@GriatchThanks for the feedback! Makehuman is an invaluable tool, but maybe my sketches were a bit too faithful to the output
Posemaniacs may be a better learning tool, but it's more difficult to test various angles. I deviated more from the output with Mara than Sanreils, and maybe that's why he feels more like a 3D render.
I went through and softened his edges a bit, and I think that helps. I hadn't thought of adding hair growing out of his temples - adding that seems to help a lot with his hair. I think he's looking much better, now. I finally feel like his hair is "attached," and hopefully others agree.
While I was tweaking things, I added a few more highlights to his hair and eyes. I may need to tweak it a bit more, but I think it's a step in the right direction.
While I was at it, I tried your suggestion with Mara's eyes' shadows and I rather like the result. I had to keep her wide-open eyes, though... that's just part of her character
>> it's challenging but it's looking very promising so far!
Thanks for the encouragement! I felt I needed to break out of my comfort zone. I consider myself much more of a landscape / environment artist than one of human subjects.
@AnMal Thanks
I agree her "new" lips were much too dark. I lightened them in the above redo. I think taking away much of the shadow under his hair helps remedy the "wig" effect - along with Griatch's suggestions. Eyes are more difficult than I thought they'd be - I'm used to drawing very simple eyes just because my figures are scaled much smaller. I may need to experiment a bit more, but I did work with the lighting a bit.
The older drawings of Mara are still on my blog
(such as the 404 error page), but at some point I wonder if she'd even be recognizable.
@molly Thanks
@PhotoComix I used to use photos, Daz4, and posemaniacs for references. I started using Sketchup and Makehuman more. Someday I'll make the time to take an art class; having real human references would be best.
@Mokonafan I think his lower lip may have been too big. I thinned it out a bit.
@he4rty Thanks!