[jasonN]

Here's a pic I did with the airbrush in photoshop. Please forgive me for using photo reference, but I'm using it to improve my rendering skill and I always liked those photo portraits that fallen did.

I know the pic doesn't look much like the original photo, but I have no excuse for that, it's because of my lack of skill. The least I could aim for was a resemblance.



here's the link to the bigger original res pic: http://jasoncentral.virtualave.net/natalie.jpg

here's the link to the reference pic: http://jasoncentral.virtualave.net/reference.jpg

Any comments or critique welcome, please tell me you can recognise who she is....

-Jason

[Freddio]

WOW!!!

Jason thats awesome...

It does look Liker her too...

you probably have been staring at it for so long.The body looks especially good..

Maby try and fix up the ear... but other than its bloody amazing

Nice work..

btw how long does a piece like this take for you?

Cya later

[Matt Elder]

WOW!! That is a bloody good rendition. I like what you've done more than the original (mainly because the original show more human imperfections where as you have a nice, smooth feel, particularly in the face).

I'm glad you posted the original photo as I can look at it and pick up some subtle differences that will have a great impact upon the piece. I will concentrate mainly on the eyes as getting these right are half the battle in any portrait.

1) Her right eye - you need to work on the white area in the pupil. At the moment it isn't wide enough and it is a little to deep (height wise)

2) In between her right eyebrow and eyelashes, there is a really noticable light area that reaches right to the eyelashes in the middle of the eye, you don't have this

3) Bottom eye lids on both eyes. Look at the reference photo and notice how this tones are quite distinctive. Your version has then blending in too smoothly and doesn't give the eye as much depth as what the photo does.

4) Light are between her left eyebrow and eye lid. Similar to what was mentioned before only that there is a slither of light tone that makes it to the nose

5) Around the eyes you have some really dark black lines that stand out alot more than what they do in the photo. When I went from the small version of the picture to the large one, this was the first thing that I noticed. I feel that it takes it one step away from being realistic back to a cartoony feel. It really needs to be made a little more subtle.

Again I loved what you have done and just being critical to help you out.

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See ya on da flip side
Matt
http://www.mattelder.com

[Sergenth]

Yeah yeah, this be good!
I really like the shoulder area with the airbrush-style shading. Good short-cut with that dress ;P

[Visigoth]

What do you mean it doesn't look like Natalie Portman? *smacks you* It looks great! Using photo reference is not a sin...I use it all the time.

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Your car is a fiberglass penis extension.

[jasonN]

Hey, thanks guys!
Freddio: Thanks a lot, I appreciate it This pic took me about 7 hours. I took in 2 hour chunks, but still, you're right, I've been looking at it so long it makes no more sense.

Matt: Thank you! This were the type of pointers I was looking for. Your 'fresh' eyes can still see the differences. Thanks for the tips

Sergenth: Thanks, and yeah, it's a blatant shortcut. hehehe

Visigoth, thanks dude! Like I said before, it just looks like a blob of pixels, so I can't tell.

Thanks again for the replies.

-Jason

[steady]

damn shes a hotty

[Lange_Pisang]

Jason, you're way too good!

[Jonner]

Hey she's damn hot!! I luv the rendering on the hair.

Only criticism I have is the eyes would look better if they were looking directly at us.. maybe play around with the light reflection in the eye.. usually works for me.

And don't even think of apologising for using a photo!! Everyone does it.. some of us can't get Ms Portman to pose in person for us It's the only way to get a truly accurate portrait & don't listen to anyone who says otherwise.

Once again top stuff, can't wait to see more like this.

-Jonner