Portrait practice

[Commander Obvious]

Man, it has been a LONG time since I've posted outside of the daily sketch forum! It has also been a long time since I've done anything just for the fun of it. After working for so long as an illustrator (okay, it was just under 2 years but I'm only 25, so it was a long time for me), I got in the habit of drawing other people's ideas. So I'm trying to break back into some bit of personal work by practicing portraits (that references forum is a great place, by the way).

So here is a portrait based on a reference that I just finished. C&C welcome, as always.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/Russell_Collins/Sketch_09_24_04.jpg

I'm working on another project too, I'll post that one as soon as it isn't embarassingly incomplete.

[dogfood]

Man, I'm with you. I've been on the kick of doing redraws and paint overs recently (finally posted something original over at the Helpful Crit forum [shameless plug]).

This is really good. I especially like the hair and the very subtle smile playing about the edges of her lips. Unfortunately, her far eye is a bit too far. The aspect of her nose, combined with its position, indicates that her face is a touch on the flat side (much like mine) and the distance from the near eye to the nose looks right, but her left eye is just too far.

I would also introduce some of the reds from her body into her cheeks and nose. Right now, she seems to be wearing too much make-up.

It might also profit from some abstract background (with value shifts and at least a little interest).

Nice work on the skin of the body, too.

[Commander Obvious]

Thanks for the advice. I have a background-phobia and so it is easier for my sanity if I just put a matte color in there but on my next practice portrait, I'll give the abstract method a try.

Here's the new version of the image and a link to an animation that shows what I've done with the eyes better.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/Russell_Collins/Sketch_09_24_04b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/Russell_Collins/Sketch_09_24_04_Animation.gif

[dogfood]

No, no; the far eye needs to come closer to the nose.