Photoshop painting practice

[Lowgain]

I decided I should probably learn how to do this a bit better, so here is my first attempt at painting a face in photoshop:

http://noodlebot.googlepages.com/paintface.png

What can I do to improve this?

[RICHARD_MENA]

eeey partner....am not a profesional to say this but improve dont means to forget the basics...you can first use the guide lines that every ilustrator know that are the basics of composition and good balance...let me see if i can show you something to explain this
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/249/cara1li7.jpg
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/9576/cara2gu6.jpg
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/6779/cara3ka3.jpg

is not a good job but u can see how the first lines have their function

[JAG.]

indeed.. definitely learn to draw proper head and face structure.. then worry about painting it in photoshop. photoshop is only a tool, to help you do what you do better. if you dont know the basics, you dont magically know it all becuase you use photoshop. basics of art, color, anatomy and composition are CRITICAL to learn before photoshop. but keep practising - JAG

[Lowgain]

Okay, thanks, I guess I am going back to that again then. Anything else that you want to say would be useful too

[Lowgain]

I tried doing a couple sketches with (hopefully) better proportions, how do these look?

http://noodlebot.googlepages.com/DSC00230.JPG
http://noodlebot.googlepages.com/DSC00231.JPG

[nickmarshallvfx]

Not too bad. Try googleing skull anatomy and studying anything on skulls coz if you can draw good skulls in different positions then its easier to add features on top of the structure.

Nick

[Nexus]

Those are better but the eyes are way too big. Your anime influence is sneaking up to the surface there. Eyes are more almond shaped and actually quite small in relation to the rest of your facial features and this is further enhanced by the fact that they are set within the orbital cavities within your skull. Id look up some head drawing tutorials, might help. But youre getting on the right track, keep at it.

[Lowgain]

haha yeah, I used to draw anime a lot for like, years, so I haven't quite gotten rid of it yet D:

I'll check out some tutorials and post the progress I've made, thanks

[JAG.]

indeed, as was stated you're on the right path. just keep drawing, try drawing 5 skulls in different positions per day. in a week, you'll be able to draw skulls with your eyes closed [maybe ;)] keep posting - JAG

[Lowgain]

Okay, I have drawn 3 so far today, I need to find a few more reference images to get angles (I lent all my anatomy books to a friend D:)

http://noodlebot.googlepages.com/DSC00230.JPG

Hopefully I can find time for this every day!

[JAG.]

lookin good man. if you cant draw 5 just draw as many as you can. also, try to notice the location and interaction of the major shapes of the skull in any given orientation. - JAG