Making a portrait

[MrLOD]

I'm interested in making a portrait of my sister (she wants one). Before I start the painting part, I need to draw her so that I have something to work on. However, every time I use the brush tool...the results are horrible.
Any suggestions/tips/tutorials?

P.S. I use GIMP and I'm quite an amateur, so please try to as much descriptive as you can.

 

[sprucemagoo1]

I fear you may be jumping a few steps in the learning process.You need to go to YouTube, and look for Gimp tutorials on working with layers, and blending modes. There are plenty out there.

This is a bit of reading that explains the above mentioned.

Obviously Learn what all the tools do, as you will need more than just the paintbrush to do a portrait.

Good Luck!

 

[Paul]

Gimp how to's http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/

 

[besmirched]

Are you painting with a wacom tablet?

 

[MrLOD]

I fear you may be jumping a few steps in the learning process.You need to go to YouTube, and look for Gimp tutorials on working with layers, and blending modes. There are plenty out there.

This is a bit of reading that explains the above mentioned.

Obviously Learn what all the tools do, as you will need more than just the paintbrush to do a portrait.

Good Luck!

I have worked on layers several times, but I'm not familiar with these blending modes. Anyway, I'm going to check the tutorials. Thank you!

Gimp how to's http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/

Thanks for the link!

Are you painting with a wacom tablet?

No, I don't have one. I use my laptop (I use a mouse, not the touchpad)

 

[besmirched]

I would (if I was an artist) hand draw your subject then scan the drawing and then load it into a paint program. Using a mouse will be very tricky but here is a dude on youtube explaining how to do it in photoshop. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqN8VOtCUBA Gimp will have different controls but the it's the same gist. It would be way cool to see how you went after you finish. Good luck

 

[MrLOD]

I would (if I was an artist) hand draw your subject then scan the drawing and then load it into a paint program. Using a mouse will be very tricky but here is a dude on youtube explaining how to do it in photoshop. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqN8VOtCUBA Gimp will have different controls but the it's the same gist. It would be way cool to see how you went after you finish. Good luck

Hm...that's actually a very good idea. I'm going to give it a try.

Anyway, once I have made something worth showing it to you guys, I will. Thank you all for helping me out.