This sketch is drifting toward a cartoon rendition. Cartoonists exaggerate and minimize certain features to make the face more appealing. Manga makes huge eyes and emphasizes the color and reflections till they are like jewels.  The nose becomes tiny, even nonexistent in front view.

What is it that makes a face appealing?  Here's a profile sketch inspired by the structure of Gene Tierney's face, one of the most beautiful women ever in my opinion.

Home remodeling projects have kept me away from art for a while, and the figure drawing group came to an end.  So I've been reduced to doodling images in front of the TV or from magazines.  Still trying to master faces and give them character.

I find that I like sketching with  VERITHIN or COL-ERASE colored pencils when I'm working small.  When sketching large, a simple brown Crayola cayon suits me well.  Otherwise I use Nupastel.

Portrait Compleated

So, after resolving the background, making more changes here and there, and just living with the thing for a while, waiting for something I had overlooked to show itself, I finally decided it was as finished as it was going to get.

Just a little cartoon of mine for today.

Rules are rules after all.

ADVENTURES IN SKETCHUP

Sketchup is addictive!  I've spent a lot of time creating a three dimensional model of the house I grew up in.  You don't know how many details you have forgotten till you try to do this.
I went on to do Sherlock Holmes flat.  I started with the PBS version and then modified it with a few features from the Connan Doyle stories left out of the TV set.  However, Doyle seems to have not had a consistent notion of the layout.  So I have had to make compromises.

Portrait progress

Those Sketchup designs of our remodel plans are being acted on, so my energies are being directed there rather than to art.
However, the next stage of progress on the portrait is available to show.   

Getting close to the finish.