Half-realistic portraits (and something manga just for fun)

It feels like it's been forever since I posted, but I suppose it's only been a few weeks x)
I've been trying to keep up with drawing realism because I think it has helped me a lot on my shading/detailing techniques. So the first two pictures are just practice I did using a photo reference. I tried to make them as much like the picture as possible, but I think the end results look pretty similar :/

Also, I only spent about 2.5 hours on each, so I wouldn't get too stressed out xP





And here's a manga-styled picture I drew just for fun. I liked working with the bright colors ^_^



All the background designs were taken from textures that I edited and colored to my liking.

Hey Black Sheep!

I'm baaaaack! lol

1 - So the face and hair here are pretty good. I really like the eyes and the glint in them. The jaw feels slightly wonky, like going to one side. I do that too sometimes if I'm sitting funny when I am drawing so just watch out for that. The only other problem I have with this picture is that her body and shoulders seem much too wide and broad compared to her head and so it looks a little weird. So just be careful with your proportions. Perhaps as well as using real life reference you could look at some anatomy. I've heard lots of people say that doing that improves their drawing skills. As usual your shading and colouring is really good and I am envious of your computer drawing skills!

2 - I think the head to body proportion here is much better, although the body does start to lose some definition somewhat. It just seems to become a bit of a white mass but I'm guilty of this too. I'm not sure how the perspective works at a certain angle so I just give up lol And again the hair and the face and eyes are really good and I like the colouring and shading!

3 - I like these two! I prefer the blue haired one compared with the green haired one. The face of the green haired one seems a little small and so the hair looks odd, kind of like it was plonked on top. I think their bodies and clothes area really good and I like the textures you have put into the clothes, it stops them feeling too flat. The hands are getting better but are still a little stiff so just keep practicing!

Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing more from you

Bex x

The first one's neck ad shoulders are too big. But the rest are awesome especially the manga I LOVE MANGA!

Well, i liked the third picture the most.

Now for the things i disliked:
The first picture:
Head is a bit small, she looks a bit kind of stiff.
The second picture:
The bust line looks awkward and her top is too plain compared to the rest of the picture.
The third one:
The fingers do not look like fingers that much.

And finally the things that i liked very much:
The first picture:
I really adored the background. its pretty cool and a bit goth!
The second picture:
Every thing in there is pretty good the girl is pretty too! good work.
The third picture:
everything is nice in there and it looks both "manga-ish" and "portraitic"
Amazing work! and its the coolest of them all.