holly marie
 

Hi, this is graphite and white pastel pencil on 18 x 13-in. blue Canson paper. I wanted to try something different with this, but think I may have gone too far with the white and graphite blending, resulting in the gray tones. Her left eye was purposely erased for no other reason than I thought it looked cool and added to an "unfinished" look.

Jimmie
 

I always enjoy your drawings, this one is no exception. I never give critiques, so I will leave that to those better suited. But I do notice something odd about her eyes, maybe the catch lights seem a bit off?..Or the one on our right is too light in comparison with the other?

Again, I really love your work!

Jimmie,

Nicely done, with your

Thanks.

Steven, I think I will trust your evaluation more than the reference!;) This picture was mailed to me, and it was taken outside with sunlight hitting her left side, and I assume frontal flash. I noticed the catchlights as soon as Mary mentioned it. The value under the nose was caused when I reworked it after the model had mentioned her nose not being rounded enough, and I did not in return correct the value. I also believe I overworked it, not letting enough paper do its part.

Thank you for all the suggestions also, will keep them in mind when I rework this before posting it on my website. Your time is very appreciated.

Okay and Hey,

Since you're willing to have another look, the wings of the nose seem to be of different sizes, which doesn't appear to be explained by any effect of perspective, and the "bulb" of the nose seems large (perhaps a little too much light on top before rounding down into midtones). If those features are accurately drawn, forget I mentioned it, but otherwise it might be something to have a second look at.

I really like how you used the white and graphite together. This piece has a bolder look because of it.

I do have the same feeling Steven mentioned about the "unfinished" right eye. If I hadn't read that it was intentional I would have thought she had cataracts.

Hi,

Rechecked the ref and the nose is pretty accurate, may be the contrast while adjusting it on Photoshop that caused the strong highlight.

Michele, thank you, the eye thing is weird but it began bothering me just how "formal" this piece was coming along compared to the portraits I usually do. It's too formal to include with my portfolio, so I may end up 'fixing' the eye, take a pic for the portrait area of my website, then erase it again to make myself feel better. ;)

Thanks again.