Drawing from a photo can be tricky. For me, the eyes are key to a successful rendering. Often times, the drawing will look nice but bear little resemblance to the subject. Getting the eyes down is big step in the right direction. It doesn't have to be exact, after all the artist is allowed room to interpret the subject as he sees fit.
Portrait drawing is a tremendous learning tool to any artist. The more practice you put in, the better. For me, I feel that I'm putting together a creative approach that's allowing me to improve my illustrations, and not just for portraits.
Whether you're trying to get a likeness of Jon Hamm or Timothy Olyphant, always study the subject's eyes...
Stayed tuned for the inked version of Deputy U.S. Marshal Givens.
