[tyron]

Hey!
I've started working on a self portrait and this is as far as i've come yet...
I really need your help on this one..
My problem is, something seems odd..
I don't know what, can you guys help me?

Thanks in advance! see you.

[digitalinfamy]

Are you going for realism or more of a comic look? If you are going for realism I can say this about it..Make sure you take away the dark line around the face and any dark line. The face has no lines in it, it's all light play of shadows and highlights. The hair is too blocky and you may think of raising the the top of the head some. Most folks squish the top of the head. Work around the lips and make sure again that there is no outline around them. Now if you going for a more comic look, then I'm really too new to comment on that. Hope this helps.

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About Digital Artists: Our computers never dry out overnight...

[micke]

Could you post a photo on yourself?
It would be easier to compare. There's some
proportions issues also.

-Micke


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-Mikael Noguchi-

http://www.katode.org/noguchi/

[tyron]

well, i'm going for realism and my goal is to get rid of the black lines, i don't know how though...
i agree, the head needs to be reaised a bit.
is the mouth too small?
And sorry, i don't have any pictures of me, i used a mirror when i made this.
thanks anyhow.


[This message has been edited by tyron (edited October 29, 2000).]

[Dryfire]

Instead of putting the black lines around the face, just make dark highlights on the skin to show the edges

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-=DryFire=-
'Reality is just a dream'

[tyron]

ok, i'll try that...
now that i look at it, isn't the left (my left) eyes position a bit off?

[Dryfire]

Oh yeah, the mouth usually extends from the middle of one eye to the other: eg



------------------
-=DryFire=-
'Reality is just a dream'

[tyron]

hmm... allright, i'll keep that in mind, thanks.

[Dryfire]

hehehe, i doubt my drawing skillz would help but the message behind them will, its all about the proportions, as you can c in my little face hehee good luck!

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-=DryFire=-
'Reality is just a dream'

[tyron]

Hehe, well, it helped me...
worked on it a bit more...
removed the black lines. but i still don't know how to make the skin look better.
got any hints micke? or anyone else?


[This message has been edited by tyron (edited October 29, 2000).]

[Rinaldo]

I would suggest taking a photo of yourself. there are a lot of errors where you are drawing what you think you see as opposed to what it actuialy there.
Get "Drawing on the right side of the brain" by Betty Edwards or just do some ref work upside down. you need to keep your head from telling you what a mouth looks like and just draw the abstract shapes in front of you.

with your outlines you have to make the edges of the face work with the colour/value behind it. if you make the background darker and the face lighter (or the other way around) it will stand out and you will have an edge. Remember that when working in line you are describing breaks in value planes most of the time. the outline is showing that there is a change in value between the background and the face. just as the line you're using for the nose is showing that dark is meeting light. it will take some time to get used to working without line. it is a different (although connected in many ways) method of thinking. you might want to try using just black and white it makes things a bit simpler.
in your revision you have made the lines a different colour, try to work without them compleatly. sharp edges can make somehting look unnatural so don't worry if all the edges aren't ultra defined.

Did you get those FF pics I sent you btw?

[This message has been edited by Rinaldo (edited October 29, 2000).]

[tyron]

hey rinaldo!
I already have the book but i got stuck at the excercise where you're supposed to use a viewfinder, plastic picture plane and a felt tip marker (?) and i haven't got those things... can i skip that one?
I don't really understand what you mean in you reply, "it will take some time to get used to working without line" what shall i
work with instead?

And no, i haven't recieved any pictures... bot [email protected] and [email protected] should work, try the last one though, it's probably best...
thanks anyway!

[tyron]

Hey micke!
I found a picture now so i expect help!
well, here i am, tired and happy

haha.. well.. see you.

[tyron]

Hey zthee!
don't worry, i suck too =)
I've read another thing, maybe this is what you meant but i didn't really see it in your pics.. anyway, i think it should be more like two eggs, here's an example..
see you.

[zthee]

hey hey

i think that you're making it alittle to
complicated now



just one egg is easier

and you should lower your "eyeline" its alittle bit high. cut the head in half (horisontaly) and there you have the eyes, then cut the half of that and there you have the nose and once again cut � of the area between the chin and the nose and youll have the mouth. its not 100% accurat but its a good start i think

[Budoka]

Okay, here is what I'd do; get some tracing paper/or make a layer over your photo in a graphics programme and go over the outlines of your head to better understand the structure. Line drawings are good for an initial guide as they help with proportions, and it's damned hard to sketch with 'shading.' Reallly look at what you are drawing - squinting sometimes helps (contrasts), anatomical drawing can help, formulaic (following a series of steps or guidelines), simply drawing layer over layer and trying out variations - whatever you think 'll work!

[Rinaldo]

instead of line use shape. all the planes of your face are shapes, even your hair can be broken down into basic shapes. if you look at the way spooge draws you might better understand what I'm rambling on about.

I would say just forget that exersice if you haven't got the tools. go on with the next one.

I'm sending to pics to [email protected]

I sent them to your other address around the 25th. but we'll se if these get through

if you draw from your photo now everyone can see the differentce between your drawing and the ref.

[zthee]

yo tyron.

here are some not so proffesionall help.

the thing that strikes me the most is his hair. and im not cometing the technique, but the top and back of his head.

youve drawn it like this


and from what ive learned your head (and everybody elses) is formed like an egg.
so i think it should look alittle more like
this.



and the big black arrow represents the parts youve missed..

(now im not claiming to be an expert so if you think im wrong im very happy if you would say so )

but i hope that helps some.

[tyron]

Hi guys! You made my day.
Thanks alot for all the comments, i shall consider/try them out.
Thanks once again... You really helped me.
And Rinaldo, i think i'm getting the pics now, i'm downloading a really big mail right now.. it's probably yours.. thanks man!
see you!