Self Portrait

[Peyton]

So, I have been in need of a good avatar for a while, and I figured that a self portrait would do the trick.
Today I began trying to get the general placement and shape of everything down.

Colors are temporary
Edit:
Did a lot of refining, and got carried away.
If anyone could give me tips on doing hair, it would be much appreciated.

Edit 2:
Refined some of the highlights more.

Edit 3:
Began hair

Edit 4:
Refined hair, coloring, and other random things.

Edit 5:
Changes based on Decroded's suggestions.

Edit 6:
More contrast, fixed eye.

Edit 7:
Changed coloring and contrast.

Edit 8:
Reduced dithering, random tweaks.

[Decroded]

Looking pretty cool but needs more contrast IMO, try using a mid-tone greyish colour (or plain grey) for background instead of white, this should help you get a better contrast balance.

The outline is too strong, though this would be fixed by more contrast in ur shadows.
Try using 2 separate colours for outline, one for hair and one for skin, or just get rid of outline all together as its not a requirement.

Area around nostril needs improvement unless your nose really looks like that   

[Peyton]

Looking pretty cool but needs more contrast IMO, try using a mid-tone greyish colour (or plain grey) for background instead of white, this should help you get a better contrast balance.

The outline is too strong, though this would be fixed by more contrast in ur shadows.
Try using 2 separate colours for outline, one for hair and one for skin, or just get rid of outline all together as its not a requirement.

Area around nostril needs improvement unless your nose really looks like that   

Thank you for the criticisms
I intend to keep the outline how it is out of personal taste, but I see where you are coming from.
I have added more contrast, fixed the messed up inaccurate nostrils, and did some random refining.

[Seiseki]

I'd say more contrast!
But I can't properly judge that with this half-broken monitor. 



The eyes looked rather square so I attempted to fix that too.
And some parts stick out a bit too much with the contrast change.

[Peyton]

I'd say more contrast!
But I can't properly judge that with this half-broken monitor. 



The eyes looked rather square so I attempted to fix that too.
And some parts stick out a bit too much with the contrast change.

I'll play around with contrast a bit more tomorrow, and I'll fix that eye then too

[Decroded]

I'd say more contrast!
But I can't properly judge that with this half-broken monitor. 



The eyes looked rather square so I attempted to fix that too.
And some parts stick out a bit too much with the contrast change.

Sorry to hear that but yes, that looks much better from my screens.

[Peyton]

I played around with the contrast a bit, and this what I got.

[Decroded]

Im only looking at this on my phone but it looks like youve darkened the mid-tones a little too much for my taste.
then darkened the outline even more which is still too strong for me and other detracts from the ootherwise atractive artwork.

[Peyton]

Updated coloring and contrast again.

[Decroded]

face colours seem pretty good to me.
there was still some things bothering me so i started this edit to give you the idea.


i obviously can't know what u look like but you appeared a little cross-eyed.
The nose was still bothering me and the excessive amount of dithering isn't doing ur complexion any favours.
And neither is the extended gradients across all your shadows, try a mix of smooth gradients and harsher shadows to better define forms.

[AzKai]

I agree with the above, especially the dithering. Remember not everything should need to be "perfectly gradiated", even on skin. In fact, kicking some of that dithering will give you more contrast that everyone was talking about.

[Peyton]

face colours seem pretty good to me.
there was still some things bothering me so i started this edit to give you the idea.


i obviously can't know what u look like but you appeared a little cross-eyed.
The nose was still bothering me and the excessive amount of dithering isn't doing ur complexion any favours.
And neither is the extended gradients across all your shadows, try a mix of smooth gradients and harsher shadows to better define forms.

Well, your edit doesn't look a thing like me XD
My current one is accurate.

I agree with the above, especially the dithering. Remember not everything should need to be "perfectly gradiated", even on skin. In fact, kicking some of that dithering will give you more contrast that everyone was talking about.

I will play around with reducing the dithering a bit

[Decroded]

If you're going to ask for help with a portrait then it helps to include a photo.

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

I think one thing people are still not liking is how dark you made the outline. Try making it using the darkest purple in the palette.

[Peyton]

If you're going to ask for help with a portrait then it helps to include a photo.

I would love to, but I do not have a functional camera. I have been using a mirror while creating this.

I think one thing people are still not liking is how dark you made the outline. Try making it using the darkest purple in the palette.

Yeah, with all of the complaints I have got about the outline, I will try that.

Edit:
Modified it a bit more, and I think it is just about perfect now.

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

Have you tried it without the outline?

[Peyton]

Have you tried it without the outline?

Yes I have, but I didn't like how it looked, so I added one.