[lel]

Unfortunately none of them would come and model for me, so I had to draw from photos. You all say it's better to draw from life. I guess that's why both colour and likeness are a bit off... maybe other reasons too...
(Yeah, and I should do 10 thick sketchbooks of B/W life drawings first.. Only did about two from photos yet :-)

While waiting for cubic action elsewhere I painted a new version of a picture I posted earlier. This time it didn't get overworked atleast (and I like it):




Then I read the Sargent notes and full of inspiration I ended up with this, really nice if I may say:



A friend complained about me only painting faces. Ok, time to jump ahead again (I fear I'll soon have to start all over again, the "really right" way)... One body later, well, so, so:




And finally, stumbling close to overworked (getting a bit stiff), Cameron Diaz (yes, it should be):



C&C, where and how to improve in general?

And how do you pick colours in PS the best way?

.:edit:.

I did two more. Improving, maybe, but that airbrush-look sneaking up on me is something I'd better watch out for.

Points for guessing who they are:





(I just made the last one, wonder what it will look like tomorrow when I've been away from it)

[ November 23, 2001: Message edited by: lel ]

[GoldenBoy]

Oh those are so good I would'n dare to go and find flaws. Like those. Lot. This inspires me to go and continue my quest becoming better "artist"..

-Mika

[Highfive]

Thanks for posting more than one, too! It'll mean that if people are dumbfounded and can't offer any useful crits , they can at least pick out their favourite, IMO.
My favourites the last one, probably because it's the only most finely painted, but mainly because of the subtle cool-tones on the face.

They all look superb!

[ November 21, 2001: Message edited by: Highfive ]

[corvax]

Those are all very nice looking! Keep up the good work!

My only crit would be that you seem to be in need of a more limited palette; I'm particularly talking about #2. If you look at it in stripes (the forehead & eyes, the cheeks, and the mouth and chin), your choice of colour is excellent. However, you've chosen a slightly different base colour for each stripe, so they overall effect is somewhat distracting. The cheeks are pinker than anywhere else, the chin grayer, etc. (I don't think I'm eloquating this very well, sorry...) Try working with a very limited palette, and adding colours only when you have to. Alternatively, although I really don't know how you work, perhaps try starting out with very broad patches of your neutral colour, and then adding shadows and highlights everywhere at the same time... I know this is generic advice, but I think it's worth a try.

#2 is Katie Holmes from Rolling Stone, right? They're all very nice, I'm much inspired.

[EBE]

...the last one is Cammeron diaz right?

[taff]

duh, well it stands above the pic EBE

nice work!

[lel]

(oops, an edit wouldn't bump the post)

corvax: you are right, but I think others will say the different colours are the correct way (maybe not as much as my attempt, is that what you're pointing out?).
There is another thread here discussing exactly this. Forehead (thin, stretched skin) should be slightly different from the cheek (lots of blood). Light is reflected in different ways. Chin is usually in part shadow, colouring it yet a new way.
The reference has different coloured areas as well (if you know about this and not just think like old me: "nah, it's skin colour, dodge and burn it").

(my colours are quite off too, making it stick out more perhaps)

Yeah, it is Katie Holmes (1 point for you).


EBE:

[EBE]

..hehe damn. I just took a look at the pics and didn�t read what was standing above the pics. But it speaks for you, because I saw who you were drawing without reading it

(shame over me hehe)