if you are asking about the light effects I used the line tool otherwise I can't draw a straight line with the mouse. When I look at your work you have very smooth lines and I wonder how you do it.I used a low density blue gray for the first layer then went over it with a very low density white with the airbrush. I don't know if this is what you were looking for

This is pretty....I like it....I draw with a mouse too.....and I know what you mean when you say it's hard to draw a straight line, when using a mouse. The only way I can get a straight line is by using the straight line tool......I'd be lost without it. Hopefully someday I'll be able to get a tablet. I like your draws.....keep up the good work.....:)

thanks, I appreciate the encouragement. does a tablet help? I don,t know why I ask, I can't afford one did you see the portrait of the girl with the yellow scarf? that was hard to do because it is hard to control the mouse well and I do not know how to get smooth shading. I would appreciate any of your comments or suggestions. HEY, I just looked up stuff on ebay and found a digital pen/mouse and they are affordable. it would give me control like a pen. Have you heard of these?

I've never had a tablet, so I don't know much about them, but I have heard that you can do really great things with a tablet.....that's why I would love to get one someday. Yes I saw your draw of the girl with a scarf, and it's pretty good, but I have the same problem about getting really smooth shading. I have a difficult time trying to control my mouse too. You found a digital pen/mouse on ebay?? I shop on ebay quite often.....I'll have to look that up......I've never heard of a digital pen/mouse before......it sounds interesting. :)

Having a tablet did not give me more skill. It simply is more like holding a pen or pencil than a mouse is, so that made it more controllable to hold. Go to the Wacom site. Mine is the tiniest and the cheapest..I think it was less than $100 on sale at Best Buy.

thanks for the info, i just came home from having surgery on my other hand, since i only have 2 hands they should be done. i think i will try the pen/mouse. anything that will give me more control should help. i have had better luck with florals and landscapes because i don't need realy straight lines