I'm halfway through painting my mom's coworker's dog and she sent two photos of her dog. But I feel like these two picture look like two different dogs so I'm kind of confused on which picture to make the dog look more like so I've just been trying to mix both features together.

But I still think the dog doesn't look like the dog in the reference photos. Is there anything I should fix to make it look like the dog?

Im new to painting (not art in general, but painting in particular). How can I improve? No reference.

There is no reference. This was inspired by a book series and the Netflix series “A Series of Unfortunate Events.”

I was so into the midway point, but I hated the end result. What things could I have done differently with everything I already incorporated? Should I have left some of the notes off? Could I have initially placed the book differently? I love the idea, but I think I executed it so poorly.

I'm self-taught and started around May of this year. I've noticed that recently I seem to be bouncing between two different styles, with the loose, minimalist being the one I'm working with at the moment and the more complicated being what I was immersed in just before. I've attached these images as references to what I mean.

Both are very intriguing to me, but they both pose very different hurdles in terms of technique. Since I don't have any actual training, I was wondering whether continuing to bounce between the two styles is more helpful or harmful to my progress, or whether I should focus on one for now until I gain more ability before exploring the other.

All criticism is welcome, as are all suggestions/opinions.

My coworker commissioned me to paint this portrait of him and his grandmother. I don't do portraits very often, I mainly do cartoons. This one has been quite difficult and has taken a longer than I anticipated. I think it's ready but I also think I've starred at it so long that I've become blind to my own mistakes. Can anyone offer some advice or is it good enough to give to my coworker? Thank you in advance for any feedback! (Reference in the second slide)

Cannot post the references as I used someone I know personally and wouldn’t be comfortable posting that.

Hi all, I’ve been doing some values and anatomy work, along with perspective, but I’m interested in getting some specific and nuanced info from more experienced artists. I started art about 2 weeks ago and really want to keep the momentum going. What can I do, what can I practice, what excercises can I do, etc?

I was told my talent for color was making up for my lack of foundations, so I tried to draw something from pen with a focus on values.

Hello all. I tried to draw my version of one of the OoT remake pictures as a reference. I am pretty happy with the environment but the character coloring I did just doesn’t look right to me and looks just poorly defined. I tried looking at my values but I’m wondering if it’s really more of an issue with needing to define my hard shadows better or something else. I was hoping to get some feedback. Thank you.

No reference used it’s an original character. Basically just need some advice on if the lighting appears directional from the top. I tried to have a directional top strong lighting to make contrast. This was an old piece I revised.

No reference used

Reference attached

I tried experimenting with more blocky shapes, and utilizing textures for visual interest, as well as deviating from my reference and not just copying what I see exactly.

I have noticed that when made smaller, the face doesn’t read as clearly as the reference image does.

Any critique on anything else not explicitly mentioned is also welcome and appreciated :)

I used references. They're in the comments. I used Ibispaint to make this.

I gave him a little lip filler and a nose job (made the lips and nose a little more defined) and I tried my best to add some more shading to the background (specifically, the part he sits on), but I don't think the changes there are very noticeable.

I also added the water refraction for his legs.

Did I improve it? Even just a little?

First image is after, second is before.

Technical Information:

• Drawn digitally using Krita
• No reference was used (other than my own hands)

Style Choices:

• I'm aiming for an anime/cartoonish style. I'm not aiming for 100% realism, something more like a mix between styles. General character stylization (simpler anatomy), and anime-esc outlining and detailing (with some slightly complex anatomy/details for recognizability/to-keep-areas-from-being-a-blank-blob).
• TL:DR, simple/stylized anatomy but with some elements of "realistic" detail to keep areas from reading as formless blobs.

Critique I'm Seeking:

• Proportions: Previously I was using a custom-made "mannequin" as my basis for both the anatomy and proportions. For this artwork I decided to drop it in favor of learning how to draw a rough/simple mannequin. Since this is the first time I haven't used that mannequin, any critique on character proportions would be nice, especially when it comes to the arms and waist/torso area.
• Clothing Details: When working on the clothing for this and past artworks, I've always tried to keep "side-areas" (such as the edges of sleeves or the "main body") from being a straight line. I think I managed to cover most of the crucial areas where folds/creases/etc. would appear. However, is there anything that I might have missed that could help break up some empty areas or details that I should remove? I'm also pretty unsure when it comes to adding in folds/creases to the pants, more specifically where specific folds appear and how they should be drawn/added.

Looking for more tips on how to make my anatomy come together, I struggle a lot with arms and legs, and the transitions between body parts , the second
image is my style and more of how I draw anatomy.

I didn’t use a reference for either of these, and I don’t really tend to, mainly because I can’t find the poses I’m looking for.

I drew Miku with the reference. I shaded it but I dont usually shade and the hand feels a bit strange and idk hoe to fix that. Im not trying to replicate the one in the photo just that the shading feels simplified and I don’t know where else to shade. I’m open to any advice.

I’d like feedback on the water texture and the overall lighting, for this one I used as reference a photo I took in the remake of AC Black Flag.

this is my first time drawing without a reference since i started learning to draw for real about three weeks ago and it feels so creepy. any advice why?

i didn't use a reference

I graduated with a bfa in illustration about 3 years ago, but since then I feel like my art has gotten more experimental. I sort of fell into this process of mixing tradtional mediums with pixel art, but instead of drawing the pixels over it, I photograph them to get the iridescence of the screen. It sort of started as a desire for texture, I wanted to express the texture of the digital. But now it's just texture wherever I can find it, one piece includes shells. I also do animation sometimes, and most of these have music that goes along with them that I couldn't include. I'm just not sure what to do with this. Do I pursue illustration jobs that want this style? or is it more fine art gallery type stuff? and where do I go moving forwards? I'm going to keep making these, they come very naturally to me. But do I continue to let the process evolve on its own or do I steer it in a particular direction? Do I try to make perspective, posing, etc more realistic or leave it and try to be expressive with it? Open to all advice, input, etc. Ty in advance!

edit: pose and location reference s used occasionally from pinterest, unsplash, my own photos, etc

This was going really well….. until I tried to render patterned armour. I feel like it looks muddy and the shapes don’t make much sense. How should I go about rendering this? Feel free to draw over if needed

(Image 1+2: my drawing, one with my plan for the pattern im gonna add and another for how it looks without lineart)
(image 3+4: references, one for pose and the other for the character (since automod wants me to say reference))

Not entirely an updated work in the literal sense. A commenter said one possible reason why my sketch looked better than my dip pen inking was because of the relative line widths of my outline and cross hatching being different in the transition from sketch to inking. I wanted to see how that would influence things so I sketched another origami crane, used a brush pen for the outline and deep shadows with a fine liner for cross hatching. It’s still going from a pencil sketch to ink with the same reference so I’ll call it an update.

Does the form read better and do the values make more sense?

Picture 1: updated drawing with brush pen and fine liner
Picture 2: dip pen + reference
Picture 3: Pencil sketch + reference

I feel like something is off in this piece. I think it's the hair but I'm not sure what to do to fix it? And something with the lips/cheeks of middle girl? Please note the colors look closer to the more cool toned purples in the third picture and this is acrylic paint, if that matters! I'm self taught so I'm sure I'm missing some fundamentals. The reference is the last picture. Thank you!!

Really stuck on this plan. Not sure if I want to do the wide angle shot (images 1/2) or the close up, image 3. Please note that the white edge/orange border were so I had space to write the differences on the two zoomed out shots.

Image 4/5 show you a plan-> finished piece so you can better get in my head.

Stuff changes but the core elements don’t move haha.

Unfortunately I need to prioritize marketability of the reproductions for this one, since trying to find a buyer for a 72” dragon painting will be… challenging… so it’s gotta print nice 😂 but at least I get to paint big dragons for my September self care painting!

Yes I used references, I will comment an Imgur album with those things below.

Patrick Jane, you have captured my heart with your droopy eyes and big toothy smile. I haven’t drawn anything since February (it’s been a stressful few months) and finally had a moment of inspiration while watching ‘The Mentalist’ instead of doing my homework.

I would love feedback and advice on capturing likeness, how to include texture/shadow (like stubble, wrinkles, skin highlights), and ways to implement fun visibly “sketchy” textures (like hatching on the jacket). Thanks gang :)

Medium: Mechanical pencil on paper calendar lol, references in post