Roberto

[Deb]

Here is a sketch I've done from a photo of a friend of mine. I have been working with charcoal and like using it. But I still struggle with proportions. Any helpful suggestions would be welcomed.

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[ReNae]

Deb,

Your drawing class is emploring your creativity in leaps and bounds!

I remember when I did a side portrait of a lady and it just didn't look right. Seems you did the same thing I did.

Take a ruler to your screen and line up the eyes and eyebrow. See his left eye and eyebrow are too high.

Also, the shadow around the neck area seems too harsh, maybe if you softened the edge just a tad.

Hope this helps!

Warmth,
ReNae

[Deb]

Karen and ReNae thanks for your suggestions. I think I will do this one again tomorrow and apply them. He is a very handsome man and has sent me several photos to practice on. He is a professional model and believe it or not 48 years old! My husband is a tad jealous http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/wink.gif but likes the sketches that I have done so far.

[KaTee]

Deb

I think your friend is very handsome http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/eek.gif

Seriously though, I like your drawing.

His head seems a little small from top to bottom, and the outline of the lips could possibly be softened a little, as it is it looks a bit like lip liner.

Its a very good effort, (much better than I could manage)

Look forward to seeing more of your drawings.

Best wishes

Karen http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Gerak]

Hi Deb,
nice drawing. I didn't draw much portrait, but I think something wrong with the eyes.
Maybe a bit small or he is just watching somebody?
I'm waiting for the next one. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

[billyg]

Hey deb,
I agree with Katee in that the lips look wrong. Maybe soften the top lip and show the bottom by the shadow under the lip rather than the lip itself. Eyes need sorting out,do both of them together when drawing ie eyebrows then upper lid etc. Distance between eyes usually one eye width.
His mouth also seems to be to the left a little.
Going good though
Billyg

[KaTee]

Deb

48!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UNBELIEVABLE

Please repost if you do it again.

best wishes

Karen http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

[windex]

This may be a taste issue, but the approach seems a bit too stylized. Besides the harsh outline of the lips, the other thing that bugs me is the strong outline around his jaw/chin. In real life, this is much more subtle, and a part of the shadow/light pattern of the neck/face area. It's unnatural to cut it off with a sharp line. Also, I think that if you got the shape of the face more accurate, you'd have an easier time getting the features look more "correct". Much of a likeness isn't how the individual features look, but how they relate to the shape of the face. So if you get the jaw/face shape right, the features fall into place. Finally, I think it would help if you thought about the features sitting on various planes of the face. For instance, besides be ing set back into the head, the eye socket is also further away from the front of the face at the outside edges than it is at the nose. In other words, it transitions into the temple area. Thinking about stuff like that can really help you get a likeness down much more accurately than if you just try and copy individual features.