An other Andre Hazes portrait

Andre Hazes probably was one of the greatest Dutch ballad singers ever. Unfortunately he moved to more endearing venues, leaving his fans with an unforgettable legacy. I usually listen to Buckethead, Metallica or Earthtone 9, that sort of stuff, but I am moved by Hazes' voice. He was one of those rare talents that enter this dimension once every century or so; spirits that become artists who transcend partitions humankind stubbornly clings to. This is a freehand airbrush portrait that started out as a drawing and gradually evolved into a realistic portrait that preserved its pencil like fibre.

Controlled spattering
Toward the end controlled spattering (with the Iwata Custom SB) was done; turn pressure very low, just enough to push the paint out. Use undiluted paint (Inspire H2O acrylics), pull the trigger back all the way and release it. Repeat this rapidly, like tick, tick, tick - as fast as you read this. Start with Black Smoke, then very carefully and sparsely Base Black and finally Base White. If spattering turns out not like you want it, immediately hit the spot on the paper with the side of your hand or a tissue to remove the paint from the paper. That also works to soften the spattering, decrease its intensity. The low pressure and viscous undiluted paint will clog the airbrush (Iwata Custom SB) quite fast! So it's probably wise to clean your brush often and thoroughly in between colour changes or refills.  I may make a Youtube clip of this technique some time.

Oldest stage at the bottom, newest on top as always.

Virtually framed in Rhonoceros 3D v5

An other Hazes portrait

Using the ideal combination (at least until I find something better): Shooting Inspire H2O waterborne paint, mixed with Createx 4012 reducer through an Iwata Custom SB onto Createx Yupo paper (45 x 32 cm). Until recently I favored the Iwata HP-BH airbrush, but the Createx 4012 reducer allows the H2O paint to snugly pass the Iwata Custom SB nozzle / needle combo, while NOT continuing to flow after hitting the paper. Yupo is a synthetic paper which has an extra smooth surface on which paint 'spiders' easily since there is a minimum of grip. But Createx seems to have solved the paradox of paint having difficulty to pass small size nozzle (0.18 mm) while making it stable immediately after hitting the paper.

The clusters of molecules of paint typically are ten times smaller than the nozzle opening, which may sound like a lot, but actually isn't since paint builds up on both the needle and inside of the nozzle, which rapidly narrows the surface through which paint has to pass. A good reducer somewhat reduces the size of the paint molecule clusters and keeps them afloat before the paint is exposed to air. After that it should allow the paint to adhere to the surface the paint is sprayed on. This is exactly what the Createx 4012 reducer does. This is of course asking a lot of the reducer medium. The price the artists pays, is being very alert on the sounds the airbrush makes; if it starts to whistle, immediately move it away from the paper, clean the needle tip or even take the needle out and clean the entire needle. Than blast a few pulses of air through it to remove clogs of paint.

Which all is very convenient, since this portrait is a rush job...

In 2.5 days from blank paper
to a virtually framed portrait

Apr 03 2016 - 20:00

Apr 01 2016 - 02:00

Apr 01 2016 - 01:00

Apr 1 2016 - 00:00

Mar 31 2016 - 22:00

Mar 31 2016 - 17:30

Mar 31 2016 - 11:30

Andre Hazes freehand airbush portrait

Andre Hazes is a Dutch balad singer who had a powerful, tremelous voice. Sadly, he passed away a few years ago. I am currently working on a freehand airbrush portrait of him, the sequence of which is shown on this page - newest update on top. The airbrush I used is an Iwata HP-BH and the paint is Inspire H2O. The surface is a 30 x 40 cm linen structure paper. I haven't got as much time as I would like to have to work on the portrait, so progress may be somewhat slow. Had I had the time, I could probably finish it in one or two days, working continuously.

Virtually framed in 3D

Jan 07 2016 - adding dark accents

Third framing option

Second framing option

Though not finished yet, thinking of framing options

Jan 5 2016 - texture detailing & balancing areas

Jan 24 2016 - day light photograph

Jan 4 2016 - artificial light photograph

Jan 3 2016 - glazing with diluted brown, orange and red hues

Jan 2 2016 - artificial lighting - first shades of orange application

Jan 01 2016 - daylight photo - cheek correction & hair detailing

Update Dec 31 2015 - started work on skin texture

Dec 30 2015 artificial lighting

Dec 30 2015

Dec 29 2015

Dec 28 2015