Hello! After seeing all the portraits in this forum, I wanted to try one as well. This is my first attempt at doing a human face. It is a picture of the model I found on the web. I wanted to surprise my fiance with his portrait but before I started his I wanted to practice on another face first This one is far from complete and the blonde hair has scared me & I am hesitant to proceed any further Any critiques/ suggestions/ comments?? The drawing looks too bright from the flash in the camera. The original picture is below. Thanks...
Hi GA3, I understand what your saying about blond hair, Believe!!! It can happen. great hair requires great tools. You need a good range of pencils has well as a kneaded eraser and a sharp eraser.(typewriter eraser or a pen eraser cut to a sharp edge) If you look at the original there are tones, lights and darks, draw them and blend them like her face. On top of that smooth blend start drawing the strands using long strokes, take a tortillion or stump and blend the strands to look more natural. Take your sharp eraser and start pulling highlights. blend some of those to a natural look. draw in some darker strands and blend those out. Remember draw hair like your running your fingers through it, not quick swipes! Use your kneaded eraser to draw the soft highlights and to lighten areas that may have got to dark.
MHK
Member since Sep-28-02
353 posts, 9 feedbacks, 16 points
Oct-21-02, 09:12 PM ()
2. "RE: Attempt at portrait (WIP)"
Eyes are very good. Maybe you would like to shrink the nose a little. I agree with M.F that using an eraser is critical. Do not smudge it too much, dirty hair look no good on her
If your fiancee is as pretty as the model maybe youd like to share a picture of her as well
WarHorseLover
Member since Aug-26-02
185 posts, 4 feedbacks,
Oct-21-02, 10:41 PM ()
3. "RE: Attempt at portrait (WIP)"
ga3, Good start, I think this is Anna Nichole Smith? The only thing I see that is a little off is the bottom lip. Her left our right. I would shad it a bit more to get rid of the droop. Hair for me on people is the hardest part but it just takes patience. Your doing GREAT! Steph
absolute
Member since Aug-24-02
895 posts, 12 feedbacks,
Oct-22-02, 00:16 AM ()
4. "RE: Attempt at portrait (WIP)"
it sure does look like she has a lot of hair,..but i would just VERY lightly look for a few basic forms and shapes that all of that hair makes up...its kind of hard to explain so i outlined a little of it...i hope this helps....one thing ive found out is to make sure there is no hard lines on the outlines of those shapes as you make them. if you look at the hair without knowing its hair,you would never know its actually zillions of little strands...i try to look at it as like a sky or something..with a lot of little shapes in it...hair usually takes me longer to do then the face does...unless i start cheating .
Thanks for all your comments and suggestions. I feel better about starting the hair but I am still a little skeptical about my skills Maybe once I start I will get a hang of it... MHK, unfortunately for you I am the "she" and my fiance is a "he" Thanks again for the crash course and suggestions, I really appreciate everybody's help!
Any critiques/ suggestions/ comments??
Maybe once I start I will get a hang of it... 
Should I read lines more carefully next time.. 