Tutorial: Part 3 - Colouring the Needle-sculpted face.

This is part three of my tutorial of Needle-sculpting and colouring a face.

 Now we will finish colouring the face

Outline the eye and part of the eyelid in a tan Pigma pen, or copper Gel pen. and go over the eyelid with black Prismacolour Pencil.

With Crimson Red Prismacolour pencil make a vee on the top lip.  Make the bottom lip wider than the top.

Outline the lips with Pigma Pen Tan.  The top lips slope down to the mid-line.  The bottom lip swings up wider than the top lip, but neither top or bottom lip will meet where the thread begins, or the mouth will be too wide!  Generally, the top lip is usually thinner than the bottom lip - on most people.  In this case, both lips are much the same in thickness.

Draw in the lines on the lips and also outline the nostrils.  Not too much here.  Less is more with noses!

Draw in the pupil with black gel pen - or paint, close to the top of the eyelid

Outline the Iris with black gel pen, very lightly.  Outline thickly on the top of the eyelid to indicate eyelashes, but don;t stroke them in yet.  With the bottom eyelash line, just do a half line, so she doesn't look like a Drag Queen!  Keep it subtle.

Colour the cheeks with Red prismacolour pencil or blusher.  I sometimes use chalk pastel and a brush to blend it in.

You will see I have made some more marks under the eyes with pigma pen, to indicate the bottom lashes.  Be careful with lines - practice.  Too many lines could indicate age or weariness.

Draw in the eyebrows - left one first!  Put on a bit of eye shadow colour.  Put some tiny lines on the Iris and shade the top of the iris to look like the eyelashes are creating a shadow.

You may want to practice eyelashes on scrap fabric first.  

Now draw in the lashes, starting on the left side first.  Begin in the middle and curl outwards and upwards.  this gives a less startled look.

Lastly, dab a bamboo skewer or toothpick in some white acrylic and put the dots on the Iris, close to the pupil. I have also put a dab on the top of the eyelid, the tip of the nose, the mid cheek and the bottom lip, to highlight.

I hope you have enjoyed these tutorials and that they will be helpful to you with your dolls.

I would love to hear any feedback comments - especially if I have missed any steps or something you are curious about.