/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

>>1796401
>>1796402
Focus on getting a good drawing - that's where you're biggest problems lie. You can have all the right values, but if they're the wrong shape and in the wrong places, the form won't read correctly.

In terms of major shapes, you don't have enough major value groups and their usage is unappealing in terms of composition. Look at your image at a thumbnail view and compare that with a grayscale master-level portrait. Pic related. Aside from the dynamic lighting, the portrait reads well from the thumbnail, and the big value shapes are interesting to look at.

At the same time, a lot of your smaller value shapes could be simplified and flattened. A good rule for the block-in is to only have a value change when a plane changes (assuming local color doesn't change). It's a very sculptural approach and it will take you far. You want to block in something similar to an Asaro head, but with more appropriate edges.