What am I doing wrong?

[Jason Windsor]

What am I doing wrong and I think the scanner could have done a better job too.

[Rudeone]

Well from what I see at first glance is that her eyes should be bigger.

The biggest problem right now is that the drawing is lacking in value, it only consists of the darkest darks in the shadow parts and the white of the paper, there are hardly any midrange values.
You really need to see and understand it when looking at the original picture, but just keep going and you'll get it right eventually.

One small tip: make the upperlip darker then the lower, because the upperlip goes inward it catches less light then the lowerlip in most cases (unless the lightsource comes from below), make the corners of the mouth even darker.

I hope this helps a bit.

[flip the master]

I would say mainly around the facial area.

[drunknmunky]

Looks pretty good but I think some parts of face need the work, looks as if it needs a slightly wider jaw in comparison to the ref pic, and maybe just some more general intricate shading. The lips don't look quite right but I can't see very clearly to tell, maybe just add some darker areas to them?

[Jason Windsor]

I've heard from instructors that I should squint and it'll be easier to see the tones. That doesn't usually work for me because I don't know what tones to assign what colors, especially with really light skin tones.

Do I achieve inbetweens via crosshatching? Blending? A combination? Because I always end up drawing 2 tones because I think the gradients I make all look the same.

[Rudeone]

Yes crosshatching is a good technique.
Use it in combination with pen presure, the great thing about working with pencils is that if you press harder it will get darker and vice versa.

[dcorc]

I've heard from instructors that I should squint and it'll be easier to see the tones. That doesn't usually work for me because I don't know what tones to assign what colors, especially with really light skin tones.



I know this is an old thread, but I think, Mr Windsor, we need to spend less time talking about motivational problems, and more time discussing fixing the practical problems in the actual ART.

If God had intended us to be good at assessing greyscale values, he'd have given us computers and photoshop to help us ;)

Here's your young lovely, turned grey:

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/1470/netphotoby8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Notice that the only thing thats white is the lacey bit next to her busty substances :D

If you take lots of photos and change them into greyscale, you'll get a feel for how colours convert into value. (If you want to be picky, change them into Lab mode and look at the L "lightness" channel).

Do I achieve inbetweens via crosshatching? Blending? A combination? Because I always end up drawing 2 tones because I think the gradients I make all look the same.

Crosshatch, then lightly blend a touch. Build gradually with light layers.

(Enough with the video-games - get drawing!)


Dave

[snail_E]

the midtone is missing?