Howdy, Menewsha!

I'm looking for assistance. Opinions, really.
I'm working on a painting of SVU based on the fanfiction called "Atlantis". A romance story between Elliot and Olivia set on the Jersey beach. Read it. It's by Lyricara.

Here's the concept.


And this is what I'm working on.
Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay irl), and only her face and hair, so far.


July 06 Update
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Please be gentle. I'm sensitive. x]
Absolutely NO flaming.
But I'll take critique and give you a hug for it.

I really like it love! I like how the dress is coming out, and he face is too darn cute!

I like how you did her hair, and the ... texture(?) of her skin.
Are you doing it with real paint or with a digital painting program? o.O


EDIT: Ugh I suck. It said no flaming -.-''

Thanks, Kia.

@ Dance~
The mouth is my current wip.
It's hard finding a happy medium.
If I shorten it to where it's anatomically correct (middle of the eye) it's too small, because if you see her smile, she's got a big one, and it always seems to be too long if I leave it, then.
NO. Flaming is bashing. You gave critique.
Which is what I want.
Thank you!

And I'm using photoshop cs.

Pain in my butt. I'm looking for more references.
Ones that aren't as big as my computer monitor. -.-

-----------------------------

For my reference:

Oooh, even the concept is perdy! C:
I really like it so far, though I think the colouring on her face seems a bit.. ehh, i don't know. Harsh-ish? I'm not entirely sure how to explain. Along where the hair meets the side of the face it seems really dark and such, and maybe there could be a bit more of something on her chin? (which is really strong, woo-ee. not a bad thing. she's perdy)
I dunno, disregard xP
I also think the random hairs thrown about look kinda weird. Obviously in real life random single hairs bob about howevertheheck they please, but the ones you have look a teeny too out of place, colour wise. They all seem really light, whereas her hair is obviously multi-toned.

I guess that's it critique-wise. I'm not expert. :3 But I absolutelyloveitsofaromg. Her hair looks just so bouncy, and her eyes are gawjus.

Thanks for the crits!
I really appreciate it.
The only thing I have to say is, the strands that lay across her face, the tiny strands, not the thick parts. The sun, seeing as it is sunset and bright, would probably catch in a single strand and make it brighter, which was my mindset when I was doing them. It's also windy (if you look at her dress. I had to balance the physics out since hair would defiantly weigh less than a strand of hair.)

An update, both face detail and big version: Lip work, tone evening, and hair editing with a little tweaks here and there



Notes for me ~
Fixes (That I noticed) [strike = fixed/worked on]:
1.) Right pupil needs to be slightly bigger on the bottom.
2.) Widen out face along the jawline just a hair and define
3.) Add some light strands to the middle hair whisp.
4.) Yellow highlights along right side of face - cheek.

4.) Bow placement, middle/back of torso, not off to the side. (Which will also help define her figure.)

I was going to mention about the mouth looking odd to me(seeing how it seemed a bit big), but than I saw the reference pictures as I scrolled down and was like 'nevermind' realizing that mouths are actually that size. Obviously, I need to work more with understanding mouths now noticing this.

I'm not positive, but wouldn't the hair have a bit bolder where it's facing the sun(not saying you didn't have it in the first place), since what you have is lighter than the skin. Like a tone lighter for it, would look nice.

I do love the concept yet I can't wait for the finish piece. ^__^

If you don't mind me asking, how long have you been working on this? And when might or goal to be done with it?

Haha. Yeah.
I always try to measure out.
The mouth extends to the center of the eye.
And it may look odd because I added a load of hair on the left side, so most of the flesh there is covered where it was once not.

Hair is still a WIP. I add more yellow/ light auburn as I happen to notice it while working on something else.
Helps it from getting too tedious.

And thank you. Twice.
Once for the compliment and the other for the critique.

I started it at least a month ago (I'm not even sure, now...) and it sat on my computer.
In a "flash of genius" aka motivation, I started working on it again.
I have no idea when it will be finished.
Once she's done I have to work on Elliot and then the background.
Sigh.
So who knows when, or if, it'll actually end up completed completely.
Since this is purely for fun and practice, I'm not giving myself a deadline.

For some laughs, I have composed this image of the time-line of Olivia edits (she's come a long long long long long long way):



Things to work on:
1. bow
2. right eye
3. mouth - more like the third edit, open slightly
4. hair, always hair

i like how you are improving slowly and that your showing us ^^ its kind of like watching a master peice become a master peice

Thanks!

Some editing to her head: