Arish in the Mirror

[Arish]

Ok so I thought I'd try to do my self-portrait as often as possible, starting with ink pen to get used to drawing from sight & then gradually moving on to other mediums (charcoal, pastel, etc) to see what works best. Farvus, Bhrazz and MidgardSerpent, and of course Android, inspired me to do this with their great work and dedication...

Anyways here is attempt #1, from Sept. 5:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/Arish_/SPSept507.jpg

I don't have a handheld mirror at my place yet (just put it on my shopping list) so I drew this standing up at my bathroom mirror... was having trouble holding up the sketchbook which is probably why I look so grumpy. Also hated not being able to erase my mistakes.

Attempt #2, from today:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/Arish_/SPSept807.jpg

Drew this when I just woke up, I didn't brush my hair because it looked so cute this way :D I also became about 10 years younger in the last 3 days... The funny thing is, I drew this one with a shitty 15 cent Bic pen I grabbed from my desk and I like the results much better than with the nice pen I used on Day One. The jaw is a bit too big and I made my face slightly larger than it's supposed to be on the right, but for some reason this pose makes me think of Daniel Radcliffe in the Harry Potter movie poster... minus the scar of course.

Both sketches took about 15 - 20 mins.

C & C appreciated, I already spot many mistakes with these two but I'm wondering which ones are obvious to everyone else. ;) Obviously these were done very quickly, I'm planning to be more polished with future entries...

Here is a photo of myself for reference:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/Arish_/refpic.jpg

I will post one in pencil next in a few days.

[ Edit : Thumbnail (June 25, 2010)]

[Farvus]

Hey. That's a good start.

I like the second self portrait. Maybe beacause this simple shading shows the structure of the face well.
I'm not sure about the lenght of your eyebrows. They could be a bit longer but maybe the glasses slightly changed some proportions of your eyes and it looks right.

Keep it up :)

[N1ck]

Good start, as said there are some little inaccuracies (the glasses seem to be put upsidedown in the 2nd sp) but in general really nice start.

[Bhrazz]

Very good start, I'm not sure if you speak french but I'll keep in english for this one. I'm not sure how many you will be drawing your self portrait, but if you are look to improve, is a very good way, ask Farvus:)

And listen what Farvus saif, he is a wise man:)

I personally think 15-20 minute is more than enough to do this exercise everyday but you should also try to add some color as well. Not only you will practice your eyes but color are something you also want to practice, and so far it helped me a ton.

Just enjoy it, hope to see some more of this from you:)

[Arish]

Hey all, thanks for the nice comments, seriously, gives me inspiration to continue. :)

Farvus - Don't get me started on the eyebrows - they're one of the hardest things for me to draw, because whenever I flick my eyes upwards to look in the mirror, the 'brows shoot way up over my forehead while the rest of my face stays neutral, so if I actually drew them like that I'd look like a very cynical observer of a car crash or something. So I tried to readjust the eyebrows to normal in my mind and that's the result. I do agree they could be a bit longer, though.

Nick - I have clear glasses (no frames around the lenses), so they're tricky to draw in pen... but that's no excuse not to do a good job, so I'll try harder tomorrow. 8)

Bhrazz - oui je parle un peu français, mais je me demande si c'est mieux de continuer en anglais pour que tout le monde peut comprendre ce que nous disons... que penses-tu? (excuse la mauvaise qualité de mon français, ça fait longtemps que ne l'ai pas écrit ni parlé...)

In any case, you're right I should practice in colours too... I will soon... promise :)

I'll hopefully put up a new SP tomorrow evening, but first I need my beauty sleep, so goodnight!

[Arish]

I was feeling a bit blue today so... :P

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/Arish_/SPSept1107-1.jpg

Not too happy with this scan, it missed a lot of the smaller lines (I drew this in coloured pencil) and I really had to ramp up the contrast to get the rest of the drawing to show clearly. Anyways it's not the greatest portrait in the world (I look really stoned for some reason) so it's not worth complaining too much. :)

Took about 25 mins.

[Bhrazz]

It aint bad at all, my only crits will be about varying the position of your head. One other thing you want to try is to follow the muscle of the faces with your strokes, it helped me a lot to feel the form/bump of the faces.

[Farvus]

I like that one. Sorry, no crit.
Just keep posting :).

[N1ck]

hey, your "blue" portrait is looking good. Imo better than the other ones.
As you wrote there are some lost lines, especially in the hair. Maybe try to avoid that fine details and get the look at the whole right.

[Arish]

Bhrazz - Thanks, I tried following the muscles somewhat on this one, but then I lost patience and just shaded my usual way, heh. But I did turn my head. :)

Farvus- Thanks.

N1ck - You have a point, but details add so much to a picture... I'm wondering if there's a way to avoid getting them lost in the scanning?

Anyways, on to today's...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/Arish_/SPSept1407combined.jpg

Usually I love drawing people in 3/4ths view but ironically it doesn't work so well on my own face, because when I look out of the corners of my eyes the edge of my glasses gets in the way and I have trouble seeing. Maybe it's time to invest in contacts... hmm.

[Bhrazz]

By Looking at your drawing I'm realizing how different everyone is. I mean, just by your stroke I ''don't understand'' why you did it this way and this way, but that is what all the fun of drawing is about. I really like how you draw the lips on that one.

And if you really want to add contrast, shade your head, you left quite some white spot. Anyways, you draw very well, nothing to say about it, my only crits will be about not doing it so often:)

[Arish]

Thanks for the nice comments Bhrazz, but what do you mean "not do it so often?" If you mean "not draw so often," not a chance muahaha >:D

Anyway yeah, it's cool how all of us have our own different styles, I also don't understand a lot of times what goes into someone else's artwork. It would be fun to watch you & Farvus draw, just to see how you do the things you do...

I was tired today so it's a quick pencil sketch, nothing new... Feels wierd drawing myself with my hair up though.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/Arish_/SPSept1707.jpg

[Farvus]

The last one has well aligned face features. Don't worry if the result is nothing new. Setting a bar too high could later discourage you from drawing new self portraits :).

[MidgardSerpent]

Usually I love drawing people in 3/4ths view but ironically it doesn't work so well on my own face, because when I look out of the corners of my eyes the edge of my glasses gets in the way and I have trouble seeing. Maybe it's time to invest in contacts... hmm.
I had the same problem actually, I'd definitely advice contacts. Glasses also cover up a considerable amount of your face, studying without them gives you a better sense of how the nose, eyes, and the area around them work.

In my experience glasses also deform how your eyes look, but that mostly depends on the description of your glasses.

I think the perspective of your glasses (the one glass on your right eye) on the 3/4 selfportrait doesn't follow the rest of your face. It's almost on an angle that's straight towards the viewer. And it extends a bit too far outside your face.


Your last one is my favorite, it's simple and sincere.

[Arish]

Farvus - very wise advice, I should follow it more often... :)

MidgardSerpent - Thanks for your kind words and crits. "I want to draw my self-portrait properly" has to be one of the more unusual reasons to get contacts, but it's also pretty convincing, lol. Plus I hate drawing glasses. 8)

...which brings me to today's portrait, a quickie sans glasses or a background, because it's my first SP ever on Photoshop and I was more focussed on testing out the colours and slapping down shapes than worrying about layers or lenses or whether the person on the canvas looked like me. Ah well, it's a start, and I'm looking forward to doing a nice digital portrait once I have more energy and time.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/Arish_/SPSept2507.jpg

[Farvus]

Hey. What I see here. You started some digital self portraits. If it's just testing the colours then I'll leave that one without much critique. The basic thing is to start blocking main shapes with big brush. With next steps progressively paint with smaller ones. Just like in oil painting :)

Have fun!

[Arbu]

Hello Arish!

my favs are the first and the last(keeping in mind that it wast a test sp) =) i think they're really nice, especially the first one. not only because ink pen is one of my favourite paper registering mediums but also due to the way you resolved the representation of a real subject. nice shading, very contrasted. you only suggested some shadows in your face.. i think that one is the better. yes =) also the whole structure of the drawing fits nice with a general humans head proportions, wich i don't think that happens with your second selfportrait made with a blue pen for example.


but yeah! keep on submitting more and more! that's what we all want to see =)

[Arish]

Farvus - Thanks for the advice, I haven't painted on canvas in about 6 years so it's a worthwhile reminder.

Arbu - I was a bit surprised that you liked the first and the last portraits, for me they're my least favourites, hehe. But that's why I love hearing people's feedback, it helps to get another perspective than my own. Thanks for the kind words and crits.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/Arish_/SPOct207.jpg

Worked about 45 mins on this one and I'm pretty pleased with the results, except for the eyes being slightly off and of course *sigh* the glasses... I tried drawing myself without glasses but I'm so nearsighted that there's no point, unless you'd like to see a close-up of my left pupil or something.

Anyways - since I actually made an effort with this one, I could definitely use some crits. :)

[Farvus]

I like the last one.
I'm not good enough in english but I'll try to explain some minor thing. I think what could look better are those dark touches on nose and eyes. You progressively builded tones on your face from very bright gray to middle gray while those dark contours are kind of the opposite. Beacause of that they jump out too much rather than blend with volumetric shading. I hope that sounds understandable :P.

Keep it up :).

[Arish]

Farvus - No prob, I understand what you're saying, I've got to make sure the dark spots don't jump out too much like that.

Anyway I was going to go to sleep but then Bhrazz gave me a kick in the pants, so here's today's... :P

I tried doing another digital SP purely by painting in lights and shadows, no linework and GAH.... I'm sure wishing I paid more attention back in my college painting class even if the teacher sucked. I am fully aware of the freakishly large man-jaw and the misplaced eye, so maybe you guys can help me understand how I'm supposed to get everything in proportion without drawing an outline first and then painting it in? (my usual technique up to now.) (not that there's anything wrong with that technique, just that I don't want it to be my only one.)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/Arish_/SPOct807.jpg

[Farvus]

Maybe try studying structure of some skull to see more edges and planes. It couldn help.
I usually start painting face from eyebrow ridge. Then I measure every distance around it.

Cheers.

[Arish]

Ok Farvus, I'll take a look at some skulls... it's the good time of year for that anyway, what with halloween just around the corner. ;)

Here's today's... I wanted to experiment with pure b&w shading.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/Arish_/SPOct1107.jpg

[Bhrazz]

Anyway I was going to go to sleep but then Bhrazz gave me a kick in the pants, so here's today's...

Woahhh I'm glad to hear that, not sure how we say it in english but in french is
''chaud au coeur''.

=)

Anyways, I understand your problem with lines and outlines etc... I'm not sure if you have a wacom but if you do, you are definetly loosing money because you don't use it enough!(Another kick!)

The way I usually draw, is to build up masses. I draw circles and then start filling in a couple of guide. Now, I know I don't do it often when drawing my self becasue I'm starting to know my face very well but this is how you should try it. It is really easier to do it when ''painting'', so photoshop is your best shot.

Is hard to understand, you really have to give it a shot to get the idea.
This is how drawing masses work:
http://www.characterdesigns.com/bandaid/content/gallery/64/74/Female_Face_Process.jpg

and when you draw with a pen, is more like a Carlos Huante way, not sure if you seen how he draw. There is a dude on CA who posted some sort of this, i'll try to find it.

Anyways, good job on those last portrait, you should definetly draw with more color.

[kazart]

Really nice studies. Your graceful with a pen and it shows through. September 14th is my favourite. Try mixing different pens together and structuring them into what represent light and shadow ect. Would be interesting. Nice work.

[Farvus]

The last one is good exercise.
I agree with Bhrazz and I'd like to expand that. You're aware of this outlining problem so this is your first step. It's always hard for me to explain those things even im my native language but I'll try (it's also to everyone :) )
When you draw any volumetric object, you should try to notice many smaller masses that it's constructed of. When painting for example someone's head there is this rough block like this one http://fineart.sk/photos/figure/064.JPG. You establish the basic information about this block like it's height, width and basic edge angles. You add to it (or carve away) some imaginary clay where cheekbones, forehead, front teeth, eyeballs stick out and it gets more personality. Actually the sum of outside contours of those clay masses are your final outline. They also have edges but some of them could be stronger or lighter. Those stronger ones could be on the shadow side and you might notice that the bright side don't even need any edge (the ball drawn with such method could have it's contour defined by an crescent shaped line). With more skill you would be able to just suggest all that with just few strokes and those masses will perfectly blend into one form. Or when painting you don't even suggest those lines. You see it all and just go straigth into big strokes of light and shadow that's on those masses. I think the essence of what I'm talking about you could see in Kevin Chen studies.

Look for example at this one - http://www.characterdesigns.com/bandaid/content/tutorials/1/57/tutorial_000_0056.jpg. At this stage it's still rough. First there is simple volumetric form of an eye and later you wrap the eyelid and eyelash around it.
Like he finished it here - http://www.characterdesigns.com/bandaid/content/tutorials/237/270/kevin_Chen_Head_Studies_033.jpg.
Here are all of his head studies - http://www.characterdesigns.com/index.php?sitepage=tutorials. Check them out.

I took your photo and tried to paint it with exactly the same method as he does it. I hope you don't mind :bashful:. It doesn't have perfect likeness beacause I would need something more than flat reference. I increased contrast to better see the shadows and highlights. Based on this information I sketched the main masses. You wouldn't normally see those lines on your face. They are information for me to see where I can put light and shadow. I established strong light from top right and used those masses as a guide to see where it hits the surface. Later it was all easy. Adding subtle dark accents, subtle highlights and wrapping tiny face features around form.
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/1792/arishsc0.jpg
I'm always shooting for this specific "mode" but it's really hard and it's easy to forget about it. Of course later you don't think about it and it all becomes intuitive.

Keep it up!

[Arish]

I haven't updated in a good long while so here's a half-finished portrait I've been working on all evening, with the help of Farvus and Bhrazz's awesome tutorials. It's funny, I swear I used to know how to draw with masses, and forgot somewhere along the line... and now all of a sudden it's coming back. It's really a fun and satisfying way to work.

I also used layers for this one (duh... about time I did, lol) so when it's 100% done I'll probably post the step-by-step just in case anyone is interested, or has advice on a better technique.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/Arish_/SPOct1907-bw.jpg

Farvus - You rock! You can draw my portrait anytime you want. I'm just blown away by the trouble you took to make this student "get" what to do.

Bhrazz - You too! Thanks so much for your help. You're right I should start drawing more digitally, but in my defense I already use a wacom all day (I work as an illustrator for a children's book company... thankfully my cartoon drawing / colouring skills are much better than my painting, heheh), so by the time i get home the last thing I wanna do is plunk myself in front of the computer again. But it's not a good excuse if I wanna improve. ;)

Kazart - Thanks for the nice comments & suggestions. :)

Now I know, you're probably wondering "when is she going to start drawing in colour????" Truth is, I started off this thing in colour but the results were so hideous I got scared and ran away... :^^;: So maybe next time. I also need a lamp or something, the lighting in my apartment is not good for colours.

Finished portrait coming soon!

[Bhrazz]

Your last one will be my favorite. I understand your problem for not using the wacom now:)

But yea, color will be awesome.

[Farvus]

You painted it very well considering that you used solid blocks of single value. Try painting with "Other dynamics" turned on in your brush settings. This way you will have different opacities in one stroke (according to the pressure of your pen) and it will help in blending values.

Keep it up.

[Arish]

Farvus - Thank you so much for that tip about other dynamics!! It's been a huge huge help not just for myself but at work too.

Bhrazz - Ok, I used colour in this one. I hate it. I tried all kinds of ways to draw with colour and this was (believe or not) the least bad. I was going for an abstracted approach, to look like paper cutouts, but I don't think it worked. The hair and the clothes look ok but something is really screwy with the face!

It didn't help that my computer is right next to the window and I don't have good drapes, so I couldn't see my monitor half the time. Oh well...

But it's done for Nov. 1!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/Arish_/SPNov107.jpg

I will try painting for real, with the 'other dynamics' setting, next time. Sure wish I could watch you guys draw / paint in real life... tutorials sometimes just don't cut it.

[Farvus]

Actually I like colours in this self portrait. Only the lips look a bit strange. Don't worry. Just keep going :).

[Arish]

Farvus - you're right about the lips... I should have spent more time on them. I'm not a huge fan of the eyes either, but oh well. Glad you liked the rest. :)

Here's today's... I used colour pencils. Took about half an hour. Unfortunately I lost some details in the scan, but the original looks pretty ok.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/Arish_/SPNov307.jpg

[Arish]

One more in colour pencil and one in charcoal. Apologies for the poor quality... I took photos in a hurry and the lighting wasn't the best.

I forgot how much fun it is to work in charcoal and get my hands dirty. Whee!

[Bhrazz]

I'm liking Nov.9, think you got a nicely done expression on there. However that big spot on the front should be smoother:P Charcoal is also nice, look somewhat cartoon to me tho!

Keep going!

[Farvus]

Hey, Arish. I think you improved. The last colour pencils are much better. There are some temperature changes and lines show the structure well. The last on has something wrong with proportions but I haven't seen such good values in this thread before.

Keep it up!

[Arish]

Thanks Farvus! :) That means a lot coming from you.

Finally have some time off work, so I can do more SPs again and bump this thread. And... well, I can see why it's important to practice these every day! I've gotten so used to drawing at the computer at work, that at least 5 times tonight I went "shit, where's the undo button"??? Bad, bad... :P

[Crush]

Hey, thanks again for commenting my thread! :^^:

You drew that hood on the last one better than I did :P

Have you gotten a lot older than your photograph at the beginning though..? Because it looks like it in that last portrait and I'm pretty sure you haven't! You should be trying to flatter yourself in these! hehe

I do like it though, I just have a feeling that you look prettier in real life than you drew yourself there :)

There is one thing I see slightly wrong with it though, and it's that you have drawn your features straight on, whereas your head is looking a little to the side

[Farvus]

Hey. It's good to see you back. Last one looks good.
Merry Christmas! :)

[Arish]

Hey all, long time no see... this thread sure got active! And with so many amazing artists too...

Anyway, here's a quickie update - sketched in PS in about 20 mins. I wanted to do something with full shading but the lighting near my comp is no good... need to get a lamp or something.

[algenpfleger]

Wow, that's quite a jump between that one and the previous ones :O

[Arish]

Algen - Thanks!

I think I regressed with this one tho... :^^;: next year I won't do an SP so close to midnight.

[Arish]

wow it's been a while... lots of new talent on this board :)

Did this SP a couple months ago, I'll try to crank out a new one soon ...

[*ViRuS*]

i like that last one. =)

[Arish]

Thanks Virus!

Fun with x-hatching and values. I finally got a desk lamp, it makes so much difference to have a good light source...

[Arish]

Slow day at work...

Digital drawing from photo. About 90 minutes.

[*ViRuS*]

good stuff. the hand on the last one looks a bit funky though. =)
lovin the hatching on the feb 19th one. keep it up =)

[Arish]

Thanks Virus! You're right about the hand, it got a little rushed towards the end.

Some new SPs from this month... I look like two different people, heh.

[hala]

Hey girl you've improved a lot!!! :)

i think you should try achieving that level of quality from the photo in your ref-from-life ones :) you're almost there in each of them, they just need a push! :) (if you got time for it, i know life is busy :< )

[jigje]

Cool, Arish is back. Thanks for your advice and hopefully you will be seen around here more often!! :) Your sp's are looking great Arish.

[Marian Rowling]

Hi Arish love what your doing it's great to see all the different mediums you are trying. Pretty inspiring actually so I had to post so I can keep following what you do.

[jellyswirl]

Wow this is so cool just looking through your 2 pages and seeing how much you are improving and just trying new things.

[Arish]

Jigje, Marian and Jellyswirl - thanks so much for your kind comments, it means a lot. Sorry it took so long to get back to all of you, I'm hoping to do more SPs over the holidays...

Hala - you're right about taking more time to finish each one. I'm not a patient person but I'll try and focus on getting the most out of it! :)

[Arish]

Well I tried drawing a few digital SPs again but they turned out horrible (no, really) so I went back to plain old pencils for now. Not sure if the cartoon one belongs here, but it is how I see myself... I wanted to show how I feel when I'm on a drawing high - like a kid playing with crayons on her mom's kitchen floor, just for fun. :P

BTW, fellow self-sketchers, how do you stop yourself from moving when you draw yourself? I have so much trouble keeping still when I get focused, and next thing I know, my nose is over where the eyes should be. (Well, maybe not that bad, but it is a problem!)

[Arish]

Decided to take a stab at full-colour digital SP today - about 3/4 done. Would have finished it completely, but I was using the light from the window and then the sun set... d'oh. I'm feeling a bit under the weather and I guess it shows, haha.

[Arish]

Drew the same SP in line and shade in one sitting - not sure which one I like best... Also, a colour pencil one from last week.

Hmm... I should vary my poses more.

[Arish]

Argh! Same pose as always ...

[Phade01]

Really like all the traditional portraits in here, tons of improvement in here also! Really like how the last one is so loose, but as you said so yourself, it would be interesting to see a different pose, maybe place the mirror at a different angle? Keep it up!

[Arish]

Thanks Phade! I was on vacation for a week so tried out a couple different angles & expressions, hopefully I'll be able to keep it up now that I'm back home ...

Next step: colour!

[Arish]

Could have pushed this one further but it's 2 am and I'm falling asleep ...

[Arish]

Whoa I look psycho ...

[Marian Rowling]

Hey Arish these updates looks great. I really like the different poses, especially where your cheeks are puffed out. The red one is interesting and looks good. As always I'm looking forward to seeing more :).

[Hive_minD]

Last one is splendid!

[Arish]

Thanks Marian & Hive_minD! :)

"WTF do I look like today?"

[Phade01]

Pencils are looking pretty strong in the last update (tough still a bit messy) really like the red one! seems like pretty solid structure going on! Seems you're doing these more regular lately, keep it up!

[Marian Rowling]

:) hehehe.....Arish you look like a girl who shouldn't be messed with! I like it, it's strong, powerful and full of attitude and energy.

[Arish]

Thanks Phade! I'm trying to do more 'sculptural'-type drawings (blocking in values instead of starting with lines) - not used to it, so it's tricky. I'd like to do one SP a day, if possible... drawing every day really makes a difference!

Marian - thanks, glad you liked it! That's right, don't mess with me! :D

BTW - does anyone know how to change the lil thumbnail for the thread? Mine doesn't seem to be showing up and the original image was ugly anyway, so I wanna update it ...

Bleh. Pencils still messy ...

[jigje]

Nice Arish. Great to see regular posts from you. The thread thumbnail is the 1st image in the 1st post. Go to the 1st post and edit it using the attachment manager to upload whatever pic you want for the thumbnail. I hope that's right! :)

[Arish]

Thanks Jigje - it works, yay!

Drawing this one felt like polishing a turd, but that's what happens when you get tired & grab the ballpoint pen next to your desk. I still have a while to go before I reach the level of this guy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6r9LhbQxvk), heh.

[Arish]

Not quite finished, but I'm about to fall asleep ...

Still have a lot to work on, but this looks much better than the last time I was messing around with blocking in colours & shapes. So I'm happy - for tonight, anyways. :P

[Arish]

* pfbbbllltt *

[luigonz]

#12 is wonderful, so simple and quaint.

[luigonz]

#53 is amazing, my favorite the colors are so raw and unapologetic!!

[NinaM]

I love #59! :)

#68 is also nice. The colours are well chosen. Next time, try to follow the mussle lines of your face with the brush strokes. It's easier to mould those difficult things like the nose, the cheaks, etc..

[Bhrazz]

Much improvement lady! Very nice to see you still going on those. I really like enjoy those in colors!

The one from your post #319 is fantastic!

Great work and keep going!:)

[Arish]

Bhrazz - Aw, thank you very much! :) Great to see you still around. But I don't have a #319 in this thread so I don't know which one you meant! Help a girl out?

NinaM - Thanks for the tips, I'll have to try that out next time :)

Luigonz - Thanks for the kind words!

On a side note - I've been spending more time in CGHub these days so if I don't update in a while, that's why. (That, and an insanely busy work schedule. But hey, excuses, excuses ...) If any of you are members there my username is the same, so see you on the other side.

Quickie for tonight - I had one of those days where it felt like everything went wrong - can you tell? :P

[Chr. Steam]

Looks nice.
I can advice, that building of head helps you understand the forms and values of head.
Keep that up, of course =)

[Chr. Steam]

Looks nice.
I can advice, that building of head helps you understand the forms and values of head.
Keep that up, of course =)

[Arish]

Did this for Self-Portrait Day & figured I'd post it here too. Rushed to meet the deadline but I'll try spending more time on a digital SP next time.