Critique needed?

[Janooh]

so.. I've been working on this for like an hour and a half now (I'm slow, yes) - and it's my first ever attempt at realistic rendering/digital painting... So that's why I want to know your opinion, guys.

Does it look realistic-ish? uhm, I'm happy with the brush stroke, and overall the colors ... but you guys might notice something I don't. So if it looks a bit too sketchy still, go ahead and tell me! ... or anything else you think I should change a bit. I know, it's still an empty face, but I don't want to finish something only to have it full of errors... so i might as well go by fixing them now!

anyway, here it is:

[Ive]

Yo-ho! It's pretty decent for a first attempt at realistic rendering. The painting is really very undetermined and at early stage at the moment so theres really little to comment. It doesn't look like a realistic man's face, more like a mask. It just doesnt follow the anatomy of a skull. This section is for nearly finished paintings, or ones that have more...features, I don't know. Try posting this at Sketches and works in progress!
btw this reminded me of agamemmnon's mask :D
http://www.historywiz.com/images/greece/agamemmnon.gif

[Elwell]

What's your definition of realistic?

[Justin.]

Indeed- there is a large gap between realistic and "realistic-ish". Some people like having realistic features but want a cartoony sort of scene overall- or vise versa- if you could clarify it'd be great!

[Seedling]

If you want your work to look realistic, then practice by drawing or painting from life. Set up a mirror and do some self-portraits. Then you will have an idea of how to improve on this.

[Janooh]

Ive - Yeah I know I have a looonnng way to go. And it does look like that mask, now that I look at it! Yeah, I was sort of thinking about drawing a mask, because this bit is inspired by a book where a mask plays a bit of the whole picture. But I do see where you're coming from when it looks as if it's too cartoonish to actually be realistic.

Elwell - ... You know, now that I think about it, I'm not sure. It always had been along the lines of 'more life related than anime-looking' for me, but if I really think about it, I can't come up with a clear definition. :(

Justin - I sort of lean towards Cartoon-ish looking... but I really do want to honey my skills when it comes to it being truly realistic. I guess I'm having a harder time because I am not trained whatsoever...and the only thing I have to guide me is my eyes, but the full concept behind the learning is just self-taught...and it's not taking me anywhere x.x

Seedling - Good idea! .. I think I'll try that x.x