[lel]

Sorry for a lot of text, but you can just watch the images and c&c anything if that's easier.

I consider myself being in a massive learning stage (the "right" way this time), and I probably jumped ahead (eh) a bit too much by trying to colour an image like this.

Anyway, I got carried away and made this image during five days. I usually try to keep the time down to a couple of hours, since I once came to the conclusion that making many images fast is more educational than spending a week on a single picture.

How come that every time I get back to my pictures I almost certainly will spot a number of misalignments and bad forms? I used to think "Well, I won't change what I've done and I'll think about it next time", but nooo. How do I become better at seeing with new eyes while drawing (and not five days later)? Mirroring the image back and forth while drawing helped, and now I usually see no significant difference when flipping it. Or do all/most/some of you usually leave pictures to rest and come back later? I am getting better at it, but I would like to get to the point where something I make looks the same way to me even a couple of days later.

Also, I'm not that concerned about pixel perfect copies, but rather capturing the core of the subject. The likeness of this image is (Well, what do you think about it? Is it just close enough to be the same when comparing to the original, or is it realllly her? I can't put my finger on it, but my version of the face is different... consider it is freehand and everything is eyeballed into position)

Finally, the colours... I picked them by using the PS CMYK sliders (hints welcome). They are a bit off, but are they still credible or just illness?

Image


Detail


Steps


Reference used

[Awetopsy]

Man, I like it just the way it is... I think its absolutely beautiful.. good stuff man!!

[Zek]

woah, looks almost life-like at first...

[Gandalf-]

Whoa man, I'm glad you found Sijun! You can teach me lots.

I am your humble art-slave. Teach me, master... or just kick me, people do that too. :/

[sweetpea]

wow, that's great. i love the thick strokes and multitude of color. more more!

i'm also at the point where something looks right until the next day and i could kick myself for leaving such a glaring error in my work. but maybe it's just a vehicle for bettering ourselves. it really seems to work for you, this is beautiful.

[dogfood]

This is a beautiful interpretation. I am endeavoring to get to this point and am very thankful you've posted your steps. I generally get to a point not far from the first or second stage and get frustrated (though I'm not as accomplished and am also trying to relearn the correct way).
As an aside, I'd say the model looks more wistful (as they are wont to do). You seem to have given her just a little bigger grin and a little more mischief in her eye. Very nice placement of the requisite parts, however. Bravo.

[lel]

Awetopsy, Zek & Corn Pops: Thanks! I had prepared myself for the strictly business, hard and down-to-earth critics (was a little nervous, too)... But one needs comments like that as well.

sweetpea: There will be more. I saw your portrait in the recent "post a quickie" thread. (Great Hair!) Did you do any adjustments the next day?

doogfood: I'd like to see more snapshots of early painting stages from other people too! My first here is a couple of minutes old, and if I didn't know better I would have given up since it doesn't look like it will fly... It turned out ok, but comparing it to the reference makes me a bit sad since she's "got it", and my image doesn't.

[Bg]

The photo looks 10 years younger than the painting, you might want to make the value/colour transitions softer. Try using paintbrush (opacity checked) with soft edged brushes to clean the shading.. Here's a fast example:

[lel]

Point taken, Bg. Here's a try. I'm afraid of getting a plastic look. When I tried smoothing some b/w pictures they turned out very artificial and lacked character. I find the rough edges interesting (like they discuss in this thread).
Possibly do the different colours keep the interest and a textured look.