Child’s Play

Create Children’s Characters using DIY Face Stamp

After watching James Burke’s video on altering Jane’s face stamp, I decided to give it a try with my children’s illustrations. I like to stamp the face shape only (no eyes, nose or mouth) with a very light Distress Ink pad. Before running out to an appointment, I’ll stamp a bunch of faces into my Jane Davenport journal and take with me a pencil, INKredible pen, Micron pen, Jane’s watercolor palettes and colored pencils. This way I can practice drawing facial expressions and hair. I can alter the face shape and eyebrow location easily since I stamp with such a light ink.

Step 1: Use a light colored ink with Jane’s DIY face stamp. Then lightly tap the stamp on a paper towel to remove some of the ink. You’ll want the ink just to be barely visible.

Step 2: Using a black pen to add in the facial features, hair and add a body. I used a Micron pen because I didn’t want the ink to bleed later on. If you aren’t comfortable with a black pen from the beginning, start with a pencil, then trace over with a black pen when you have it looking the way you want.

Step 3: Lay down a base layer of watercolors using Jane’s Neutral and Bright Palette.

Step 4: Using Jane’s Magic Wand Pencils add shadows and depth over the watercolor. For the background I wetted the paper and then spread Mermaid Markers in Deep Sea and BlueBottle around with a water brush. When the ink was still damp I added tiny drops of Coral, Starfish and Deep Sea. Using Jane’s Paint Over Pen I added white highlights to the eyes, cheeks, hair and clothing.

Jane D Mixed Media Products Used:

6” x 9” Journal,
DIY Face Stamp,
Watercolor in Neutral and Bright Palette,
Magic Wand Pencils,
Paint Over Pen in white,
and Mermaid Markers

Other characters you can create with Jane’s DIY Face Stamp:

Heidi Cogdill

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