Aesthetics First Face-Up on First Doll: how can I improve my execution of this concept?

That's super good for your first face up. The only thing I would personally do to make her more elegant is glue on some eyelashes. I find that does wonders to make a face look more put together. Really good job on it though!

Edit: Also mixing in a bit more darker red into the blood on the mouth would make it look a bit more realistic ^_^

 

I would just focus on making the blood more realistic. Other than that, it’s a great face up.

 

It's great! Especially the visible dark veins are really nice detail. Only the blood needs bit more work -- to make some areas darker, deeper red. But not the whole stain, just some parts. It would look more realistic than monochrome colour.

 

It’s so good. Love the vein details!!

 

Looks good so far!

For the blood, it might work a little better if you use a clear acrylic gloss mixed with red to make it appear more liquid. The blood should also have a darker shade where it's thicker, rather than all one color. There are tutorials online for painting realistic blood that you could use as reference.

ETA: if you wanted the veins to look more realistic, you could do them in purple or blueish purple instead of black.

 

Like Doll-Mage said, the 'veins' look more like running eyeliner at the moment, so making them a purple/blue-ish tone would give a more realistic approach to it. Especially with her cheeks looking so flush and full of life like they do. Had you used darker/bluer tones to give her more of a 'dead' feel the black might have worked but it doesn't come across as "veins" in the black with this face-up. I thought it was eyeliner running until I read the text.

The blood is nice, but I would make it darker on the lip, as blood on a pink lip will appear darker than the blood smeared across the cheek. I'd also try to make the parts towards the 'open' portion of her mouth darker as well, with a bit more of a glossy/wet look.

Its great for a first attempt though and I am in no way, shape or form trying to say it is bad, just trying to give critique on what might be tweaked a little if you do wipe it for the next round.

 

Beautiful, especially for a first faceup! I can tell you put a lot of thought into it. I like the freckled spots, they add a lot of texture.

As the others said, making the veining in a light purple or blue will make it look less mascara like. I don't think the running mascara look is bad for this theme though. It fits with a fresh from the hunt look to me..

If you want her to look even spookier, I would keep the blush very light or more of a pale pink color. She would definitely give off a vampire vibe that way.

Adding darker spots for the blood and smearing out the edges rather than dotting would look really cool, especially if you want that fresh blood look. Adding a bit of gloss will add to the effect too.