Did you trace it?

If so, thats a big no-no.

Try finding a bigger reference picture and work from that, only using it as a reference for your pixel work.

Portraiture is part 'draw-what-you-see' and part 'draw-what-you-know-about-faces'. The first part is present but the second isn't, resulting in shaky and ill-defined areas such as the chin. Try looking up anatomical references for parts of the face, and lining everything up.

Since this is both a tiny canvas size and a portrait, refrain from using dithering: instead, rely on a strong palette and well-defined clusters of pixels to show shading and volume.

At this small of a size, subpixel work will really help you out, especially with that eye that looks too open right now.

Edited by W M - 21 April 2011 at 6:02pm

To be clear.
Using reference material is always fine. No respect lost.
Grid system is better than tracing and acceptable. No problems.
Tracing is ok but not considered cool. People can always tell and gets no/less respect.
Reducing a picture is NOT ok. Gets you banned.

...I find what Geoglatico is doing here is fine for a pixel beginner :)


Edited by jalonso - 21 April 2011 at 7:43pm