First attempt to do digital painting

[bech]

http://www.bech.com.ar/gfx/viuda.jpg

This is my first attempt to do digital painting with some level of detail and I really need some help. As you can see I´m focusing in the skin right now but I´m having trouble defining the details of the face, I feel like all I add is a step back rather than foward

Thanks in advance for your help
(and sorry for my poor english)

[Juice5942]

Use contrast to your advantage, darken areas to push other areas forward.

I think you're well on your way... though those eyes scare me a little. :D

[Groover McNab]

just started digital painting myself last week. I think this is a good start. the nostrils are too dark, and the eyes scare me a lot.

but hey, maybe that's what you're going for.

[Pavlovich]

try using some other brushes, or make some custom ones. this looks like it was done mostly with just the soft default photoshop brush (with a hard brush for the nostrils)--i'm assuming you're using photoshop. obviously using a different brush isnt going to suddenly help you create the sistine chapel, but its worth experimenting with. and of course up the contrast, you need darker darks etc etc etc

[remedial]

Definately a nice start and way better than my first :p The contrast in dig. painting is one of the most important aspects as many others have already pointed out. I have trouble with it myself and it usually leaves my paintings looking dull and flat, and i have to use my overlying sketch to perk it up.

[bech]

Thanks for all your comments!!!!
They are very very helpfull :D

Thanks a lot

[capone]

What do people mean when they say make their own custom brush?, I just use hard and soft "circle" tip brushes...apart from square shape I cannot think of any other brush you could create in photoshop...is this what you mean by custom?, the shape of the brush tip?

Thanks