This is my entry into the happy challenge.
I got into the top ten! It was a very impressive set of portraits so I’m honored to have made it.

This is a style I’ve been meaning to try for a while. I started with “inks” in Flash, and then took that over to painter to add “oils” behind it. I also wanted to play a bit more with colours, adding in greens and blues to the skin tone instead of sticking with a two colour brown effect like most of my stuff.
Has it been effective? I’m not sure. However I have learned one thing from this experience – my nose is slightly tilted to one side.
If you want to see a series of images showing the progress of this illustration I’ve posted it in a journal entry here
Comments
Very Cool, Love the texture on the right (your left)
Thanks Michael, it’s nice to be working with a bit of texture for a change :)
– Damien Mason
what a great entry. The detail and the texture of the skin tone is so great. And look at those great shadows!! a really stand out job. can see A LOT of work went into this. a truly wonderful SP.
Thanks a lot Pip! It was an interesting style to play in, I’m still thinking about how best to do that ABC book so I need excuses to try new things.
– Damien Mason
very good…but looks a bit lower than a seven to me
Heh, that’s just how my face works ;) I’m really a happy guy, even if I don’t look it.. Blame growing up in a small town in rural Australia, you learn to hide your emotions
– Damien Mason
Wicked!
Thanks Sarah!
– Damien Mason
so this is you! you know, for some reason i’d almost expected you to be blue and furry… ;)
I’m blue and furry on the inside ;)
– Damien Mason
Great work man. Maybe try a more blue green next time to show off skin tones. Having said that it’s all a matter of preference.
Yeah thanks, I think because it’s the first time I’ve tried something like this I pulled back the colour a fair bit.. I was worried that it might end up looking a bit absurd. I might need to play a bit more with better reference photos
– Damien Mason
love it, and love your ‘auto derision’;-) great textures and rendering of lights and shadows!
Thanks Sonia!
– Damien Mason
The shadow is perfect, not too dark or too light.
Hey thanks a lot. I might post up some progress shots, the shadow was actually added as a bit of a “wash” later because I realised the image needed a bit more contrast.
– Damien Mason
The shading and shadow as others have said gives great impact.
Thanks man, I still have a ways to go but it’s nice to get the occasional illustration that “works”.. at least in part ;)
– Damien Mason
great light and shade.He’s very engaging, and good luck with the challenge :-)
Heh, thanks.. I’m not sure if that means I’m engaging too.. but I’ll take it as a compliment ;)
– Damien Mason