Brother Portrait

[tking]

Hi, first time posting in this forum. I also posted this in the drawing & scetching. This is from a photo I took of my brother. I'll probably give this to him when I’m done. It's roughly 5X7 using a cheap mechanical pencil, Thanks for looking. C&C welcome

[mimitabby]

hello, if you want a good critique, it's nice to have a reference to compare with. you have nice contrast here and you did a good job with his hands, for starters.
did you use a photograph for a reference?

[tking]

Thanks, here's the ref. photo

[mimitabby]

ok, that's what i suspected. Look at his eye on the edge of his face, the left.
The eye socket sticks out a bit from the cheek below it. Bring the cheek line IN under his eye and then there is a gentle curve (on some people, this is more dramatic) that covers his cheek muscle and then reattaches below his mouth.
In the reference you cannot actually see where the inside of that eye ends. If you fix that right there, his eyes will appear to line up better and the whole portrait will improve. It already looks like him, but these two things will really help! keep drawing, you're doing great.

[tking]

Mimi, do you mean this line?

Thanks

[mimitabby]

yes. that line. it is not really flat. hold your ruler next to it

[tking]

Thanks, headed home now to make the adjustment.