Leiana's Daily Self Portraits

[Leiana]

None of my friends told me about the self portrait day, so this is my first post here, but don't go easy on me ;<

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Leiana-Self110806.jpg

PS- yes, I asked Farvus if I could use his idea for the name of the thread ;<

[Nunch]

Hey! Great portrait to submit, even if it was a little late. Is that your natural hair color?
I have a small critique... the colors seem a little too muted. I just thought you could bring out the darks and lights a little more, more so the darks.
Looks great, anyway!

[Leiana]

After viewing Farvus' portraits, I've decided to take on the same venture, and I hope I have enough discipline to do it!

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/ejm800.jpg

I did two tonight!
http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self112806.jpg

[Leiana]

mini SPs

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/crops112806.jpg

[Leiana]

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/IMAGE_089-2.jpg

[Farvus]

Good job with those self portraits. I especially like first and the last one.
The beginning might be difficult but later you'll get used to posting daily :).

[Leiana]

Nunch- My hair's more magenta, and yes it's my real hair. I'm not just being artsy and such. My hairs been this color for the past 4 or 5 months. I appreciate your crits, and I'll try to get more darks in in the upcoming pieces

Farvus- Thanks for the encouragement ;> I tend to need it

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self113006.jpg

edit for update:
http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self113006-2.jpg

[Leiana]

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self120106.jpg

[Onir]

oo very nice portraits, I really like that you're using the color of your background and working your toning around that. I especially like the one's from the 30th, great usage of the soft edge brush; you modeled your face's form out very nicely.

some advice I can offer if you do another more rendered digital piece like your first post is just to use a really large brush when you're blocking in your forms and such. that's something I've learned from the people here and it really does make rendering and creating forms much easier. you might know that already, but figured I'd just throw that out there ;) also, something Farvus suggested to me for my self portraits was to not be afraid to take the time and measure out your features with guide lines and such... I hope that helped. keep up the good work!

[Leiana]

Onir- my large brush that i like (the one like the oC brush) is broken in my photoshop. it just does circles instead of what it's supposed to do. I should get painter. I took your advice and measured more than usual on this one. Thanks for the crit ;>

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self120206.jpg

[Farvus]

The self portrait from post nr 8 is my new favourite. Really nice use of highlights and rendering the form.
Keep it up!

[Leiana]

Farvus- thanks for your comments! they mean a lot from someone as dedicated to SPs as you.

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self120306.jpg


http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self120306fin.jpg

[Leiana]

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self120306-2.jpg

[Farvus]

For this kind of brush in post nr 12 try experimenting with different sizes. Also avoid using low opacity and rely more on your tablet pressure.
The last one has interesting light direction.
Keep experimenting :).

[Leiana]

Farvus- I actually didn't use opacity settings past 68 (default for me). The other values were created by the eraser. I didn't like the outcome of that one either, though ;>

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self120306-3.jpg

finished:
http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/IMAGE_099.jpg

[Leiana]

I saw something that really bugged me, so I fixed it.

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self120306-2fin.jpg

[Soja]

Hey Leiana!

Hey nice sps! Like the last one has nice colours!
but if im allowed to do some critiques =) if u paint...try to get away from the line...squint ur eyes and look at the shapes...in which the direction they go and where are hard and soft edges of them. try to see the value...when u squint ur eyes and figure out where the darkest dark and the lightest light is.
Try this squinting thing it will help a lot but dont squint on ur screen or canvas :)
All that helped me a lot to get better...but im still bad =)

[Leiana]

Thanks, Soja ;> I'm much better on paper than on digi. (damn schooling being all traditional-like) I'll update this post as soon as I'm done the one I'm working on

Speedy
http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self120406.jpg
Edit- I guess this is number 12 on my count.

[asoir]

quality stuff, keep at it.

[Leiana]

asoir- Thanks! I'd like to think I can get better here, so if you have any critiques, please throw them out on the table ;>

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self120506.jpg

[asoir]

hmm, crits!

on the latest, i'd just say that the lines are looking a bit feathery, try to be a bit more economic, also the finger inbetween the middle finger and the pinkie is a bit square otherwise, great job!

[glikster]

these are looking great... I'd like to see a line-work only SP, practicing those will help with the line economy asoir was talking about.

[Soja]

Hey nothing about traditional! Try to do traditional first and u'll success in the digital too.
Maybe u should try just to concentrate on one thing first.
Try to concentrate on ur linework first before go into colors.
I know everyone wants to do anything at once...but it will take
longer because there are too much information u have to handle wit.
And if u just concentrate on one thing first u can keep ur concentration
on that one thing...sorry my english sucks =)!
so thats what I think...hope i can help u a little bit.
Anyway u have a good eye!
So keep it goin!! As long as u practice it will come along

[Leiana]

I have an 11-hour shift today, so the posting will be late.

Edit- 30 minute break in an 11 hour shift is a joke. Oh, and I hooked up my scanner and scanned in two of my previous self-portraits, so please check out the good versions.
http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self120606.jpg

[Leiana]

I hate my computer.
You can go ahead and speculate about why I can't resize this.
http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self120706.jpg

[Farvus]

Great updates. I like the expression in the purple SP. Maybe try giving variety to shadow edges. From very soft to very sharp ones. But most of all have fun and don't put too much pressure on yourself. That's my main suggestion :).

Farv.

[Leiana]

I hate my computer. Apparently every program is slowly breaking. Trillian went first, and now Photoshop and Paint at the same time.
http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self120806.jpg

[Farvus]

I see that you have lot's of anti virus and other computer protection software. Maybe there is some conflict between them and this makes computer crash.
Second things that comes to my mind is processor reaching too high temperatures and refusing to work beacause of this. I had such problem and my Photoshop hanged in the middle of work. One of the methods to fix this would be to change the cooler to new one (if the old one works bad).

[Leiana]

I am going to kill my computer one of these days.

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self120906.jpg

[Farvus]

Nice one. From your face expression I see that you're really going to kill your computer :P.
Maybe it's some nasty virus from the internet?

Keep it up!

[Leiana]

Farv - <3 thanks. I need to reformat, but I don't have time to back everything up.

5 mins
http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self121006.jpg

[Leiana]

New version, same day. Freehand, no filters.

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self121006-2.jpg

[Soja]

Hey great update!
Like the quick one!

[Leiana]

Sorry guys for this one ;<

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self121106.jpg

[Farvus]

The new version of quickie looks much softer. Good technique for plane painting practice.
As for the last one... After few moths of painting self portrait you'll get greater resistance for tiredness and even paint during sleep, haha :D.

[Leiana]

farvus- i hope you're right ;<
http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self121206.jpg
Edit- number 19.

[darkchild]

Hey nice thread! I really like this one: http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self120606.jpg

Nice loose pencils yet portrays a good image. Keep them cominig!

[Leiana]

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self121206-3.jpg

[Leiana]

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self121206-4.jpg

[Derj]

Fantastic portraits, Leiana! Quite inspirational. :D

[Leiana]

Spent- thanks! It's always a high compliment to be an inspiration

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self121306.jpg

[Farvus]

The self portrait from post #39 looks interesting. I see you like going towards simplification. That might be good for painting skills.

Keep it up!

[Derj]

I think Farvus nailed it pretty good. Your portraits are beautiful in their simplicity.

[Soja]

yeah! the 39 is very nice! i like it too!
would like to see one where u spent longer time
on it ...just an idea=) keep it up

[Leiana]

On 39, that took maybe 5-10 minutes. The simple line drawings usually take about 30.

[Leiana]

I missed a day :x To make up for it, I took a bit more time with this one

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self121506.jpg

[Leiana]

I have no idea why this is Red Xing. Hopefully it will fix itself.

http://www.popnko.com/Emily/Sketchy/self121606.jpg

[PeggyChung]

hey there Leiana, nice to see a new face here in the self portrait forum :P from experience, I suggest doing a bunch of sps with graphite concentrating on proportions and values cause using photoshop youre getting yourself to struggle with the medium...trying to work with color...working with proportions..working with values etc etc. im no expert myself but its an idea, hope to see more!:^^: