Skylar charcoal study
 

This is a 36 x 24 inch drawing to prepare for an oil painting of the same size. It is done with vine charcoal on newsprint; nothing fancy.

I'm trying to get my values and drawing right before going on to add color. I'm posting three times - the same drawing with modifications and then the reference photo. Please excuse quality of photo - it's second generation from a slide (what I wouldn't give for a digital camera! But not practical at the moment).

The top of the drawing was accidentally cut off on drawing no. 1.

Note the differences in the background and the lips - parents said after seeing the first drawing that the lips should have more of a cupid's bow in them.

Drawing No 1
 

Here's drawing no. 1

Drawing no. 2
 

Here's the slightly changed version.

Reference photo
 

Here's the reference photo.

Closeup of face
 

Here's a direct scan of the face.

Nah, forget it
 

You know, this is tough - I think no comment is much worse than anything. I don't think it is worth it to take the time and money to put something up for critique and face . . . silence.

So for now, I will do my 1,000 hours or so drawing, join the Portrait Society down in Atlanta, and keep plugging along.

I work full-time, so I read with envy the shares of those who can devote themselves full-time to their art. I'm a single mom, have to support myself and my son, and this is the first year I've had to devote more time to what I want to do.

Thanks, Steven, for your support on the other critique I put on the site. I think I'll go back now to lurking, learning and not letting discouragement keep me from doing what I want to do.

Julie,

You should not get frustrated with a lack of response. There are always less responses on the weekends, people have families, etc.

I've had plenty I posted without responses. So, what? When someone has something to say that they think will help, they will. But, I would not show impatience since the people here spend their time to help others at no benefit to themselves. We are not paying for this Forum, so any benefit we get is a bonus and should be well appreciated.

I do not usually give critiques unless something is very clear to me - portraits are my weakest area. But, at a quick glance, I thought her features looked too small and it made her face look fatter. But, I only glanced as I am rushing off for a movie date with my 6-year-old.

Thanks
 

Thanks, Kim -

I know I have a long way to go, and I do get impatient. It's a real act of courage for me to share anything and put it up for critique.

Thanks for the tip about the eyes - one parent thinks her cheeks were too fat. But since I "cheated" and projected her image on the paper to start, I know the eyes are approximately the right size. I know I got the angle of them wrong - they should have been tilted more, like the head itself. I think, as far as the right cheek goes, it goes out too much, whereas in the photo, from the eye down to about the area of the nose's highlight, it's fairly straight.

Someone else mentioned that they could really see the things wrong with their work when they put it side by side with their photo on the computer, and they're right!

Julie

One more
 

Here's another one. Please excuse prior post - I'm sick and haven't felt this bad in a long time. I guess it was bound to affect my mood.

Couple of quick points . . .

Others may have other views on this, and when it comes to composition I