Pastel self portrait

[talmir]

My first post in the finished section.. But I'm pretty proud of this.. This is my second self portrait (first one was pencils, two months ago and this is also my second attempt at pastels ever... tell me what you think?

I know about the ear and the hairline.. some problems there
http://img12.photobucket.com/albums/v31/talmir/portraittest1.jpg

[Rohan]

your effort shows promise, I like the the little touches of accented colour in the face. Maybe you could hold off making decisive strokes until you have established the large masses of the head and the orientation of the major planes of the face, although this is very hard particularly with a self-portrait if you get these down first it will help make the proportional relationships of smaller individual features fall into place. the only way I know how to do this is by doing lots more studies and quick ones where you are not as concerned as to the outcome, but the process. It will help if you do some of other people you don't know, that way you are not so concerned with getting a likeness straight away, and will begin to see spacial and tonal relationships more objectively. hope this helps Good luck :)