Help with painting skulls on a flat surface

[tarantulus]

Hi guys,

I want to approximate something like the red skulls in this on my tanks:

http://airbrushing-made-easy.com/Gallery/albums/airbrushed-bikes/airbrushed_chopper_skulls_6.jpg

note I said APPROXIMATE, I know I am by no means a good artist, but I have no idea where to start, any tips would be appreciated, I have the idea of the colour (work up from scab red to red gore, blood red with maybe a highlight above that with blood red/ golden yellow mix) but I just can't seem to get the skulls to look anything like skulls!

[Captain Castus]

If you really can't get the shape right then one thing to do wouls be to print out a line drawing of a skull (shouldn't be too hard to find) on decal paper... Stick it on then paint over it!

More artistic tips than that I don't have! :(

CC

[Hephesto]

Nice challenge, here are some links to help out with elements:
- getting the shape of the skull right (http://www.2d-digital-art-guide.com/draw-the-skull.html)
- as for the colouring, you're looking at some serious blending
- regardless how you want to do this, working in layers start with the darkest colour adding the lighter ones on top should give you the best results
- clever use of inkts should really help as well
- clever use of highlights will also greatly help to create more depth;

http://www.philholtsf.com/blog/paintings/skull-painting-oil.jpg

And if all else fails, just buy the real deal ;)
http://www.multionlinestore.com/images/pre/redskull.gif

Well hope that helps a tiny bit and keep us posted!

[tarantulus]

thanks guys,
the irritating thing is, I can do it in pencil, sketching a skull comes easily to me, it's the fact that I'm working backwards, where I'd be shading with pencil, I have to leave alone, and the bit's I'd leave blank on paper I have to paint here, it's messing with my mind and all of the butterflies are escaping!!