woow looks awesome very nice artwork +10/10

great job. only wierd thign is the left arm (her right) is too bright, it needs something. it's not there...

everything else is amazing as always though.

+10
~slap

thats insane I love the the smile the best. the highlights are amazing

?was this done over a photograph o sketch?

!!!!!!!! 9/9~!

phew~sorry for 2nd posting, i got to take a breath away from this, despite seeing it again the 2nd time~i still can't believe my eyes~ ha * bows to you*

Well.. Kind of really cool painting. Her face looks very realistic. +8/9!

I second  Kragen's question. Was this done OVER a photograph? The eyes...they just don't seem painted. In fact, the shirt and hair don't nearly have the level of detail and tonal variation that the skin tones do.

guys.. think we shld look at her past works to noe whether she painted over a photo or not... if we see carefully, sally improved wif every werk she submitted... by looking at her werks, i can tell she obviously takes lots of pride in her werks... wld a person wif so much passion for art do a thing like painting over a photograph? come on~ see it wif ur heart , not juz ur eyes~

Hi all, thank you for the compliments. This is not a photo but I did use a photo reference which I will post shortly and you will be able to see the differences - especially the eyes. I really tried to take a lot of time on her skin and I ALWAYS have put the main focus on the eyes! I never hide my techniques and a few times have even shown step by steps. I definitely feel that I have improved a lot with every painting I have done but Iike BK-Bryan said you can see the progression with each piece.

First off BK-B, passion for art doesn't at all reflect the methods used to create it. There are many artists out there (GFX included) that love art more than anything else, but their methods are questionable according to the posting rules here. In addition, it's that 'passion' that often let's artists use the 'it's art if I say so' excuse to explain any questions that may arise from their techniques.

Second, paintovers aren't a bad thing IMO. It's an excellent way to practice with custom brushes and dynamic color palletes w/o having to worry about structure. My point was to be that if this were indeed a paintover, the posting belongs in photomanip, not painting.

Third, my question was legit. You can't debate that the hair and shirt seem to be a seperate painting from the skin. The skin has a great array of reds and blues present, while the hair is just brown with just a brightness adjustment here and there. The shirt is green w/light green and dark green. The mixmatching of, as  arenhaus would say 'compartmentalized color' with the well execution of the skin leads it to look like 2 different paintings put together.

My idea for a solution? More color variation on the other elements, to match how the rest of the painting was done.

Sally: I think it's better when you supply a link to the reference.

(I have no problem with paintovers or such, everyone should do his art as it pleases him, but regarding to the problems which have occured here lately it will be a better way for you to keep trouble away from you.)

Best wishes.
Rei

That's one of the best paintings I've seen. Extremely realistic, you did an amazing job. +8/8

Ok, ok, I will show you ALL the photos!
Reference will be posted above.

You are my newest favorite artist. Keep em coming!

very nice

very realistic...almost too much so
nice skin, but the hair flattens out in comparison.
sorry to say it looks like a painted over photo.
it may not be, but that's what it looks like.
if it's honestly not, then very impressive drawing ability.

Awesome awesome... 8/8

wysiwyg, i am not saying paint over is wrong either, i am juz upset that pple became suspicious over the hard work and effort made by a fellow artist... if its really a paintover, i do believe she wld state it clearly it is a paint over,.. since she didn't we shldn't degrade ourselves and be suspicious of her and her efforts either...

anyway, lets not be unfair to sally by getting into a debate here...
sally, i am looking forward to more of ur werks!

this is so lovely.
her expression is great and you did a marvelous job on the skin tones.

ooohh yeah !! this is great +7/7

No words. This is great. Okay, I did have some words

Very Good +9

This is a Topclass photorealistic painting!!!+9

welp, all my words have already been said by others. after all that, all i have to say is that this is an unreal and great painting, great model as well.

Sally, I think you've done a technically superb job painting this. I would say though that you followed too closely to your photo reference. It's not bad to look like a photograph (photo-realistic). But to me this looks like a snapshot. Although you improved the lighting a bit, I think you could do better to bring more life into the image. Also, it's a dead-center headshot, which to me is the least interesting composition in photography or a painting. And I have to agree with Wys about the compartmentalized color problem.

I think your celebrity portraits are fantastic because you are referencing excellent photography. As a painter though, you can transcend a bad photo, not mimick it.

You've got a lot of talent, but put as much effort into lighting, color and composition as you did in making the details and nailing the likeness, and you'll be exceptional.

Top notch. Excellent painting.

You had me at 'Hello'
wait... you didn't.
nevermind
(7/7)

Thank you everyone and to emarts thanks for taking the time to share your critic. I will keep your remarks in mind!

Great paint! +6/6

Great paint! +6/6

i not agree with colors crits.
Skin look also good and colors are solid, turn around olive/brown tones but the light show the pretty and clean "white skin" she have.
background are a little off but very well done portrait

This is the first of your works I'll crit, because it's the first I've seen with room! Compartamentalized colors or not, the face is exquisite, fabuously painted. The close ups really show amazing ability, and I'd like to see another version of this fabulous painting with as much attention paid to the hair and shirt, more the hair than the shirt, the shirt fits the style pretty well. Excellent work. I've added you to my favorite artists.

WOW you're now a member or my favorite artist Very good deatails and very pretty lady

It is sooo realistic, love it!

great..
just great