I could use some advice.

[took]

So I've had photoshop a long time, and always made graphic art with it, but never really tried painting with it, at least beyond monochromatics.

http://stealingfat.homestead.com/files/self2.jpg this is the beginning image

http://stealingfat.homestead.com/files/crap.jpg
this is the WIP, which i've spent at the very most 45 min on. i'm having a lot of trouble with the skin tones, and for some reason doing this with a mouse kind of throws me off. the main areas ive focused on are the eyes to nose area.

i mightve posted this too soon into the piece, but i could use some advice. any advice.

[Cadence]

The eyes are a tad bit too small, and too far apart (distance between eyes is aproximately one eye's length). Also, the skin tones look too yellowish, they should be a little more reddish me thinks..

[LightBrownboy]

Just a few things:

Concerning the orginal drawing proportions are what fighting you on that one, plus you have a upward angle to work from which makes things a little harder. One thing you can do is and a little more volume to the back of his head look at the points Cadence made as well. Right now he only has about half the volume he should have.

As far as colors go, the environment he is in will help dictate the colors reflected in his skin tone. You can leave the base color as what you have right now,but here are some things to consider

1) is it day or night?
2) What's around him...trees, water, mountains, a red house, a yellow car...etc?

The things around you will reflect back into your skin tones and into your shadows. Also, don't forget about the warm side and cool side of things..this relates to he lighting of the form.

Its a lot to digest, but these are just a few things to consider. Keep these in mind when you do furhter illustrations, finish this one but keep doing more studies like these. It will help you "see" things more.

Hoep that helps.

P.S. if you can afford or save up, get a WACOM tablet, it will help tremendously.

-LBB

[Johannes]

I uisually find that grey is not a good color to begin with - use some brownish color for base and go from there.
Also there are bones and bloodvessels under the skin, try adding bluish pinkish greenish tones and then go over it with "skincolor".

[Roeguard]

I like the color choices you've made, even if they are a bit conservative. Try the opposite of your highlight color, in this case a desaturated blue is good for shadow, but any color will work.

What bothers me is (lack of) shadow core. Your sketch has really well defined shadows, and I would love to see the shadows in the painting have the same amount of confidence. It feels (to me) like you are afraid to commit to exactly where the shadow planes are breaking. I recommend just attacking it and then working dark to light for the shadow detail.

The anatomy doesn't bother me. Its close (and confident) enough in the sketch that I'm convinced. Maybe the ear could be swung out a bit more.