I was inspired about a year ago by Twippo's art thread to try my hand at portrait art. In 2007 I had drawn Galadriel, and while the results weren't awful, I wasn't exactly motivated to continue.

But I tried again, a year ago, going very slowly, starting off with a small grid. Eventually I'm hoping to leave out the grid entirely. Here's the first two results! Constructive criticism more than welcome!

Emmy Rossum
1.5"x1.5" grid




Anna Belknap
2.5"x2.5" grid

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~Set by Lembas~If we grow up we're all going to be famous.

Oh my gosh! My dear shipping buddy, you're an amazing artist! I've always wished that I could draw like this, but my talents are limited to drawing tables and stick figures. Please post any of your other work once you're done with it! I'd love to see more.

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i'm back for a little! i'll see how this visit goes.

Very nice! The Emmy Rossum one is really stunning.

I'm not great by any means, but one thing I do that may help some -
Sketch in the skull, eye sockets and all. Then, when you fill in the actual face, it helps with fleshing out the eye socket area and seeing how the mouth lays. It's good for integrating the face as a whole.

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going on a journey through my old claims

Wow, these are wonderful!!! Just lovely. Just like Nurr, I'm also a bit of an artist. I must say, I almost feel like we're on the same level, Min. There's one thing I could add here, though. You could try darkening the dark areas to add more contrast to the drawings. Or... it might have the contrast and we can't see it as well due to scanners... Grrr I really hate scanners sometimes.

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(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

Silver: Thank you! I'm working on another one right now that should be up really soon.

Nurr: Thanks for the comment! That picture was what sealed the deal about trying again; it was just too amazing. I think I do something like that: what I do with the grid is draw it in very lightly, then draw the barest outline of the face, eyes, mouth, ears, nose, and hair. You can see a person, but it's all thin lines. Then I erase the grid, and start to fill in and shade.

Eruraina: I've been watching your battle with Nurr with great interest! It looks like a lot of fun, and you two are churning out some great stuff.

The scanner doesn't translate all the contrast, but it's not that much off. Thanks for the tip.

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~Set by Lembas~If we grow up we're all going to be famous.

WOW.... that's amazing! I never was an artist and couldn't draw if my life depended on it.
I especially love Emmy Rossum's eyes and the way you captured the hair on Anna Belknap.

Please post more!

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>>Be the change you wish to see in the world<<



Banner credit: Shadowcat & Nurrantiel Mashiara

Aw, thanks Ea!

This one I did a little differently in that I used a charcoal pencil only (before I would mix and match with charcoal pencils, regular 2HB pencils, etc.)

Gwyneth Paltrow
3.5"x3.5" grid

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~Set by Lembas~If we grow up we're all going to be famous.