returning to painting and drawing

[braid]

hello folks!
after a long time of a break in painting and drawing, I finally finish college and now I'll have my evenings free to study it.

Let me show my last 2 sketches and attempt to paint...

first this at art rage:



and this unfinished attempt to painting at photoshop



I'm using a Genius mousepen 5x4" tablet..
now I have some questions for you:
1- what's the size of the canvas you people use to paint and how many DPI's for it?
2- Refine the painting still gives me nightmares, I do not know what tool to use, if a small brush or the smudge tool, of whatahell....

well, I'm performing some researches of techniques and looking for references now....
thanks
bye bye

[Infinit]

I use a canvas the size of the final pic (nothing biger then 1000x800 pixels to fit a normal screen) and downsize it only slightly
for details just zoom at 200% and use smaller brushes

1st pic: I like it
2nd pic: the facial propotions are off
I recommence http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=14735
and http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=14119

[braid]

thanks for the links, I loved it!

another sketch just for keep hands and brain busy..


made in art rage