Old Lady- portrait of my grandma

[styler]

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c113/twizler191/252.jpg
this is a portrait of my grandma from life. Any advice or suggestions for making it better are welcome.

[blacky]

Good you tried to implement expression and unusual perspective, but there are some flaws to it technique wise. I don't thing the skin of your grandma is that dark (all those hetchings that would try to fix sth. mostly distrackt from her facial features) Drawing a female face, you should use as litle lines and black shadows as possible, even if it's a grandma. The way her hair's attached to head it looks more like a wig somehow. Also, don't try to smear or smudge your hetchings n linework. It doesn't do any good to a drawing.
Perhaps you might try to draw your grandma some times over again. I guarantee you that it will come out much better, as you already will be familiar with drawing her. Hope that helped.
So long...

[styler]

I would...but she's not here at the moment. I didn't mean to smudge, I was trying to erase but your right no excuses...I smudged it (damn). I got really confused on the line work...she's very very old and i'm confused how to show that without using lines? Thanks for the feedback.

[Pixeldragoon]

Use value. You "see" a line because of the contrast between the shadow of her skin and her midtone/highlighted skin. Think: Are there really lines in real life? Nope! Think of how you can SHOW how deep the wrinkle is, without drawing a line. Good luck, keep it up!

[ndp]

Thats is an interesting angle. Always try to make sure that the initial drawing is as accurate as it proportially can be. Don't rush into shading. the more time you spend on the base drawing the easier it will be to add shadows, etc. Also when drawing don't think of eyes as eyes or a nose as a nose. Try to draw shapes and concentrate on shapes alone. If you start thinking eyes you end up drawing them the way you think eyes look, rather than how the model's eyes really are. Its all subconcious stuff ;) Drawing from life is tough, keep at it.

Just my $.02

[styler]

Pixeldragon: alright i'll do that next time. Thanks

Jarri: yea I understand what your saying. I've been told that I tend to generalize alot and that I don't draw what I see. I'll pay more attention next time. thanks