Any helpful critique is welcomed

[ptrspt]

Hello.
Any critique and advice is more than welcomed. I do not have any formal art training or courses so any literature or help is more than useful. Thank you for your time in advance.

[Theeroos]

You need to pay closer attention to how the features of the face actually look like, and not how you think they look. Right now you have drawn the noses, mouth and eyes more like symbols, than how they look in reality. I once read about an exercise that involves copying a photo upside down, that way you learn how to observe better. I've never tried it before, so dunno if it's actually helpful, but just a thought (:
Here you can find some really useful books.

[mimer]

Right now I think you're copying without understanding. Advice would be to get some anatomy books (loomis and bridgman for example) and keep a sketchbook with you to draw people.

Rinse and repeat.

[ptrspt]

You need to pay closer attention to how the features of the face actually look like, and not how you think they look. Right now you have drawn the noses, mouth and eyes more like symbols, than how they look in reality. I once read about an exercise that involves copying a photo upside down, that way you learn how to observe better. I've never tried it before, so dunno if it's actually helpful, but just a thought (:
Here you can find some really useful books.

Thank you. I will try that.

[ptrspt]

How do you consider that I should try understanding anatomy

[Theeroos]

How do you consider that I should try understanding anatomy

Mimer already told you; read anatomy books (Loomis is best for beginning I think) try them out yourself, and just draw a lot. Draw your friends and family, or just random people whenever you're waiting somewhere. You can also use sites such as pixelovely to practice, but drawing from life is always the best way.

[Marine_Blue]

Keep drawing anatomy. Like Mimer said Loomis (although his are very idealized which is a bit bland) Bridgman and also anything by Robert Beverley Hale. You need to be like a dog with a bone when it comes to anatomy, don't try and eat it all at once, just keep chewing.

[ptrspt]

Ok. Will do. Thanks a million guys. Running tomorrow to the library

[EZpaint]

Use guide lines to keep the features aligned - you can find lots of such resources online in regard to measuring heads.

Good luck!

[Line]

Don't only focus on anatomy, but on learning how to draw solid shapes with their proper proportions first and then with their
correct, relative lighting and shading. Anatomy on it's own won't help you much if you don't understand volume, how to lay
down shapes and proportions of what you see, and how light interacts with various basic objects. The best example, and from
someone who has explained it a lot better is this by Ron Lemen http://www.anticz.com/drawing1.htm

He also has a list of books he recommends, but if you focus on drawing the shapes he shows. Understanding how to look at, say,
a cylinder, drawing it well and then modelling it well, which means understanding how light falls on it's surface and how it appears
to us, then anatomy, as a tool, will make so much more sense.

[arenhaus]

You need to learn to use construction lines and measurement, before everything else.

Get "Successful Drawing" and "Figure Drawing for All It's Worth" by Andrew Loomis. These books show a much more solid method of approaching a drawing.

[ptrspt]

Don't only focus on anatomy, but on learning how to draw solid shapes with their proper proportions first and then with their
correct, relative lighting and shading. Anatomy on it's own won't help you much if you don't understand volume, how to lay
down shapes and proportions of what you see, and how light interacts with various basic objects. The best example, and from
someone who has explained it a lot better is this by Ron Lemen http://www.anticz.com/drawing1.htm

He also has a list of books he recommends, but if you focus on drawing the shapes he shows. Understanding how to look at, say,
a cylinder, drawing it well and then modelling it well, which means understanding how light falls on it's surface and how it appears
to us, then anatomy, as a tool, will make so much more sense.

Thank you. That was really helpful .

[ptrspt]

You need to learn to use construction lines and measurement, before everything else.

Get "Successful Drawing" and "Figure Drawing for All It's Worth" by Andrew Loomis. These books show a much more solid method of approaching a drawing.

It is true that i tried to go directly into drawing without preparing any background sketch or so. Thought that's how I should do it because the artist I've seen do it like this.

[ptrspt]

Double post.

[arenhaus]

It is true that i tried to go directly into drawing without preparing any background sketch or so. Thought that's how I should do it because the artist I've seen do it like this.

Well, at least you now know first hand why the artist you've seen was doing it that way.

[Marine_Blue]

It is true that i tried to go directly into drawing without preparing any background sketch or so. Thought that's how I should do it because the artist I've seen do it like this.

Be sure to train your eye and then check your measurements by stretching your arm out with a pencil or knitting needle. Strike first and then check not the other way round as this will train you to trust your eye. Learn to strike the overall shape and check its height width relationship, then place key landmarks - first brow ridge, then base of nose. Michael Britton ArtAcadamy has some excellent dvds on this with anatomy lessons included. tell him James Murch from England sent you

[Symson]

Go out to the mall, park and beach and draw from life. Take some life drawing classes.

[Gautham]

Anatomy can be a bit tricky.even to learn...I had so many issues in the beginning..i still do..but it has become much better now...I think its important that you dont get overwhelmed by all the different ways and things you have to learn to understand anatomy...Forms, lighting, shapes, muscles, bones, proportions..all these words can be a bit scary...in my own personal experience, i have found tackling one issue at a time to be very helpful. Say, you get your hands on an anatomy book...say you start off on proportion...The average height for a man and a woman can be measured by the height of their heads. Once you understand that the height of a man from the top of his head to the groin area is this many heads and that the height from the groin area to the feet is that many heads, you'll get a more realistic figure. Once you understand the basics of proportion, start learning about individual parts like the head, or the arm or the legs..draw them from real life or photos (never from other paintings or drawings[not in the beginning at least..this is because every artist has his/her own style.in the way they define the lines that make up the figure]) Once you understand the shapes or form of these body parts, your drawings will become more real...There is no real structure or a certain way to learn anatomy..there are simply ways to make it more convenient for one to understand anatomy. Observe, study, draw, look at made drawing, find mistakes..and repeat..) You'll see amazing results in a couple of months...Dedication is very important..

Well thats all...I am in no ways an expert or anything..these are just my thoughts...
Hav a nice day..

[ptrspt]

Anatomy can be a bit tricky.even to learn...I had so many issues in the beginning..i still do..but it has become much better now...I think its important that you dont get overwhelmed by all the different ways and things you have to learn to understand anatomy...Forms, lighting, shapes, muscles, bones, proportions..all these words can be a bit scary...in my own personal experience, i have found tackling one issue at a time to be very helpful. Say, you get your hands on an anatomy book...say you start off on proportion...The average height for a man and a woman can be measured by the height of their heads. Once you understand that the height of a man from the top of his head to the groin area is this many heads and that the height from the groin area to the feet is that many heads, you'll get a more realistic figure. Once you understand the basics of proportion, start learning about individual parts like the head, or the arm or the legs..draw them from real life or photos (never from other paintings or drawings[not in the beginning at least..this is because every artist has his/her own style.in the way they define the lines that make up the figure]) Once you understand the shapes or form of these body parts, your drawings will become more real...There is no real structure or a certain way to learn anatomy..there are simply ways to make it more convenient for one to understand anatomy. Observe, study, draw, look at made drawing, find mistakes..and repeat..) You'll see amazing results in a couple of months...Dedication is very important..

Well thats all...I am in no ways an expert or anything..these are just my thoughts...
Hav a nice day..

Thank you kind sir. And thank you to you all. I am sorry I did not have time to reply to all of you. The information is a bit overwhelming right now. I borrowed Loomis Successful Sketching from the local library and I'm 'eating' it. Will post sketches afterwards. Thank you again.
Have a nice day