Hello GoldenChild,

Welcome to PJ.

The piece looks rather mirrored.
That means that both sides are pretty much
the same. Usually the most interesting things
to look are unmirrored.

The hair looks a bit like a cloud.

I've done a quick edit to show you
a bit different things.
First of all please use some kind of
reference. You still can go for
cartoony but it will help you to
emphasize some things you want
to be funny.

I used this one for reference.
http://www.nicolasproductions.com/images/Album/Professor/Professor_005.jpg

You probably see that I didn't try to do everything, just some
things here and there. And if you spend a little more time on
it than I have you will make even better adjustments I'm sure!



I started the right side to make the mustache less mirrored,
but it made it look more like a saw. You might be able to
do better as well!

Hope this is of help to you.

Looking forward to your updates!

Best regards from

M.E.

Hello GoldenChild,

First of all:    
That is a really nice progress!

Good that you found the shade issue.
As well as creating a chin. (no ears? )
That brings me to another point.
Usually it helps if you clearly define
a light source.
Currently the light seems to hit from
the front which again isn't helping you
with the face. There are still lots of places
where you have a mirrored effect.
Check for instance your einstein reference.
There seems to be a near frontal lightning
(probably a flash). But there is more shadow
to the right side (his left)

There are ofcourse anatomical issues but
since you are clearly making a cartoon figure
you can be a bit free with your placement.
But please try to view a lot of objects as
general shapes (mostly circles,ovals ) to help you
with lightning/shading and give you a much
better base for your cartoon figures.

Can you please elaborate on why you want
to make this sad professor.
Is it for a game, print, digital cartoon?

Answering this question will give you direction
as where to go with for instance the background,
the lightning, etc.


Again, my compliments in taking the time to
improve your work and think about things
like cheekbones.

Kind regards from

M.E.

Hello TheGoldenChild,

Thank you for explaining.
You think that a cartoon figure is easier
than the real thing. But it is not. Cartoons
can only be done right (=great) when there
is a good knowledge of anatomy and form.

You are correct that simple forms/shapes are
good for practicing. Try spheres and boxes
first. With highlights/shadows and things like that.
Boxes are pretty straight forward for you I think,
but spheres are quite hard to master!

If you want anything advanced to practice I still
believe a real-life thing is the best way to go.
If your ultimate goal is to make human figures
you can best start with fruit. Round fruit would
be a good way to start. Apple comes to mind.
Advanced apple drawing is to bite a chunk out
of it.

Good luck with your practicing.

Best regards from

M.E.

Hi TheGoldenChild.

I think you have forgotten to include the picture?

Light from the right. Then the nose would cast
shadow to the left. The chin as well as the upper
lip would have shadows.
The left side of the head which is his upper skull
should be done like it was a sphere.

Hope these theoratically advices apply

EDIT:

Now I did see the pieces.

If you light him from right above the hair would cast
shadow to the face as the hair looks like covering
it on the right hand side.
There is more dark between the ear and the
hair.
Add one darker tone to the shade. So both
hair and face need a darker tone towards the end.

Hope this helps.



Best regards from

M.E.



Edited by M.E. - 30 October 2007 at 7:38am

Hi,

Edited by TheGoldenChild - 31 October 2007 at 7:13am

Hi GoldenChild,

Try to make the figure stand out by
enlarging the contrast.
Ok this will give your piece a really
different effect and I'm not sure
if you really want to go this drastic:




Hopefully you can use one or two things
that I try to show you in the picture.
A picture tells more than thousand words.


Best regards from

M.E.

Hi TheGoldenChild,

Well, I told you it had a different attitude to it.
The darker shadows on the left of the hair
are a bit flat. Try to give it a little more volume
by moving the darker pixels inward.
The shade on the left is much better and mustache
is also better.
Those eyes have been mentioned before like
HSM wrote. The shadow on the left of the nose
has the saturated brown on it like the eyes.
I think it will look better without it or changed
into the same dark that is near his hair.


Best regards from

M.E.