I think my painting and drawing is good but for some reason the picture never looks like the person it’s supposed to be.
Do you know of any way I can make my paintings look like the people there of or is it just a matter of practise???
Yeah I have struggled with that as well. I would try to draw someone and it would always have something about that was never quite right. One thing to remember is to let your mind forget you are painting/drawing a face. Focus on the lines, shadows, highlights rather than thinking about whether or not you are painting an eye or lips. The way our minds think something should be drawn is usually different than the way you actually do it.
One good practice is to take about an 8"x10" photo (or around that, it is just easier when it is a bigger face rather than tiny features)(one you can draw on) and put a grid over it.. try to keep the boxes not too big or too overly small, I would say for 8×10 do like 1/2" sides to 1" max. Then make the same dimension grid on a blank piece of paper or canvas and then go box by box. It sounds elementary, but it seriously is a very good way to focus more on the elements rather than trying to make an eye/ear/ etc.. Really try to focus on what is really within each box and what colors are represented and where it is lighter, darker, transitioning.. And I would suggest drawing all the lines first down to every last detail like the glint in the eyes and even putting marks for where the color darken or lighten.
Like many others have said, it’s not a photo, so it won’t be exact 
Good Luck!
January 30th, 2010 at 2:16 am
Try finding the facial features that are really definitive. That’s how caricatures are made to look like the person, by exagerating defining features. If you learn to recognize and draw a person’s major facial features, you’ll have a pretty accurate painting.
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January 30th, 2010 at 2:23 am
Give up painting and take up photography.
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January 30th, 2010 at 3:06 am
Portrait drawing/painting is one of art’s hardest disciplines. I can only say that the real skill of making accurate portraits is only 10% in the artist’s hand and 90% in the eyes. Knowing how to look is everything.
Spend some time before you even draw a single line getting the features of the model firmly in your mind by alternatively looking closely and closing your eyes to recreate the exact shape, toning and shading in your mind.
I know, easier said than done, but I hope it helps a little anyway.
Good luck, and happy painting!
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January 30th, 2010 at 3:41 am
Well, you hit it straight on. It’s all about the practice. I teach art and one thing I tell my students is to make sure to use comparisons. When you draw something on your paper, compare the distance between two objects on your paper, then compare those in your subject you are drawing – in this case – the person. Keep making these little comparisons and don’t be afraid to erase. Draw lightly at first and then you won’t feel so bad to erase. The more you draw, the better you will become, so keep practicing!
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January 30th, 2010 at 4:03 am
Put the frame round a living persons head and call it contemporary art to answer your question…………..
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January 30th, 2010 at 4:37 am
Practice makes perfect.
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January 30th, 2010 at 5:19 am
focus on the facial features you want to show.
It does not have to look completely like the person
I like art having expression and free flowing movement.
The camera job is to take prefected picture, artist couldn’t compete with camera so there job is more capturing the expression.
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January 30th, 2010 at 5:55 am
Yeah I have struggled with that as well. I would try to draw someone and it would always have something about that was never quite right. One thing to remember is to let your mind forget you are painting/drawing a face. Focus on the lines, shadows, highlights rather than thinking about whether or not you are painting an eye or lips. The way our minds think something should be drawn is usually different than the way you actually do it.
One good practice is to take about an 8"x10" photo (or around that, it is just easier when it is a bigger face rather than tiny features)(one you can draw on) and put a grid over it.. try to keep the boxes not too big or too overly small, I would say for 8×10 do like 1/2" sides to 1" max. Then make the same dimension grid on a blank piece of paper or canvas and then go box by box. It sounds elementary, but it seriously is a very good way to focus more on the elements rather than trying to make an eye/ear/ etc.. Really try to focus on what is really within each box and what colors are represented and where it is lighter, darker, transitioning.. And I would suggest drawing all the lines first down to every last detail like the glint in the eyes and even putting marks for where the color darken or lighten.
Like many others have said, it’s not a photo, so it won’t be exact
Good Luck!
References :
I would suggest "drawing on the right side of the brain" one of my favorite learning guides
January 30th, 2010 at 6:12 am
follow these simple steps: 1st make person sit in front of you. now click hjis photograph from the angle you u want. now take that photograph and put a trace paper on it…now take a pencil and trace the outlines and features…seenow u ran expert potrait artist…or simply make that guy sit in frontof the cam capture the picture on computer and slect potrait and take a print out…phew!
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