[nightmare]

how do i make it look like the lips are a part of the face and not pasted on?! why does that smile look so fake? please help me!

[Basement bound]

nightmare, more than often ones face is not the same tone as the background. Try giving the face a very slightly darker tone. This will bring the face closer together. Next erase those smile markings on the side of the mouth. Look at yourself in the mirror notice lines don't make your smile, it is the positioning of the lips in combination with the tonal ranges of the 'pinched' cheeks. Try working that way and you will find that no longer does the lip look like they are pasted on because you have created a 'environment' for them.

Wishn' ya luck
JA

[Gimbal8]

I agree with Basement Bound. If you are just drawing lines on a white background all the objects will appear to be floating. It will be very difficult to get it to look like it is part of a larger 3d form without at least one source of light to provide a range of darks and lights that give the illusion of form. It's not impossible to get rid of that 'pasted on' look with a line drawing, but it would be hard to do without understanding how to render with lights and shadows.

The lips, and especially the nose, can be tricky. My suggestion would be to look at lips (in mirror or photographs, preferrably in a mirror with a single light source) and take careful consideration to where the shadows are. Try drawing the shadows instead of the shape of the lips. In doing so the lips will sorta 'appear' without having to draw them. The more you look at object this way and learn to draw what's called the 'negative' space, the easier it will be to get these facial features to appear as part of the same face.

My other suggestion would be to study how other people do it. Try looking at some of Alan Tew's work at www.beeba.net they may provide some help in that area.

[nightmare]

ooo! thanx so much