WIP: First portrait in 15 years

[art4theages]

It's been a real looong time since I tried doing a portrait but got inspired by you all. I'm working off a photo of myself, don't have a scanner so I can't show the reference photo. A few things I know need work is the mouth and chin, there a mess. Left iris I think needs to be a bit smaller or maybe the right needs to be bigger and a eye litte more open. Trying to get a wide eye, raised eyebrow type of look, my eyes are normally kind of droopy. Background and shirt I have no idea what to do with yet, but I do know that I want to keep everything in grayscale for now.


Looking for comments on where I might be going wrong, or were I went right :)


John
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b135/artfortheages/self100605.jpg

latest ver., still aways to go :)

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b135/artfortheages/self100605-2.jpg

[Bad Brownie]

I really like the hair on your head (seems I've been saying that a lot today). hehe kinda looks like you're in a straight jacket. (maybe you are?)

Are you going to keep the shirt (jacket?) that way? I am torn between liking it (could be very expressive...particularly if you like cartoons or anything at all by Shel Siverstein) and recommending it be worked like the rest of your piece. Then again, you may not be done. = ) Maybe you could do two versions, right?

Ears are hard for me, and, although it looks a little strange on the part that comes in to your head, I think the lobe shape is well defined.

Maybe make the right eye (the picture's right eye, that is) of similar style as the other one, as one has hard (almost penned) looking lines and the other doesn't.

Yea you're right, the mouth and goatee need some revisiting.

And try pushing the lights and darks further. Make the darks darker and the lights lighter, that might help make the piece more interesting/dynamic/super-dee-dooper.

It looks like a person, and, assuming your avatar pic is you, it looks like you. So that is good. Unless it is bad. Ponder that one. = P

have fun with it!

[art4theages]

Definitely not done, only a couple of hours into it. Spent most of the time on the ear and eyes, the rest I just put in something because all that white was brothering.

I like the idea of the straight jacket, think it might work out nice. I've been told more then once that I should be put in one. >:D I'm drawing using Satori with a wacom tablet so it will be easy enough to give it a shot.

I see what your saying about the ear, I think some of that could be the neck and jaw line. So as I work that area I should be able to fix up the ear, not sure if I want to include the couple days growth that's in the picture. Might work if I go with that straight jacket idea :).

Hair is another trouble spot for me so I'm glad you liked it so far, plan on doing more to it. I changed the brush part way threw and it shows in when full size (saved 50% smaller for the post).

Pushing the lights and darks is definitely needed. I try not to do that too early while I'm working out the midtones.

I'm undecided on the penciled look the one eye has or the other. Been trying to work that out with the ear and eyes. I'm leaning to that harder look.

(yea, avatar is me :))


Thanks for your comments, you've given me some things to do and ideas to explore.. just what I needed.

[MikeMakesModels]

Looks like you might be smudging/blurring. Smudge is bad - don't do it. It's not worth it.

Looks good though.

[art4theages]

Yea, I have been smudging.. try not to but ...well no excuses.. just bad habits..

I spent a little time on it today, the shirt/jacket not even close to done, so not worth wasting comments on that. :) The background (also not done) I've been playing with different ideas. The one pictured here I'm going for the hospital look, in another one I was trying was padded walls (rubber room :)). I like the this one better and plan on making it look old (dirt, stains, etc).

But there is still some wrong with the face to me but I'm not seeing what it is.. just doesn't look right. I know the area were the chin meets the shirt still needs a lot of help. It looks like me, actually more like me then the picture, but something not right. Help!! what am I missing.. I know I can still push the lights and darks but I feel there is more wrong then lighting.

(cropped for the post)
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b135/artfortheages/self100905.jpg

John