2013-05-14, 01:53 AM
I can't help with traditional mediums, but I can try to critique at least~! Straight-on views like this are particularly difficult as you're working with something that's fairly flat.
First, look at the shape of her skull. Think of how the skull has two parts: the cranium and the mandible. The cranium is taller than it is wider, but not by much ― somewhere in the ballpark of 1 width = 1.25 height. The jawline is fairly angular, whereas you smoothened it quite a bit in your drawing.
When you're breaking down a face, you can divide it into three sections. iirc, they're around:
For your girlfriend, notice how her forehead has the largest ratio in both images. 2 and 3 seem to switch depending on which picture I look at, but you're able to get the best references for this.
When you're drawing and have references, I hope you keep the reference with you as you draw. It really helps.
Anyhoo~
I think the biggest thing you need to think about is shape and structure. Once you get form down, it'll be easier to understand future things like lighting.
First, look at the shape of her skull. Think of how the skull has two parts: the cranium and the mandible. The cranium is taller than it is wider, but not by much ― somewhere in the ballpark of 1 width = 1.25 height. The jawline is fairly angular, whereas you smoothened it quite a bit in your drawing.
When you're breaking down a face, you can divide it into three sections. iirc, they're around:
- Hairline to brow bone.
- Brow bone to bottom of nose.
- Bottom of nose to bottom of chin.
For your girlfriend, notice how her forehead has the largest ratio in both images. 2 and 3 seem to switch depending on which picture I look at, but you're able to get the best references for this.
When you're drawing and have references, I hope you keep the reference with you as you draw. It really helps.
Anyhoo~
- You've made her face oval shaped with softened edges. The jawline in particular is very off this way. Notice how angled the reference photos are from your drawings.
- Her forehead is much larger than what you've made it out to be.
- If you were trying to imitate the same hairstyle as the reference photo, you're a little ways off. I'll comment on this later if that's what you were aiming for.
- The size of her eye is about the same size as her nose/nostrils area.
- Her eyes are also wider apart, maybe 1.25-ish width of an eye from each other.
- For the nose, notice how the bridge dips down and then pops out where it meets the nostrils.
- When you smile, there's a muscle that pulls up the corner of your lips. How much these corners are pulled affects the cheeks.
- There's another couple of muscles that help pull the lower lip down, which affect the appears of the lower jaw area.
- For more specific how2do for the facial features, this guy has pretty nice tutorials.
I think the biggest thing you need to think about is shape and structure. Once you get form down, it'll be easier to understand future things like lighting.