A colorful portrait (eventually)

[Chender]

Initial sketch. I'll most likely be losing the lines (most at least) as I render it. The idea for this sketch and how I was going to draw it came together, being inspired by this fine artists work http://kidchan.deviantart.com/ .

Main struggle has been finding a good hair style reference. Seen plenty of shots of crazy hair at bad angles, though, so I hope I've been able to put forth what skill I have to making it interesting. Just in case I have a backup style, more based on actual references. It's pretty much the same minus the draping hair rolls. I like those shapes, though. I feel they provide a nice upper buffer for the face, sort of bouncing the viewers eye back down as their view gravitates upward. But I'm not a hair stylist, so any suggestions would be great. I'm not 100% sure about the composition either.

[jega74]

Have you a photo references ?

[Chender]

For the face/head/body or the hair?
For the hair:
http://www.hairstyle.com/datastore/0/updo21.jpg
http://www.hairstyle.com/datastore/0/updo22.jpg
http://www.hairstyle.com/datastore/0/updo08.jpg
http://www.hairstyle.com/womens-hair-styles/updo-hair-style-gallery2.htm
http://www.onewed.com/wedding-hair-styles/wedding_hair_style_73.html
http://www.onewed.com/wedding-hair-styles/wedding_hair_style_100.html
http://www.onewed.com/wedding-hair-styles/wedding_hair_style_103.html
http://www.3-ibm.com/prom_updos/images/updo/dramatic%20updo.jpg

[Chender]

sorry for scaring everyone away with our ugly mugs... went ahead and did some work (you know, against this sites background her skin looks much, much more pink than I originally considered it to be):

[Cookiedough]

I wish there was more of her shoulders visible. Right now the composition leads us to her hair as a focal point.... which isn't that exciting. Adding more of her upperbody will even it out and make it more interesting. Her shoulders are too narrow too, making her head seem insanely big.

I think her forehead is huge and makes it seem as if she's bald and wearing a wig. Bring the hairline a li'l more down. Also consider adding jewellery/feathers/some other kind of ornamental thing in her hairdo, since it's so much in the attention.

I like the skintones, but maybe some blues in the skin to reflect the bg would be nice.

[Serena-]

If this is meant to be animeish - the proportions are fine. Large heads, slender bodies, largely spaced eyes, and squared thin eyebrows are a-typical of that style. However for actual proportions and realism it's off. But I like the composition as is. She's very innocent, and sweet looking. Her expression is intriguing. More of her shoulders... like a bust I guess for a picture - would be very appealing.

One thing that really bothers me about this however is the kneck bones, they do not look like that - they are all over the place. Like you aren't sure of what bones are actually there.. it's very distracting.

A nice start though, I enjoy the progression thus far minus the few comments I've made. The idea is nice, and very peaceful. A nice complimentary painting for someone's wall to complete the setting. :D thanks for sharing.

[Chender]

Thanks a lot for your comments, Serena and Cookiedough.

If this is meant to be animeish...

Ya. I figure that going for completely realistic form while going out with the color wouldn't mesh as well as a more abstract face.

Extended the canvas down slightly. Doubled the resolution for myself as I got into the eyes and lips a bit more (and for the hair eventually... might need to go even larger). I'll probably put it down some more but I'm a bit worried about leaving the face dead center. Any thoughts on dealing with that would be great. Maybe bring down the whole canvas so that it cuts off the part of the hair and goes all the way down to the bottom of her chest? Or going in real close? WarCraft III lithograph style~

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/4346/portrait4copycloseupej1.th.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/my.php?image=portrait4copycloseupej1.jpg)

Brought the hair down (I thought it was too high but I eventually convinced myself it would be ok. guess not!).

As for the chest I referenced the pose with the chest/shoulder turned a quarter ways (didn't want everything to be completely facing forward), and the head tilted down about as far as it will go without bending the neck. I know it's challenging to depict more slight perspective effects without looking like you were trying to do something simpler but got it wrong, so I'll really be trying to focus on making those small movements clear.

[Chender]

nother update. Coming off of work on the face. Perhaps if I go for more of a bust then tightening up the composition would let it work out?

[Delight]

Her eyes feel like they're all round, but what's holding them isn't. There's no effect on the skin from the spheres.

[Chender]

Worked on rounding out the eyelids and socket. Here's an update

[Chender]

I'm thinking I'll give this one final bump then let it sink before running by Critque Center.

closeup near full resolution:
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/186/portrait63ccm8.th.jpg (http://img96.imageshack.us/my.php?image=portrait63ccm8.jpg)

continued here: http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1043072#post1043072