How To Paint With Brush Paint
Today, I shall guide you meticulously through the intricate process of fashioning a captivating artwork using the venerable brush pen. I've selected this particular reference because the subject's attire bestows a beguiling complexity upon the canvas. Yet, the way he nonchalantly elevates one leg poses a formidable challenge, for it demands exactitude in rendering the fabric's contours embracing his posterior limb. The task at hand is to capture this seamlessly.
We commence our endeavor in the topmost corner of our canvas, with a deliberate emphasis on rendering the head in a diminutive form, thereby allowing us the capacity to encapsulate the entire figure within the page's confines. It is essential to note that my approach here is that of unconstructed spontaneity, as though I were merely sketching shapes without the constraints of a predefined framework. Yet, it's paramount to grasp that beneath this veneer of freeform artistry, I do employ the various geometric points contained within these shapes as an underlying scaffold.
The visage, in its proportions, mirrors the beanie's dimensions. Consequently, I pivot downward to delineate the chin, demarcating the facial realm with the brow and the base of the nose. As I engage in this artistic pursuit, my hand exerts gentle pressure upon the medium, for my tool of choice is a brush pen with a medium tip, featuring a fine point that permits nuanced strokes. I endeavor to maintain a delicacy of line, injecting subtlety into the visage. The subsequent step involves the addition of minute support lines around the eyes and the nose, composed of even finer lines, designed to provide a mere hint of direction and creases.
Proceeding beneath the eyes and around the nasal terminus, I've now sketched the fundamental facial features. My objective is to frame the countenance, infusing it with contrast to ensnare the viewer's gaze. This is deftly achieved by leveraging the pen's fine hairs, an attribute unique to the brush pen. It should be noted that a similar effect can be replicated with a pencil or a fine liner, though the brush pen confers unparalleled ease in rendering solid black shapes. Should one opt for a fine liner, the technique involves the use of minuscule diagonal strokes or cross-hatching.
Moving onward to the lips, I've heightened the distinction between the upper and lower portions, elevating the prominence of their edges. Darkened delineations characterize those segments of the lips that linger in the shadows, where light cascades from above.
Now, our artistic narrative unfurls towards the realm of clothing. I derive immense satisfaction from rendering the intricate nuances of attire; the sinuous dance of fabric imbued with ripples and tautness. It's worth noting that absolute fidelity is not imperative in these swift sketches.
Allow me to share the key shapes I'm discerning in the clothing, as encapsulated in the arbitrary squiggly lines that grace my canvas. These lines serve to delineate the garment's contours, and it's through their orchestration that I delineate the apparel's silhouettes. Notably, a shade variation is introduced where shadows interplay, which translates into thicker, more substantial lines.
A striking feature of this sketch is the meticulous introduction of ancillary details. Even the seams and fine sketch marks, indicating wrinkles, are meticulously woven into the fabric. The dexterity of my tool, with its fine tip, facilitates this aspect of the artwork. Take, for instance, the segment encompassing the brown t-shirt. Before delving into the realm of wrinkles, I've meticulously established its outline. The two wrinkles that I've artfully etched onto the fabric serve as guides, demarcating the length and the positioning of the arm, including the all-important elbow. In the process, I'm particularly attuned to the negative spaces that envelop the shoulder, running down the arm's length. The outer contours of the figure's silhouette are subjected to minute scrutiny to ensure a faithful representation.
A striking testament to my commitment to intricate detail is the proliferation of fine lines scattered throughout the composition. These lines exhibit a characteristic minuteness, which I was previously bereft of in my earlier works. I draw inspiration from a valuable lesson imparted by the esteemed Kim Jong Ki, who highlighted the oft-forgotten importance of intricacies and the magnetic allure they bestow upon an artwork. In the course of his discourse, he emphasized the significance of preserving the minutiae that hold the viewer's gaze.
The hand, too, is deserving of meticulous attention. Commencing with the delineation of its silhouette, I proceed to interlace slender lines that traverse the spaces between the fingers. This technique adds a layer of sophistication to the sketch.
An interesting facet to observe is that I've purposefully deferred the rendering of the legs, opting to tackle disparate segments in a piecemeal fashion. My methodology involves precise measurements, such as gauging the distance from the chin to the apex of the knee. This measurement guides the initial sketch, allowing for minor adjustments should the need arise.
Let us now pivot our attention to the intricate task of capturing the pants, particularly in the region where they are stretched across the posterior leg. I harbored the premonition that this would serve as a crucible for the overall success of the sketch. Consequently, I attached great significance to delineating the folds emanating from a central point, thereby accentuating the tension in the fabric. To ascertain the leg's length, I engaged in a process of visual triangulation, gauging it by referencing the hand and determining the point at which the pants' folds converge, a little below the midpoint where the cascading wrinkles converge. Profound darkness was introduced to the inner recesses of this region to accentuate the separation between the pants.
Proceeding to the depiction of the shoes, I contemplated adorning them with a blanket of black, a decision that introduces a harmonious equilibrium to the composition. I briefly toyed with the notion of extending this treatment to the beanie as well, but instead, I opted for an array of slender vertical lines, which will create an arresting texture.
Careful attention was devoted to juxtaposing the shoe's silhouette against the reference, particularly about the size of the hand. An area of reflection is strategically preserved, and I anticipate a deft interplay of light and shadow.
It's now an opportune moment to address the final shoe, a task mirroring the previous one, involving the delineation of its silhouette and its subsequent inking with a lustrous black. Subsequently, I envisage the application of a white Posca pen to infuse the shoes with intricate details.
To accentuate the various clothing elements, I opted to introduce slender lines even finer than the outlines themselves, bestowing them with an added layer of texture and character. This approach was cultivated from the deployment of fine liners in my earlier sketches.
Upon scrutiny, a few more details emerge, including subtle facial freckles that enhance the overall allure, imbuing the visage with added depth and intrigue. These intricacies become focal points that mesmerize the observer.
As we near the culmination of our artistic odyssey, it becomes paramount to introduce contrast, employing artful patches of darkness to delineate and enliven distinct portions of the sketch. Shadows are meticulously etched, introducing further depth and visual interest.
I subsequently wielded a 2H pencil to infuse the face with nuanced shading, a pivotal step that elevates the sketch to a higher plane of artistry. These subtle gradients are artfully introduced above and below the eyes, around the nose's extremities, and particularly on the lower plane of the nose. The cheekbones, too, receive this delicate treatment, intensifying the visage's three-dimensionality. A final layer of shading is applied to the beanie and t-shirt to engender a sense of tactile realism.
This tutorial represents an extended exploration of my creative process, where I've endeavored to offer insights into the intricacies that shape my artistic journey. If this style of tutorial appeals to you, I'd welcome your feedback and encourage you to explore a plethora of similar tutorials on my Patreon page, each offering an in-depth exploration of diverse artistic subjects. Furthermore, I extend an invitation for you to share your sketches, as I'm eager to provide constructive feedback to aid in your artistic evolution.