Inspired by Griatch's close up series.

Wow, Erisian...I see you are back in form again. great picture.

Erisan - excellent work on the pic.

Amazing coloring and shading! The only thing that bothers me a bit is the eye and the eyebrow, i feel like the eye could use a little more detail, and the eyebrow more hairs.

Great work!
I should use my tablet also in the next time....

I love it Erisian

Fun to see more takes on this close-up theme.

My favourite part here is the subtle skin texture under his eye, subtle and effective detail! The eye itself could maybe do with a bit more detailing since it naturally becomes the focus of an image like this - adding a small hilight and enhancing the contrasts will quickly make it stand out more I think.
His expression works well, he looks like a hard man having some disdain over something - maybe he's an elf taking a look at a pesky human or something. Is there some story around this character?

Anyway, a nice study!
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Griatch

Thank you everybody.

BaukjeSpirit - I'll have a go at improving this.
K1Te - There will always be more.
Griatch - thanks for the advice. I didn't have a particular story. I started painting a face and developed the theme around the general shape. Something very tribal and pagan seemed appropriate.

I think the depth of the eye could be a but improved but still nice pic!

Wow! I think the shading here was very effective - like he's awaiting his prey. Nice work!

I've made some improvements and kept the original up for comparison. Criticism is still welcome.

Thank you everyone for your comments. fluffybunny - he still looks a lot younger than me!!!

It will depend on lighting conditions and what it is reflecting. A window will produce sharp lighting but general ambience will produce softer lighting. Looking at it again the lighting could do with sharpening but if I sharpen it too much it will stand out too much compared to the rest of the image. Thanks for pointing this out - I'll get to work on it.

erisian yay, you're really back in the game now!
it's a great picture, really speaks to my imagination. i think the small wrinkles under the eye are a great touch, and so is the deep frown, though the frown makes him look rather scary. not someone i'd like to meet when i was out walking! the eye looks really good to with the improvements.
but am i the only one who worries about the size of his eyeballs? i'm prepared to take it back if someone more anatomically educated steps in and tells me i'm wrong, but until then i'll think his eyeball is too big.

You are absolutely correct. The pupil is way too large and I planned to correct it when I sharpen the reflection.

erisian: wow, i was right. i promise i won't let it go to my head!

The final improvement is now in the first post.

K1te - thank you thank you thank you. You have made a rapid leap in my ability to draw eyes. Don't ever stop criticising my work. I was used to painting eyes from a distance where the only highlight you see is a single speck. Close up you can see that the eye is reflecting objects so I painted the forest skyline in his eyes and it works!

AnMal. The pupil should look better now. Actually as he is in the light it should be smaller but I felt it wouldn't work as well. Pupils usually only expand like this in the dark. You were right about tea as well - it's not that undrinkable.

erisian: excellent work on the eye!! the new reflection really made it come alive. the pupil looks better too - and perhaps he's using belladonna?


ha! that will go to my head.
(and coffee is still largely undrinkable )