Lines

MODULE  4

In this session, you will need:

• One face model: I will use both the front and side view. (Your face model can be printed and placed under a transparent acrylic sheet, plastic sheet, Proskinz, or directly on a face.)

• Brushes: #2, #3, or #4 round brushes for swirls, water drops, and spots.

• #2 liner brushes for fine lines, swirls, and “dragon drops”

• One ½ angled brush (for Dragon Drop/Dagger brush technique)

• Petal or flower brush

• Greasepaint makeup

• A dry cloth

Lines

You will learn how to design elements, flourishes, and fill spaces. Topics include brush loading, double dipping techniques, one-stroke methods, and various line types.

When creating designs for festival events or busy work environments, save time by painting a similar base style and simply changing the flourishes and design placement each time.

To add more dimension, use different brush types. After finishing your design, enhance it with stencils, jewels, or glitter to create unique effects and speed line work.

Examples of lines: swirls, teardrops, spots, dashes, zigzags, webs, lace, dots, and tiger stripes.

Different Lines:

• Brush your paint ensuring a creamy consistency—not too thick or watery.

Water Drops:

Thick to Thin (fig. 1): Using the tip of my brush, I push down firmly while moving the brush downward. Then, as I lift the brush slowly, I create a beautiful fine, pointed tip. When descending, gradually lift the brush to transition from thick to thin.

Thin to Thick (fig. 2): I start with the middle drops. Touch the paper as lightly as possible while moving downward with increasing pressure. I repeat this on both sides with very small, gradually reducing angles. This technique creates effects like crowns, shells, or princess makeup finishes.

Stretched Water Drops (fig. 3): Make a regular drop by starting at the wider top edge and gently pulling downward. This is great for crowns and floral designs.

Note (fig. 4): When working with a round brush and wanting a tiny flat surface, press down on the brush during loading. This will apply a thin line—the part I use to make my water drops.

Side Water Drops (fig. 5):

Often used to create butterflies and fairy wings. These drops can be painted thin to thick and thick to thin again. For example, I paint them thin to thick from left to right, then thick to thin returning from right to left. I add a few extra drops below, keeping consistent spacing for a better visual finish.

Correction Tip: If you go beyond the intended line, you can easily fix the mistake with a clean, slightly damp brush passed repeatedly over the error, as often as necessary.

Reminder: Always make sure to clean your brush thoroughly between uses.

Different Lines (continued)

Dagger Brush (Museum Brushes by weberart.com)

Spiderweb Technique (fig. 6):

Create simple water drops ensuring the outer edges of the drops are wider and taper as they move toward a chosen focal point. Connect the drops and choose the spacing between lines according to the time available to complete the makeup.

Stretched Spiderweb (fig. 7):

Inspired by Spiderman, paint simple water drops with wider outer edges all directed toward a focal point. Starting from the largest point on the edge, gently pull the brush outward to create a Halloween spiderweb effect. Flatten your brush on your hand and finalize the web by connecting drops with thin lines at various intervals. Drops can be straight or rounded, single or paired—painting in pairs near the base is faster.

Halloween-style Spiderweb:

Paint very thin lines radiating from a single base point. Make small lines in different directions and shapes for a dynamic look.

Dripped Droplets (fig. 8):

Typically painted under the eye. Create a motion by pressing the brush from side to side with uneven drop ends and spacing. Red and green are often used for special effects such as zombie makeup.

Icicles (fig. 9):

Similar to droplets but upside down. After pressing the brush and lining under the eye, paint thick to thin droplets. These do not need to be as neat because they represent icicles and can be done singly or in pairs, varying thickness and length. Finish smaller than you started.

Swirls (fig. 10):

Apply light pressure with the brush, increasing at the start of the curve, then releasing pressure toward the end to create a fine, small line. Start from outside and finish the curve with a flat brush, pulling and releasing pressure. For easier swirls, use a twisted water drop technique by drawing and slightly rotating a drop, then creating another reversed.

Double Swirl (fig. 11):

Try to paint in one smooth stroke.

Highlighted Water Drop (fig. 12)

Swirl Variations (fig. 13-15):

• Create a swirl cut by a water drop

• Create a swirl cut by a water drop plus additional drops with wiggle motion

• Add organic dots for textural effects

Points

Practice painting from small to large, large to small, side to side, and top to bottom.