First drawing of Marilyn

[Ron Duke]

I've worked on this on and off for weeks. I just can't get people down. The details have to be so perfect that I can't get them right no matter how many adjustments I make. Hair is too much work, too.
ron

[Ron Duke]

I've worked on this on and off for weeks. I just can't get people down. The details have to be so perfect that I can't get them right no matter how many adjustments I make. Hair is too much work, too.
ron

[MEB]

Hi knightedduke
Very nice work!!!!
Don´t give up!!! Don´t forget you are trying to accomplish one of the most complicated vector works that can be made: the human figure.I wish i can go for such complicated works...
Besides that it seems you are very very close to master it.
I can identify that expression on her face Very nice! Thumbs up!
I almost can feel your frustation with the hair part. I never tried it before but it seems very complicated to achieve the correct look. I´m sure there´s should be some good techniques for that. I´ve already seen some good works on the subject.

Good luck and keep updating the image

Regards,
Miguel

[raynerj]

Ron,

Youare gonna make Richard start panting here...

The heck with Richard. She looks good enough to eat right now... Now give us the rest of the portrait...

sheesh, I am such a vert...

to old to be a "pre-vert"

[RAMWolff44]

OH MY GODDESS!! I bow before you. Your effort is wonderful. You are my God (kidding but we all want to hear that at least once in our life time! )

The hair issue should be easier than you are making it. Try this. Make a blob for the shape of the hair for the bottom layer, then build the other blob shapes for the highligthts and low-lights. Then take your tablet and stylus and choose a .05 pt line width and a Cigar line shape and draw in the individual hairs to create depth and realism over the shaped blobs created for depth and highlighted areas of the hairdo. You don't have to go hog wild and cover all the hair blob shapes, on the contrary you want parts of the highlight and low-light shapes base color to peer out from behind, adds depth. Then take and group the hair strands (you might want to do this whole process in layers so you can make the main hair blobs non editable while drawing in the individual strands) and apply a 4 point fill and choose white, yellow, gold and maybe white or yellow again and adjust the 'box' so it's how you want it so you are creating more depth and realism.

I guess being a hair dresser makes the 'vision' easier than it sounds but in drawing humans and animals the hair is pretty important (eye lashes, eye brows, facial hair and any other hair) There are many techniques but this one seems the best for this sort of multi dimentional effect you are going for.

The facial expression is just perfect but there is something not quite right about the nose or maybe I see an angular shadow on the left side of her face that should be a bit softer.... not sure, can't figure it out. I know the "pose" and the "look" but I need a picture to see. You got the original Ron??

Don't give up, it's worth it and Marilyn thanks you with a big kiss on the cheek and purrrring greatfully in your ear.......

[OklaEd]

Looking good Ron!

Don't stop now ... you're almost there. Amazing!

[Ron Duke]

Here's the wireframe. I thickened all the lines in order for you to be able to see them all clearly.
ron

[raynerj]

Durn Ron,

How come there are parts showing in the wireframe that do not correspond to the drawing. Is that that durn unwanted modesty filter again?

[Ron Duke]

Actual photo drawing was done from.
ron

[RAMWolff44]

Yup hair can be a real problem some times Ron. In this case it looks like well formed cotton candy and that can be a challenge to give it JUST the right look, to appear as over processed, set and styled hair, so you did well, I think!!

Thanks for posting the original, that tells me a bit more. I really do think this is a wonderful rendition of the Goddess of Beauty so if I were you I'd keep going with developing your skills in drawing humans. You got the knack!!