Start with something smaller. Don't resize parts of the image like you did with that eye.

Yeah, the eye was some idea I had to make it look more "8-bit". I understand where you're coming from though, I was planning on completely redoing the eye.




Yeah I figured starting with a large piece would be incredibly tedious / daunting, but I like the challenge. I will take your advice though and move onto smaller pieces to refine my technique, and work my way up.

Yeah, my intent wasn't necessarily realism.
More along the lines of an evil android in the body of a seemingly innocent person.

Thank you though, I'll keep all of this in mind.
The edit is a lot of help as well, thanks.

You need to use reference images. This goes for anything and everything, regardless of skill level, but is especially important when depicting human anatomy.
There is not enough cranial space for a human brain. This part of the skull is a very large and significant structure and should not be understated.
You've drawn the facial features (nose, eyes) as if they were independent features, but in reality the features of the human face relate to the forms around them. The nose doesn't promptly end, but curves out to form a continuum with the the top of the eye socket (lower brow). The bottom of the nose is dependent on the upper lip.
The ears appear to be behind the head rather than at the sides. This may be because your head bows out at the sides, while actual human skulls are relatively flat in the area (the bowing occurs at the cranium, which you've omitted).

I like the use of symbols in art, but I feel their usage should hold meaning to the piece, and not just there without purpose- using powerful or striking symbols with no reference to anything outside themselves just seems a bit pointless. Unless their misuse is significant to the work (that is, their lack of a relationship or improper relationship to the image creates has intentional meaning beyond the typical translation of the symbol.)


Edited by ThereIsNoCure - 14 July 2010 at 5:26pm

yeah, learning human anatomy is actually easiest with pencil and paper since pixels are much more difficult to push around, so keep at it! Studying references and drawing from life are immensely helpful practices.
Also, ninjaupdate with a bit about the usage of symbols.

You might want edit your pallete a little bit, it's kinda boring. Try varying your hue a little bit. In your case, highlights could be yellower, and shadows, bluer.

I'm seeing some great improvement on this thread!

I agree that the pallete needs changing, something to keep in mind though, if somebody says 'keep it simple' they're lying. the more hue shifting, contrast, and dynamics you throw into your palette the better! just have fun with it.

as for your line art, i think the head could be brought up just about one more pixel, right now its not smooth enough, to me it looks like its slightly angular.

beard is a little too big IMO, but that could just be a taste thing. to me it almost looks like a gotee which is the same color as his shirt collar.

also, the color of the beard IMO, is too close to the skin color. a different ramp altogether would be best, but at lease shifted would make it stand out more.

But still, Great Improvemet.

Cheers