thanks so much!

Very good, I can see the basic drawing is good, it's a pity as I can just about see the white chalk work, this colour is great for hair and parts of a face and combined with small amounts of black, can set a portrait a light. Good work I like that your trying things for yourself every small thing is a stepping stone to better work. Try placing a small masking tape dot on the black of the eye as shine mark, take it into the colour.

As always i value your opinion greatly and im so glad that you share your knowledge. i'm currently without any artistic guidence at all whatsoever and i'm so eager to learn and improve. so please suggestions you may have i will greatly appreciate!

Ok, lets talk about contrast this is my way of describing what makes a portrait stand out. Your drawing above is excellent in it's concept and the way you've done it, but it does not stand out, I paint one colour portraits and this is not a good description of them. One colour, a hundred tones, The hair is brilliant on your portrait but with a darker tone behind in the background and lighter tone below, where the white is would improve it , but only in my eyes as all a art is subjective ( In the eyes of the viewer) If we look at your members page photo it's the black that makes it look good, So my first advise is leave coloured paper alone and use colour either watercolour pencils or colour pencils for drawing. Ok that’s enough for now have a think come back say if you disagree or agree.

Agreed! but the reason i've avoided color in the past is because i'm not sure how to use it properly. how can i use colored pencils without losing the value or shading? i don't know how to layer color properly when it comes to colored penciles.

I've given your shading issue a good think, I am not a pencil drawer either colour or B/W but we use these to learn about tone Watercolour pencils are better because a small amount of blending can take place from one colour to another. I have no problem in painting because I start lighter and go darker perhaps it’s the same with coloured pencils. I always find if one person does not give a good answer, then look on the site for a pencil drawer that you admire and after complementing them ask how, what and where I’m sure they will give you an answer. I hope I have helped I like to see progress in the past when I was young I would not move forward no matter what others advised. I now tend to be a little to pushy sometimes, please forgive my know all sounding ways. I I sound a little off, I have the flu.

first off, i hope youre feeling better and second i gave shading another go. I edited my frank iero sketch a bit to give it more contrast and just submited it. check it out and give me all your thoughts.

I've seen it is a lot better than the other one although I did not see a lot wrong with it only technique things.

So good! Happy birthday

thanks so much! i really appreciate it.

You're welcome