Dominicque's Sketchbook

[Anvar Khamidov]

Awesome updates!  The most recent one with the 'pearl' earring is very well done, especially the folds.  Some nice use of values and lighting there, keep it up!

Thank you, I spent a couple of days on this and outside of wanting to draw a beautiful guy  , the values were the main thing I was trying to focus on. 

I drew a thing for the Authority fandom, I bought new acrylic markers and really wanted to try them out, but I was worried I'd ruin the work, therefore I make sure to scan the pencil work first. I then tried them out, it took awhile to get started out and comfortable, but 'Trust the process', adding pencils and pen liner really helped. Really love how it turned out, especially the 2nd and 4th panel.


Really wanted to try and complete a portrait using them, but got really frustrated. I draw some lips from another and decided to break in my Strathmore mixed media sketchbook and really tried to get the correct proportions. I took my time and used the confidence of thicker paper to make multiple layers where I needed to, and adjusted with coloured pencil. I didn't get the accuracy of great likeness, but I do like the style I was able to produce. Getting a consistent and lifelike skin tone is the hardest. Here's the OG Picture:  Pin page

Hey Dominicque, replying so I can provide some advice if you would like any. 

Overall, you are on a good path. I scrolled through your sketchbook a week or two ago and I already thought that, but seeing the latest portrait made me sure of it. The colors are really nice, they are vibrant and feel very alive. I see that you are putting a lot of preparation and patience into your work, and that's always good. Keep going this way, and you have a long life in art. 

On the matter of you asking for advice on lighting, I have some things to say. Thank you for providing a reference you drew from, it really helps. 
I understand the wish to get the likeness of a person, but for the purposes of studying art, I would not make it a general priority, unless you want to become a professional portrait painter. The likeness will come with more practice even without a lot of targeted effort towards it. 
Another thing you mentioned was about the lifelike skin tones. The reference you provided has a specific light used in it that blows out all the color and presents it in a slightly distorted way. I usually avoid any pictures made with this specific lighting setup, think professional magazine cover lighting. I would suggest using photos of people during overcast weather. If you can't find any, use natural sunlight. Overcast is great for showing true colors of things without blowing one color out of proportion. Generally, any kind of soft lighting that is devoid of saturation is great to pick accurate colors from. Good luck!