SciFi and Fantasy Art: Lovers

I can't really tell that they're lovers (aside from the title). My boyfriend comments, "It seems more like father and daughter." He also thinks the man looks like Marcus Naslund (captain of the Vancouver Canucks). -,- I think that one way to help convey that idea is to have them touching (the man encircling the woman with one of his arms, maybe her leaning into him, that sort of stuff) or looking at each other.
I originally planned to have his arm around her waist, with her arm on top, but I couldn't get their hands to look right, so I scrapped the idea.

I think you did a great job on the shading as well as the detail on the woman's dress. I agree with a previous comment about the man's outfit, it needs a bit more detail to contrast it with the negative space of the background.

The detail work on the face is a nice touch, although (if you're going for strait up realism) the woman's eyes are too close together and both of their eyes are a bit too large. They also need taller foreheads (especially the woman). The woman's ear (I think, it's somewhat hard to see) looks like it needs to be a bit larger... a general rule is that the ear goes from around the eye/eyebrow area to the bottom of the nose.
Ah, anatonmy- my greatest failing. Everything you've commented on are mistakes I make almost every time. I'm trying to stop it, but I'm not doing too well.

As for the anatomy of the woman... she seems to be too blocky. Women are generally more curvy than men, and their torsos taper into their hips (which flare out). It's usually good to draw the woman's torso in a roughly triangular shape with a elliptical shape for the pelvis area. Also, you might want to do a bit more shading on the chest area to better show the subtleties of the collar bone and the top of the breasts.

All in all I think this is an interesting piece. I'm impressed that you did such lifelike shading without a photo reference, and the amount of detail you put into their faces and outfits really brings the drawing to life. ^^

Lauren E. Ritchie replies: "Thanks for all the tips, they've been really helpful, and I'll try to remember them in my next piece. I'm glad you liked this one, since it's on of my favourites. Thanks for commenting on the Picture of the Moment. "

This, along with many other drawings on the site, is a poor effort. Kudos for trying I certainly can't draw.
The difference being I *KNOW* I can't so I do not.
Start by adding shadow and depth to the faces at least.
Saving point is non-color theme. Works better as B&W.

What could I say that hasn`t been said. Two things: her head could be higher; like more hair on the top and Dave shouldn`t give up so easily; if he practices he can become a great artist as; I think so; can everyone who just sits down and spends time drawing, creating and thinking of new pictures. Each picture drawn with real heart and concentration will improve the drawing skills.
And I also think the man should put his arm around her shoulder

Lauren E. Ritchie replies: "More hair? I always need to add more hair. Maybe I should just give up and call it my style? No? Okay, more practice it is then."

I have to agree the commenter two above (ignore Dave, who brags of kindly sparing us his drawings - *gag*). I'm impressed that you managed this level of detail without photo reference. Don't, however, avoid using reference materials. Man, you should see my collection of pose books, animal in motion books, how-to art books... Photos don't need to be copied, they can be used as just a reference, to get anatomical proportions right, buy a clue as to shading, etc. Then after a while, you don't need them as much for some basic things.

Maybe to make this picture look a little more cozy you could have his right hand on her shoulder or arm, and if you decide to do a second take on the topic, have their heads turned at least slighly toward each other, or have her leaning her head on his shoulder (that always rates an "Awww!") *grin*

Lauren E. Ritchie replies: "I must confess, the male is actually based on my boyfriend (hence why it's extra special to me) and I used a photo of him to get a better idea of shading, and to try and draw a different nose and mouth to my standard. I think it came off very well, he recognised it was meant to be him.I understand what you mean about them no looking very together, I always have trouble with character interaction. I learnt a few thing doing this piece (such as make sure you're happy with the outline before adding details), so I'm hoping to make a second version when I get time. Comment like yours will help make it even better, thanks!"

Wow, you've got heaps of comments here. This could be a little darker, but its got lots of detail in it, and thats great!The girl looks a bit like one of those people who hate having their photo taken, standing all stiff and eyes turned up in embarressment / shyness.
Great job!
And that "picture of the moment" idea is a fantastic idea!

Lauren E. Ritchie replies: "I'm pretty happy with the detail, I think it's one of my best. Didn't scan well coz I had the scanner on a funny setting. I would do it again, but I had to piece together 3 different scans to get this. With the Picture of the Moment I found that the pictures I really wanted comments on just weren't getting them- so I thought I'd give people a nudge in the right direction. It seems to work well."

I love your shading that you did on this Lauren, and the people look like real people to me, dressed in real fantasy clothes, which is so cool! On my computer the shading has more an appearance of the speckled artwork shading style that I once had to do in school. Did you make the shading in speckles, like dots, or was that just a really cool effect of the picture?

Lauren E. Ritchie replies: "Just bad scanning I'm afraid I have to admit. I thought since it was pencil it would scan better in greyscale and it was only after I'd put the four (yes, four) scans together that I realised that it looks better scanned in colour. Anyway, I like the effect, so it can stay. Thanks for the comment."

This is a pretty good piece from my oppinion. There clothes are in a pretty creative style, i likes. But i do have to say...her shoulders are a little off, but other than that...well done!

Lauren E. Ritchie replies: "Hmpf- shoulders: the bane of my existance! You think they look big in all my pictures that I post? I've thinned them down from the starting sketches. I just can't draw petite women."

Oh yeah, and their eyes are too close together, they look like retards!

hey, they don't have enough skull-space for a human brain... study perportion some day. Then study form, these characters have NO depth whatsoever.

Lauren E. Ritchie replies: "Thanks, I'll make some time to study 'perportion' soon. I'll have to look it up first though."

*looks it over and nods* The shoulders seen a bit too wide and you need a little more shading to show the woman's breasts. Overall your shading is Very well done.

The eyes on the woman should probably be a little farther apart, but the man's eyes look fine.

You're texturing for the hair is wonderful. (That had to take time, I know how it is.)

The hairlines on both of them need to be a little farther up on their head. Don't worry though, it takes a while to get that down.

Great job overall. Perhaps you can redo it and compare? That's usually fun to do. Good luck. ^_~

Lauren E. Ritchie replies: "Thanks for the comments, you seem to have picked up on all my weaknesses. I am thinking of re-doing this piece, possibly using a picture of my boyfriend and myself for reference. Thanks for the encouragement."