Airbrush Portrait with AB

Colorfast · #1 01-03-2004, 10:46 AM

Colorfast Here!
Happy New Year! It?s January already and I thought I would send ya?ll an Airbrush Portrait. I would send it as a WIP, but I think it will be a HIDI (How I Did It). I?m too far along on it to make much difference.

This is just the (hands) portion of the upcoming portrait of the Police Commissioner. Members of the department commissioned the portrait for his retirement party. I had never seen him before and all I had to work from was a 4 X 6 color print. It was a photo with the commissioner standing in his dress uniform looking straight ahead. They wanted a portrait of him on an angle so you would be able to see his badge and nametag.

In the photograph, his replacement was standing in the particular angle the group wanted, but he was shorter and with a little more weight to go with it. Besides all the obstacles, the Chief?s badge in the photo was covered with a black ribbon for the Memorial Day news coverage. They had to photocopy his badge and his nametag.
I?m still not finished with this one. I need to lighten the eyes a bit yet and lighten the wrinkles on his cheek a bit.

The airbrush illustration was created with Winsor & Newton acrylics on #100 Bainbridge board. The finished size was 20 X 30 inches.
Now have I piqued your interest in the final piece? If I can get the illustration to float the web, you can see the end result in the near future.

Penny220 · #2 01-03-2004, 11:07 AM

This is GREAT! Not exactly an easy task as you have pointed out with the reference pic you were given and the changes you had to make. Can't wait to see more.

Penny

Colorfast · #3 01-03-2004, 11:23 AM

Colorfast here!
The fun part was this was to be a surprise thing. They gave me 30 days. No, not the Police! They wanted it completed in 30 days. I said that I wished I could, but my momma always told me, " If ya think you can't do something, don't even start. CAN'T never did anything."
I just missed the boat on the eyes and tried to make him look his age. BUT, I am working on it.
Coloorfast.

Caterwallin' · #4 01-03-2004, 01:28 PM

This looks great! I like the way you gave attention to details on the hands and the skin tone looks like a match. If this is an indicator, the rest is going to be awesome! I can't wait to see more!
Great job!

Sam

Colorfast · #5 01-03-2004, 04:11 PM

Thanks Sam..
I appreciate that very much. Yes, I want to send ya'll something on this project as soon as I can finish it. The problem is, I have yet another piece I working on at present that is taking a lot of time to complete.
I think I have over-booked my fun time with too many projects. I know, get back at it.
Thanks ya'll.

Colorfast

ProfessorGreibowitz · #6 01-03-2004, 05:31 PM

Can't wait to see the finished product.

Tim

Colorfast · #7 03-11-2004, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfessorGreibowitz

Can't wait to see the finished product.
Tim

Tim:
Colorfast Here.
I went back in the stacks to find this post and bring it back up to the top so everyone can find it.
Hey Everyone on the WC... This is the image that I was referring to on the last post. Refer (Hi All) This way you can find it more quickly.

It is still past your bedtime so say Goodnight Colorfast.
Goodnight Colorfast
Dave

ProfessorGreibowitz · #8 03-11-2004, 11:56 PM

Mwahahaahahha! Now you have to finish and poooooost!

Teasing don't cut it!

Tim

Penny220 · #9 03-14-2004, 08:29 PM

Dave likes to tease. He keeps the suspense up so we keep coming back for more.

Milo · #10 03-15-2004, 10:42 PM

Looks really good so far, can't wait to see the rest.

You mentioned you are painting with Winsor & Newton acrylics, I assume the tube stuff and you are diluting and filtering it for airbrushing? Can you share the process you are using / going through to take it from the Tube form to airbrush and how much flow problems do you have, opaque / transparent etc.

Thanks
Milo

Colorfast · #11 03-16-2004, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milo

Looks really good so far, can't wait to see the rest.

You mentioned you are painting with Winsor & Newton acrylics, I assume the tube stuff etc.
Thanks
Milo

Good morning Milo:

Colorfast Here.
Sorry, I read your post last night, but just couldn?t reply. I had some stuff to do that just couldn?t wait.
I think I should start over to clarify a few things first. I have always used Winsor & Newton Acrylics in the Designer transparent colors. They used to come in 1 fl. oz. glass bottles in a set of 36 colors in the pack. I said that I used to, but by that I mean I can?t get them anymore. Yes, I would love to find them, but I think they are no longer available. Now, I am using Dr. Martin?s SPECTRALITE liquid acrylics and they too come in a 1 fl. oz. Bottles. They are packed 8 colors to a pack in three sets, or 24 different colors are available.
Having said all of that, this portrait was created with Dr. Martin?s from start to finish. Oh, how I wish I could find more of the Winsor & Newton Acrylics. They were the best. You could stack them up 6-deep and you would be amazed at how they would worked for you. I use them straight from the bottle by just adding a little water. It seemed like ya wasted more drops in the mixing process than you used with the airbrush. I might also add, this is with the Paasche AB airbrush. The Paasche AB has a color cup about the size of your pinky and just one drop from the eyedropper would last 15 minutes or more.
So now Milo, I hope this helped clear up my postings for ya. Sorry that I was so long winded about all of this, it?s just I?m a motor-mouth when it comes to art and the airbrush.

UPDATE: The Portrait is done and is now ready to show the Police Chief. If he is satisfied, I will then photograph it and place it back in the frame. So, anytime soon I will have it on the Forum for all to see.

Later, Dave

Colorfast · #12 03-17-2004, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colorfast

Good morning Milo:

Colorfast Here.
Sorry, I read your post last night, but just couldn?t reply.
Later, Dave

Milo and the gang:

Colorfast Here:
Hey yall, I still didn't have a chance to get the artwork photographed today. But I thought I would send you a cropped version of the artwork before the last series of changes. This is just the Badge & Patch from the picture of the Police Commissioner. I hope this will be of help to you all in showing you that the changes are completed.
I sold one of my prints today and spent a little time getting the framing ordered. I have been busy on so many different projects that I just run out of day before I can get it all done.
Life is so much fun, don't ya find it? I will try to get the artwork photographed tomorrow.
It is after 11 p.m. and I am out of time. Say goodnight Colorfast.
Goodnight Colorfast.

Penny220 · #13 03-17-2004, 06:30 AM

Great detail, I can see we will have lots to talk about after you post the whole thing. I will reserve comments and questions until then but I am most impressed with this.

Penny

Colorfast · #14 03-17-2004, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penny220

Great detail, I can see we will have lots to talk about after you post the whole thing.
Penny

Colorfast Here:
Hi Penny, or is it still Goodmornin Penny? I just got back in from my 5 a.m. run and stopped by the Backery on my way by. I got one of those 7 inch Cinnamin Rolls and now I have sticky fingers and sticky Keys. No, I don't run for my health. I just get up early and get my work done so I can have the rest of the day to play.
Penny, I AM going to post this thing. I just had too much goin on yesterday. All I need is to see the gentleman and let him take a look at the portrait before I photograph it. That is all. Then I can get back on these other projects that are hiding in the wings. It seems every artist I know has too much goin on to set and watch TV. I hear you are in the same boat, right? Fill us in on your next project when ya can, OK?
Got to go.
Later,
Dave

ProfessorGreibowitz · #15 03-17-2004, 11:29 AM

Dave,

Nice details. That turbine AB must really have fine control. I am wanting even finer lines from my HP-SB but it lets me down most of the time. hehehehhe I guess people can get so good at something and they get used to it and eventually wish for better. I love the airbrush I have but it is sometimes hard to control/create a very thin and dark line. There is not enough control at that level. Pull the lever by just a gnat's whisker and paint is coming out too much. It's weird. They need to make and airbrush where the throw of the needle is more logarithmic (not linear) so that you can pull it back say a 16th of an inch and get way fine detail but as you pull more it opens faster. Slower at the onset so you don't pull too far and destroy your work. Yep. Is there one like that?

So, nice job and I'll wait....... for the full pic!!!!

Tim

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