100% Handpainted

[Taylor]

Here is my 100% hand painted Iowa Hawkeye. I wanted to test my hand with no decals. Please post comments and tell me how I can improve with my painting.
Thanks,
Taylor

[Taylor]

oh yeah, I didn't paint shoulder numbers, I couldn't get them to look very good.

[Shabby J]

There are a lot of techniques to use when creating 100% hand painted figures. My biggest critique of any hand painted figure are the numbers. To me that is the toughest thing to nail down.

I use a colored pencil the close to the same color I plan on painting the numbers, I then ever so lightly pencil the number onto the jersey, do this very lightly, so you can barley see it, then take your brush and paint over that. This allows you to make numbers that are more consistent in size, shape and font style.

You can buy colored pencils individually by color at Michaels.

[TVsCHACHI]

The helmet logo looks great!

[RavennaAl]

Taylor, you asked what you could do to make it look better. One word, touch up. Ok, I guess that really is two words. Go back with a shaved down toothpick and 'erase' the flares and high spots. Example, in the first pic, take some white paint and gently make the first '8' a little fatter on the inside of the holes so that it is the same thickness all the way around. On the second '8', take some black paint and erase the flares on the upper right, and on the lower '0' part. Also, using a small circular motion, take some black paint and make the openings of the 'o's a little smoother and more round. Also using the black paint, make a straight line to cut off the arm stripe. This will give you a sharp, crisp stripe instead of having it frey out at the ends.

In the last pic, do the same thing for the leg stripe. Also, the stripe comes to a point at the bottom. Add a little black to make it thicker there. Don't be afraid to go into the sock area. In fact, if you're painting stripes, go further than needed in both directions. Then come back with the jersey or sock colors and make straight lines across the leg stripe. It will give you a really nice looking stripe.

Here is what I'm talking about. First pic, really bad stripes. Second pic after erasing flares and cutting stripe off at the sock. Much better. I know it doesn't look all that great up close, but with the naked eye they don't look too bad. Try looking at your computer from across the room and you'll see what I mean...

[Taylor]

Thanks for the tips Al and the comments from Shabby and Chachi

[Taylor]

Here are some touchups. What do you guys think?

[RavennaAl]

Looking much better Taylor. Keep it going, paint some dark brown straight across at the lower leg stripe to give it a sharp edge, and keep touching up any other areas that need it. Sometimes I have to go back several times before I'm happy with it.

[Taylor]

Thanks Al, it means a lot coming from you. Usually I go back to a player 3-4 times touching him up. Sometimes its good to quit though because you don't want to make things worse which has happened to me before. I'm going to go back to him one last time.

[Coach K-LO]

good job ..... keep working you are getting there young man.......