Beautiful work. Actually I recognized Frodo when I've just seen the small thumb with the eye, even before I saw the title. Also I like "The Lord of the Rings" (both book and the movie) very much. Great job!

The eyes are amazing, and I like the way you framed the face.

great work!
+7/7

Very nice but I thing shadows should be a litle darker.

This is a very good work otherwise.

Nice. I second the comment on deepening your shadows, would expand your value range nicely. (also would help it scan better)

I think the way his hair ends is kind of odd. It seems like maybe the rest of his skull went missing somewhere.

The eyes are just amazing... Nice reflections... Very good drawing indeed, but I would like to see it complete...

Glad to see this here, this is my favorite piece of yours Wonderful work!

I think it's fantastic, most people keep choosing the classic portrait face foward pose. An increase in the contrast, darkening some lines would help.

Thanks for commenting on my photo too!

The eyes look great.

nice details. proportioning is false. the face looks distorted. did you start with some part (eyes) and build up instead of first constructing the whole roughly? i used to do that and come up with non-matching eyes and trapezoidal foreheads.

The eyes are incredibly believable. But the hair is a bit contrasty in comparisment to the face. All in all; Good drawing.

Nice pencil art there~

Dear artist,

I urge you to begin using photographs differently. Artistic expression is based on technique, composition, and light. By copying a photograph you are surrendering the control of light to a camera, mechanical implement which does not see like human eye sees, and has different registration of perspective and color. By copying a photograph you did not take yourself, you are also surrendering your control of composition to someone else's camera, leaving you only the technical task of rendering.

You will learn more and improve your artistic ability faster if you stop copying photographs and begin using them for reference - interpreting and checking difficult points, but not by serving as a copyist to someone else's work. Copying an original by good artist may have learning merit because it helps to absorb the master's technique and feeling of light. A photograph (or reproduction of master's work) is not going to lend you these.

There is much more to art than what photographs and photo paint-overs may imply. Learn to see on your own, without aid of the camera - you will discover a new world of light.

Have courage to abandon the ugly photographic crutches and draw freehand. If you do not feel ready, books by Andrew Loomis (fineart.sk) can lend you sound drawing method and raise your understanding of form, as they did for three generations of artists.

Good luck on your way of discovering the joy and impact of freehand drawing for yourself.

eyes are amazing
9+
OK wait a second arenhaus did you copy and paste this here from a text file?
cause you said the same thing to me
now I feel un-special I thought what you said was just for me now I see you say this to all the gals or guys

two timer

Nice work.
Have you ever tried coquille paper before?
It gives your drawing a great texture that really reproduces well.

Thank you for all your lovely comments! I really appreciate them.
I just wanted to explain a few things - the lack of contrast was mentioned
a lot, and I agree that deepening the shadows would be better.

Kheider: I'm afraid I have to disagree that the face looks 'distorted.' While it's not perfect, I think I managed to at least match the eyes. I worked from a sketch of the whole thing, building it up in layers. =)
Arenhous: Please check your inbox. =)
mwilli424 - No, I haven't even heard of this kind of paper! I'll check it out next time I go to an art shop, thank you muchly!

It's very alive. I love it.

I like the expression in his eyes!

Lovely use of the good old pencil.

Well done...!

I’d like to disagree with Arenhaus as I don’t believe that there is anything wrong with using photographic reference. It is unlikely that many people on this website will become renowned or highly competent artists. I do however believe that this website could spawn a few good illustrators and I can assure you that a good illustrator is far more likely to earn a living than any number aspiring artist. Photographic reference is a good way of understanding the delicacies of shade and tone especially in a monochromatic format.

Take it from someone who earns a good living producing illustration work that photo’s are a great way to achieving an excellent result. It is, of course advantageous to have a good knowledge of freehand drawing, I spent many years drawing from life but that can go hand in hand with photo reference. Any form of drawing will help you accomplish results and artistic impression can come once you have a clear grasp of all the basics.