Sam - a portrait

[amberdreams]

I've been trying to do some digital painting, using PaintTool Sai and Photoshop. I have no idea what I'm doing or how far to take it but I kind of liked the way this turned out in the end so I stopped here.
Two teaser details

The version I settled on is Sammessiah, an early birthday pressie for monicawoe for Monday.


And here's a version with 'normal' eyes.


Not digital realisim, but I don't really think I want to go that way. Besides, there are already some superb digtally real artists that I could never compete with so...

All concrit gratefully received! I realise this is still a bit of a cross between my usual coloured line illustrations and a proper digital painting.

Comments

[kalliel]

So pretty! I love his eyes in both of them especially. :D

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[katwoman76.livejournal.com]

I like it, but I think his eyes are a little too blueish. needs some more green in it.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Yeah they did end up a bit blue. There is green and tawny in there too but when you zoom out the blue dominates.

[indiachick.livejournal.com]

I like the first version the most. It's so pretty.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you!!

[dolnmoon.livejournal.com]

I think your tones are beautiful. Love the gold eyes in the first one and your shading is great. Always love the way you draw Sam's hair.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aw thanks very much - quickreaver's given me a hair tutorial to look at but I confess I haven't gone through it yet, I really must check it out!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

That's beautiful, you've captured his eyes really well - both versions.
And you've really captured his nose, I find noses really hard to do!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the nose comment - I was really pleased how that turned out (or should I say turned up, in Sam's case?? LOL!)

[tifaching.livejournal.com]

Love those chilling yellow eyes.....

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Heh heh, thought you might...

[galwithglasses.livejournal.com]

It's amazing how just the eye color changes the picture. I really like the top one. The yellow eyes are great. The only bit of concrit I would offer is maybe blending or blurring the shades of skin tones, not a lot, just a bit more, especially if you're not going for digital realism. I think it's just a matter of playing with the medium a bit more. Don't get me wrong, it's totally awesome as it is. Digital stuff is so different to work with because so much depends on how you end up sizing and zooming the final version. The close-up of the gold eye is really awesome and shows a whole level of detail different from the zoomed out versions. Very cool.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I did think about carrying on with the skin tones to blend the shades more but I actually liked the way it looked like there were perhaps brush strokes in there, and the almost watercolour effect, so I left it a bit blobby. I'm thinking I might not like that effect so much after I go away and don't look at it for a while.

It's a bit hit and miss for me at the moment!

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

Oh, yum, the blending! So buttery, but not overdone. I think it's important not to smooth things into oblivion, keep the 'paint' interesting, in and of itself. Which you're doing! You might want to think about varying textures...stubble from skin from the wrinkle of lips. But you're definitely on the right track. Keep up the great work. :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I did think about adding stubble and I've seen quite a few skin texture brushes but I reached a point with this one where I thought - I might mess it up by doing more. Which is actually daft because hey! this is digital and there is a delete layer and an undo button.

So I suppose I might come back and have a fiddle in a few days.

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

Mmmm I love his golden eyes, such a lovely colour and is that a man reflected in his eye? His hair is gorgeous too and I really like the shading on his top lip below his nose. The turquoise eyes are beautiful too.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks for noticing all the little details! Yes, that could be a man (maybe Dean's) reflection, who knows?

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

You're welcome, I love all the little details. And for me it's Dean in his reflection, of course, sighs!

[monicawoe.livejournal.com]

EARLY YELLOW-EYED SAM BDAY PRESENT \o/

::makes grabby hands::

Thank you so much, darling- this is wonderful! I especially love the rich colors in the hair and the gorgeous golden eyes : D

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Glad you like him, Happy Birthday for tomorrow, Moni!

[sillie]

This is really nice! I think I like the one with the golden eyes the best. :D

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Me too...

[ephermeralk.livejournal.com]

Yellow-eyed sam! So glorious. It's a good color on him...

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

It suited Sam better than it suited Azazel...

[siennavie.livejournal.com]

Nice job! The gold eyes and his cheekbones have a wonderful lively shine :D

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Sam has glorious cheekbones.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Love 'em both! (though possible those gold eyes are slightly more gorgeous…;D). I don't know how to talk art .../o\ Just…wonderful! I really love the style.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I don't know how to talk art either. LOL! Thanks my dear.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Well,you sure know how to do it!

[zara-zee.livejournal.com]

Hey, these are good. Looks like a fun medium to work in. I definitely like the gold eyes the best, just a little bit...ethereal... :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

PaintTool Sai is especially nice (and the Mac version was free too!). Thanks, glad you liked the golden eyes!

[de-nugis.livejournal.com]

Cool, I especially like the reflection in the close-up of the yellow eye.

I'm not really competent to concrit art, but I agree with quickreaver that it might be interesting to texture a bit more. The skin looks almost a bit plastic to me. OTOH, that could itself be an effect you were going for, especially if you're doing a yellow-eyed boy!king type Sam, because it does make him seem a bit inhuman.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I will have to see if I can play with skin texture brushes next, I think. And even Sam the BoyKing should probably have stubble.

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

These are awesome! I'm not great with art lingo but I love those yellow eyes. And the hair is great too!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! No lingo required... :D