[C+C] Pixel self portrait

[Boraka]

Hi there! 

I've have abandoned pixel art for almost a year, and I'm recently going back to it, because I always fall in love with it again.

Now I'm working on a self portrait:



I'm struggling especially with two elements.

The first one is the mouth, I think the darkest pixels on the left are not working quite good, but can't figure out how to fix it without changing the general gesture.

The second one is the white outline, I don't hate it, but don't like it neither. The problem is that without outline the character blends with the background, but I really want to keep that background (it is intended to be kind of a computer terminal, that's why is so dark)

All criticism is welcome. I hope to see you often from now on.

[MysteryMeat]

On the first, I'd say come back with fresh eyes, it looks fine to me both zoomed in and at original res. slightly puckered smile.

On the outline, might work to have it be more yellowy or amber to fit with the computer theme.

Finally, and unrelated, you need more contrast on the chin! It runs right into her neck and there's not enough contrast to really differentiate the two well.

[Achrileg]

I like the overall look quite a lot, don't see any glaring faults at first glance. Maybe the collar blends with the neck a bit too much, but other than that it's fine.

I don't really agree with the chin criticism, especially since the camera is below eye level and the head is raised slightly.

Here's how I'd approach if I had to touch it up:


Edit: Looking at my version a more, I like the pure single color bright outline better. I think it looks great.
Also, what I did was move some pixels around, add some shade collar and moved the mouth pixels around a bit.

[Boraka]

Thanks for the quick feedback. I've done an edit:



I agree with the collar issue, so I've played around a bit with the neck area.

In the other hand, I've reduced shadows in the right part of the jaw/chin, I hope this helps with the reading of the pose Achrileg was mentioning (head slightly raised).

[32]

So this mostly turned into an AA edit, take from that what you will if you're not interested in doing a smoother style but it should help with the more subtle features like the mouth and nose. Bring the pink from the lips into the face as much as you can, it's a nice colour and gives some additional life.

[Boraka]

AA is sometimes interesting, and your edit, 32, has some beautiful uses of my color palette. But I personally prefer a style with less smoothness, so I think I would call this portrait finished.

Anyway, I am always interested in more points of view, so I'm still opened to any suggestion or discussion

[FelipeFS]

First, loved your avatar.

In the overall, I like it without the AA. But, the shading that @32 did close to the collar is nice.



I just added some pixels in the part of the collar that goes to the back of the neck. I think it adds a bit of depth.

I can't find any other issue to point.

[Ozego]

In my opinion the portrait already looks great, leave it, focus on the overall composition. The red-green contrast in the background draws a lot of attention. As does the triple outline border. Try to think of how to get the audience to look at your portrait and let the background fall back.

[Boraka]

Hi!

I have an edit trying to declutter background and giving less emphasis to the frame, but I think I have failed 
I have also remove the white outline, that I didn't like from the beginning.



I'm really struggling with the color in the background. I have tried  more and less saturation, more and less brightness, a thousand of different hues... but I'm not happy with any.

[MysteryMeat]

The problem there I think might be her shirt, the different saturations on the bits of it would make it hard to create a satisfactory contrast in addition to the lighter shades on the face.

It might help to try a diagonal gradient or something to that effect to create a better contrast for both?

[Boraka]

I've tried with a lighter shadow in the collar and I kinda like it. Also, I've tried with the eye color as background.



Any better?

[MysteryMeat]

Hm, I can see it now but it hurts to look at the top left of her head a bit for me, like the colors aren't working with each other well.
Thinking on it, the matrix background was probably a better choice overall for readability now that I'm seeing it without that texture and outline, though perhaps a solid tweak to that original idea would be a solid amber background with strings of matrix text slapped around the edges in chunks so you don't need the outline as much

[dpixel]

I never liked white outlines. 
I tend to like higher contrast.  My edit reflects that.  I also think the shadow on the collar should more closely follow the shadow on the neck.
Also the mouth bothers me.  I do like what 32 did with it, but with out a reference, I can't offer any suggestions. 
Overall, this looks great though.   

[Boraka]

Here's my main reference here (large image):

Spoiler

The point of view is not exactly the same, but is close.

I also tried with a hairstyle closer to the reference, which is darker and causes less troubles. But is less accurate with my actual recent look 

[dpixel]

I think you did a nice job on the first hair style.  I see no problems there.
On the left I did a mouth edit.  Just seemed too wide and mis-shaped. On the right I went a bit more.  I know you weren't looking for a lot of detail, but I get carried away with pixels sometimes.  I found the head too wide and the neck a tad too long. And the shoulders had too much of a slope...just tried to balance things out and add more life. 

[FelipeFS]

I think you did a nice job on the first hair style.  I see no problems there.
On the left I did a mouth edit.  Just seemed too wide and mis-shaped. On the right I went a bit more.  I know you weren't looking for a lot of detail, but I get carried away with pixels sometimes.  I found the head too wide and the neck a tad too long. And the shoulders had too much of a slope...just tried to balance things out and add more life. 

I LIKE a lot the edit you did on the mouth, but not the edit on the right, the shadow of the glasses, the extra light in the face. Thought I like that pinkish shadow color #E18B71.

Edit: I didn't notice before, but I like your version of the nose (the nostrils with different brightness was making me crazy )