 Comments tip on clothes:
draw the entire body (roughly) and put the clothes on top, then you see where the cloth are folding right away, insted of testing it out later.   !! Thanks again. I am glad for your comments. This is still very much a work in progress so I appreciate any suggestions on improving it. I had done some adjusting to the breast area aready but my eye keeps telling me more work is needed there. Also I know what you meant about the folds of the dress..that part was difficult for me. One of the hard things in my drawing is that I end up doing so many changes that the papaer becomes a complete mess!! After while any more changes just are impossible. I don't know how to get around this except to start the drawing all over again.Maybe this is something I should do but I have found the few times I try I lose something in the translation..that slight thing in the expression or position of the body that just is missing in the 2nd and I can never seem to duplicate it. At least that has been my experience. I have tryed tracing or transfering but again I end up with some difference which render the drawing to be less effective in my opinion. Any suggestions on this issue???I also have noticed that the tattoos on the arms are a little confusing and can look very much like they are sleeves on the dress. They are meant to be tattoos on her arms. I have some ideas of what I might so to make that more apparent.So that will be a change I will be making also. I do clean up some of my lines and such in photoshop due to the large amount of extra scribbles and sketch lines that end up being unneeded and unattractive in the final upload and hence in this one I lost some of the shading effects in the process. So I have actually done a lot more of that in the original drawing. That said... again ..I really appreciate your eyes taking a tour and letting me know where you think there is need for some change or improvement. And also you are good at making suggestions as to what might be done to improve things in the picture. I had to chuckle at your description of the struggle with one of your artworks!!  I totally understand what you are talking about! Thanks my friend for taking the time to give my drawing a detailed critique!!  !!--  unmerwe ~ you and me are we ~ Art makes the world go round just like love you are most welcome!
 After I started to draw in photoshop I understood how easy life digital painters got compared to traditional painters, you can just change whatever you want and no destroyed paper! The solution I got on that problem is to first practise on what you will draw a few times. use a piece of cheap paper and draw your figure roughly on it several times until you got the "feeling". Just very small figures. On the real deal, use thick smooth paper. It is more expensive, but it is worth it to keep a good drawing. I dont know what pencils you are using but I like to scetch up with a H pencil or harder. When you are done scetching, put it away and do something else for 20min to an hour. (an other drawing, take a shower, walk your dog, eat lunch, whatever) do not look at the drawing! now have a new look at your scetch, are you still happy with it? good! draw some more, put it away, bring it back and so on. When you feel you are done, leave it for at least over night before you decide to be finished. this will avoid you getting "blind" of looking at the same thing hour after hour. Then you need less touch-ups aswell, and the paper will stay smoother ^^ Also, it makes it easier for you to avoid mistakes later, since you get to know your strength and weaknesses so much better. Dont try to dublicate a drawing, just be pleased of what was good, and try to learn of what went wrong. Instead, make a new one, with a different positure, and maybe a different expression. You learn by your mistakes, so just be happy you are able to see them  also, it is alowed to pimp it in photoshop like you do  (ps: once I made a drawing I was so happy with, but no one else than me liked it. I left it in a drawer and took it up a few days later. Then I saw the girl on the drawing got way to small head, gorilla arms, different size on the boobs, midget hands, poor shading.. I could keep going, hahaha  ) your "PS:" is so funny !!!! I am laughing with you
!! Your advice is very good. I do some of that like leave it alone and come back later etc or the next day..sometimes weeks later! Sometimes never I guess!! I think some are lost in piles! One thing I never do and I know people advise it all of the time is do a practice one. It seems for me that the spontaneous things are what works best for me.I will have to try something else...like after I get the main image down maybe I could do additional ideas or adjustments on another paper until I get what idea works best. That might work for me.Another thing is to just keep drawing and not be so rigid. I think I need to use a pencil that is harder like an H as you suggest. The one I use smears too much..HB. I like the effects but I can use it more later when I am done.I like your advice! It's good to talk with you We speak the same language!Yes I know what you mean about digital being easier because can make immediate changes! Guess what ...I got an early Christmas surprise from my husband! A watcom tablet Intuos4 medium size! I am in Heaven! Even though I have no clue yet as to how to use it! More fun coming up Thanks my friend again for talking with me! I enjoy our little discussions!! -- unmerwe ~ you and me are we ~ Art makes the world go round just like love finally got to reply, sorry for delay
 And yes, it is important to let the brain rest. Also to find YOUR way to work. I can give you hints and tip how I do it, but I am not you, and cant figure out how you want to do your things. Dont be afraid to toss some critique to me aswell. I am also getting blind. You have probably some new stuff up I want to look at, but the internet is slow here and I use a minute whenever I am changing the page, and I got 1,400 deviations to check out I upload some of my own until I get home and can browse properly. grats with your watcom! I know you will have a lot of fun with it. You have probably already tried it out all christmas It is a little har to draw on it in the beginning, but with some pracise I am sure you handle it perfectly. happy new year I wil give it a try one of these days! I am shy about giving technical advise...anatomy etc but othr things I could try. Sorry if I seem like I am just getting your critique and not giving one for you! I do not mean to be selfish
!!!And yes..the biggist struggle IS to find your own way to work!!! From one getting blind artist to another !!PS. no problem on the delay..it's hard during the Holidays to keep up!! -- unmerwe ~ you and me are we ~ Art makes the world go round just like love oh, its not like you HAVE to. Was jus trying to say that I think we are on about the same level. If you see something I would be glad for you advise
I just saw something in my last addition, I will fix it now, hehehe ..I understand..you are so sweet and funny ! I agree we are about the same in skill level.!!-- unmerwe ~ you and me are we ~ Art makes the world go round just like love |
I'd like to start from the top.
The face, again, got a really good expression. I feel she is sad, or maybe just emotional. I love how you make eyes and the juwels. The lips could have done with some more shading and higlights, but got a nice and soft shape.
The hair and the frame around makes the movements in a picture many might have keept more quiet, but I like your originality and new ways of thinking. The dramatic hair and frame makes it a interesting piece.
Body shape is also very good. Good propotions! Might do some more studys on hands, but dont we all...
Those tattoos on her arms looks like their part of the dress that turns into tattoos, I am not sure if that was the effect you was looking for. Some more shading and higlights will make it more sure what you are trying to show.
The chest could do with more shading aswell, and her breasts could be more defined, try make them round and "stand out" from the drawing.
The knee area is kind of undefined, is it part of her dress? If it is, I would have made some folds in the cloth there. Put on a dress and sit like her in front of a big mirror. Then you see how the knees would shape the cloth.
The folding in her dress is very convincing, but the part that is in front of the elbow is a little weird. If her arm is placed behind the hip (where the cloth is covering) the hand would not be in same line as her knee. So, the hand need to be further back, or the cloth need to be behind the arm.
All over, it is a really good piece! First impression is very convincing, and the proposition and composing is strong. I can see you have developed alot from the other piece I gave a critique.
I suggest you look up some tutorials, or have a look in artbooks about shadow and highlights. It will give your drawings more depth and life.
Shading can be a little scary, so practise on small pieces before you go on a big one. That makes it less frigthening. (been working on a huge piece for a small eternity and suddenly splash dark colors all over it!!!! THE HORROR!!!)
Keep up the good work! I hope this helped you