- Any kind of dry, chalk pastel. Some are more pigmented than others, but for the most part, any artist grade pastel will do.
- Liquitex acrylic paints. Liquitex Basics are great and very affordable. You can buy them in sets most of the time.
- Faber Castell or Prismacolor watercolor pencils. Do not use them wet, use them like a normal colored pencil. Both are affordable.
- Mr. Super Clear Flat or Liquitex Matte Varnish (again, airbrushed)
- A respirator for when you use MSC or spray Liquitex. Always.
MSC or Liquitex Matte Finish (thinned and airbrushed, not painted on) as your sealer/primer. I’ve tried so many others and nothing has even come close. The number one question I get is asking which sealer I used. The answer is always one of these two. The thinned Liquitex method requires a lot longer to cure (dry and harden) than MSC, though.
Just because something is expensive, doesn’t mean it’s the best. Research your tools and supplies and make sure you find something that fits your style. For example, I have much better pencil than brush control, so I prefer to use mainly watercolor pencils (FaberCastell and Prismacolor, neither of which are terribly expensive). I also use airbrushed Jacquard acrylics (inexpensive, nicely pigmented, smooth) and Unison pastels (er… very expensive, but the pigmentation is out of this world and they last -forever-).
The most expensive tool I have is my Iwata HP-C+ airbrush and I don’t know what I’d do without it.
Drawing out your design on the head lightly with a pencil first can help you figure out where you’d like certain elements to be, in addition to helping you create a blueprint (just make sure it’s sealed before you apply anything over it, it will blend in with other mediums and ruin your color). Study styles you like and find your own :).
The biggest piece of advice I can give is to practice. A lot of people get down on themselves because their first custom didn’t turn into the Mona Lisa. Well, neither did anyone else’s, lol. The best part about a faceup is that it’s completely wipable. You can always do another and find ways to improve and learn.
If you need help with any specifics, feel free to drop me a note anytime!
