So one of the things I would recommend, if you're focusing on value, is that you learn the difference between hard edges and soft edges. Right now, all of your shadows are kind of mush because they're all soft. Cast shadows (shadows that are projected from an object) usually have hard edges whereas ambient occlusion (how much ambient light a part of the body/face is exposed to based on proximity etc...) tends to have a soft edge. Hard edges are scary because they look too sharp, but without them it's really hard to get the depth and form of anything.

Sadie

Künstlernotiz:

Really wanted to focus on showing form with light here, and making sure it interacted with the face correctly. I also can't tell if I like the cartoon style eyes on a more realistic rendering but after a couple different ideas in the sketch phase it's what I ended up with.

Kommentare 2

@emersonblakeartvor 4 Tagen

So one of the things I would recommend, if you're focusing on value, is that you learn the difference between hard edges and soft edges. Right now, all of your shadows are kind of mush because they're all soft. Cast shadows (shadows that are projected from an object) usually have hard edges whereas ambient occlusion (how much ambient light a part of the body/face is exposed to based on proximity etc...) tends to have a soft edge. Hard edges are scary because they look too sharp, but without them it's really hard to get the depth and form of anything.

@emersonblakeartvor 4 Tagen

Also, the hard shadows that you do have end too early and at strange points. Do you use lighting references? If not, I really recommend using something like MagicPoser, Blender, or LightDropper to get a sense of lighting and hard v soft shadows.

@contactlightvor 4 Tagen

Yea I have a bad habit of picking references with soft lighting. I feel like I need to do as you suggested even if I use a picture reference use lighting reference from something else.

@daniel42919736vor 4 Tagen

I would recommend working on the proportions, e.g. LoomisHead. It would improove your painting. Ones you get the structure right you can get more into shading. I believe you would enjoy much more your paintings and shading is more fun. Keep going!

@contactlightvor 4 Tagen

I started this with the loomis but I think what I lost sight of is as I moved from my sketch to the color and light I started altering facial features and I think shifted things out of where they should be.