Are you working primarily in a digital medium (like Photoshop/Procreate) or traditional (oil/acrylic/gouache)? I can tailor specific techniques to your medium.
→ Construction. Roughly map out the placement of features using the structural head as a guide.
You cannot stylize what you do not understand. Are you working primarily in a digital medium
Learn the "flow lines" of facial muscles. Even in a cartoonish style, these rhythms dictate how light hits the surface and how the face creases during expressions.
: Prioritizing the distinction between light and dark before introducing color. This includes establishing "shadow shapes" as solid blocks to define 3D form. Build : Roughly map out the placement of features using
A common mistake in student classwork is over-rendering—blending every single surface until it looks like smooth plastic. Stylization relies heavily on , which dictates where the viewer's eye travels. Types of Edges
What inspires you most (e.g., Disney/Pixar, anime, comic book, semi-realism)? Even in a cartoonish style, these rhythms dictate
If you are taking this class (or teaching yourself), listen for these specific pieces of feedback. They are the difference between amateur stylization and professional work.
While exaggerating, you must maintain a sense of balance. If you make the eyes larger, they must still sit within a logical structure on the skull.
Before color, you must master the "Notan" (light/dark pattern). In class, you will paint your portrait in greyscale first. You cannot move to color until the skull reads as a 3D form using only black, white, and two greys. This is the "sculpting" phase.