Mixed-Media Art That Looks Back At You

If ever there were a popular subject to draw within the world of mixed-media art, I think it would be the human face. And why not? There’s so much room for play and abstraction, whether it’s paying homage to yourself or someone you adore, a random stranger that caught your fascination, or a completely contrived face that was born of your imagination.

Whether you’re interested in learning how to draw mixed-media faces that are realistic or stylized, guidelines can help you create the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, and Dina Wakley is here to get you started. In the following excerpt from Faces magazine (part of a bundle that includes so many mixed-media art goodies you’ll have to scroll down for the entire list!), Dina shares how to draw lips in five simple steps. ~Cherie

Mixed-media art techniques | Dina Wakley, ClothPaperScissors.com
PIN this mixed-media art by Dina Wakley!

Fanciful Mixed-Media Faces by Dina Wakley

I love to draw scribbly, abstract faces. There’s something satisfying about taking a pencil and creating something that looks back at you. The key to drawing scribbly faces is to keep in mind that not all pencil marks are created equal.Your darkest pencil marks should outline the main features–the eyes, the nose, and the mouth. Once those features are drawn, pull back and add extra lines that are light and free. You want the extra lines to add visual interest but not overwhelm or compete with the focus of the face.

Remember that drawing faces takes practice–a lot of practice. Using photos for reference is a good way to begin. Don’t expect greatness when you start. Relax and enjoy the discovery process as you draw and create. You will get better with every drawing you make.

How to Draw Mixed-Media Faces: Drawing Lips

Mixed-media faces | Dina Wakley, ClothPaperScissors.com
Step 1: Create the upper lip by drawing two mountains with a valley in between.

 

Mixed-media faces | Dina Wakley, ClothPaperScissors.com
Step 2: Add a little curved line under the valley. This line emulates the fleshy bump at the center of the top lip.
Mixed-media faces | Dina Wakley, ClothPaperScissors.com
Step 3: Draw a line on either side of the curved line, extending the line a little further than the top lip. Your actual mouth line appears to extend a little further than your lips, so this drawn line must extend past the lip by just a few millimeters.
Mixed-media faces | Dina Wakley, ClothPaperScissors.com
Step 4: Draw a curved line under the top lip to create the bottom lip. Notice that I don’t connect the lips at the corners. Make sure you draw the bottom lip so that it starts just inside the mouth line you drew in the previous step.
Mixed-media faces | Dina Wakley, ClothPaperScissors.com
Step 5: Shade the lip, making the top lip darker than the bottom lip, since the bottom lip protrudes, catching more light.

The DINA WAKLEY BUNDLE (click here) includes all of the following:

• FOUR DVDs!
Art Journal Animals
Playful Printmaking
Expressive Faces
Awesome Acrylics

• Four of Dina Wakley’s Acrylic Paints!
Night
Sky
Magenta
Fuchsia

• Two Dina Wakley Media Stencils:
Mini Favorites
Grande Arrows

• And!
Cloth Paper Scissors Faces magazine, featuring Dina Wakley

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Categories

Art Journaling and Lettering, Blog, Mixed-Media Techniques

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