoyed seeing all of your art! I hope you continue to upload more showing the processes. I know its a bit more time consuming but it's nice to see how other artists get to their end product!
Oh, thanks a lot, dear!
It's wonderful to have someone interested in my content, it makes me want to post more.
From now on, I will definitely capture all stages of my artwork. :)
I'm also thinking about vlogging, only I'm concerned about fitting it into my daily plans, I have really a lot in my daily schedule. However, I heard you were talking exactly about that, and still, you seem to manage vlogging very well! :)
People here, people like you really inspire me, thanks for that!
I would have to say that it would be amazing if you got involved with daily vlogging! Our community is lacking lovely ladies and I'm trying to find some more who are interested. I know that it can be challenging when you already have so much on your plate, but after my recent post a lot of the guys in the community reminded me that there shouldn't be pressure to post all the time. Let it come from inspiration. Everyone regardless will still support each other because we know that what is being created is valuable to you and not because you think you have to do it. @tim.clarke made a good point to me that the videos can be short and maybe its just a short snippet of your day, a quick timelapse of your walk or a random thought or moment you want to share. He says it doesn't always have to require thought or explanation because at the end of the day its still a little part of you that is real and genuine and that's all that matter. Either way, I love what you're sharing and I am glad you are here. 💞
Sharing my content has helped me a lot, and I think vlogging would be the next challenge, although I'm more and more convinced that there might be more advantages to it than challenges.
Thank you for being an inspiration! ❤️ I've also been greatly encouraged by my boyfriend, he does amazing vlogs with elaborate editing, but he, too, said that it vlog can be just a moment of your day, a short recap.
I've thought about it, and I think I'm about to post my first vlog soon! ☺️
I'm glad to hear that sharing your content has helped you a lot. That is what this platform is for! It should be a safe and free space for everyone. And I guess you can always move slow if you think you want to vlog. It doesnt have to be a full commitment. Thats actually how I started, with the intention of a video a week but it quickly turned daily because I loved it so much. It seems like your boyfriend is the kind of person who needs to get on the platform too! You guys could have a lot of fun creating together. 😊 I cant wait to see what you come up with. 💗
Oh, he introduced me to this platform! ☺️ You can check him out! He's a talented one. We're actually working on collaboration together on here!