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Painting whiskers
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Message
Posted
I am currently working on a portrait of my lurcher. I am using acrylics on 12 x 16" paper. He is smooth haired, so I will need to paint his whiskers. It's the first time I am painting a short haired dog in such detail.
What's the best way of painting whiskers? I can see them ending up too thick if using a normal brush.
What are the best techniques to use?
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Posted
You could use a size 1, 0, or 00 brush - you could even, if you can get the paint you're using liquid enough, use a mapping pen or a dip-pen. But generally the secret to this lies in the consistency of the paint rather than the brush - you want it liquid, but not so wet that it fails to make a distinctive mark: this takes practice, so have a bit of scrap paper to hand and make a few trial runs - an ordinary rigger, if the paint consistency is right - ie, not dropping blobs of paint where you least want them - is just as good as anything else, if used with a light but decisive hand.
Posted
It's also part of technique and style. I don't paint animals but i have an accomplished acquaintance who uses a white pen for white whiskers and a grey one for dark whiskers. I'm with him on this - any shortcuts welcome! Cheating? Purists might think so - but nothing wrong with mixed media and in any event there are no rules in art .
Posted
Hi, I paint a lot of portraits and for fine whisps of hair (which is very similar to animal whiskers) I use a rigger brush. You can get this is various sizes. Thin a brush down further for fine single hairs. The trick is to load the brush and keep it very wet and fluid. You should be able to achieve long fine lines of hair in single strokes. Practice on another canvas or board until you’re happy with the result.
Zoe
🙂
And managed some squirrel whiskers too. Lol