Aesthetics Soulhollows Faceups - How can I improve?

I don't think any thing is wrong about your face-up, actually I think the line work matches the style quite well

I guess the major reason that you did not get a lot commission is just people's taste, they just choose the style they like, and as you said, it is a quite unsual style, so most people may find it does not suite for their dolls and they just choose someone else.

 

I have to agree with Dawn Spencer to a degree. What probably could help is to develop several faceup styles
or either try to do a compromise of what you like and what the mass likes.

I had a look at your tumblr and my initial thought was that, in my opinion, most of the faceup´s are alittle bit to to much.
Either to much defining certain facial features or detailing parts without focusing on the whole face as one.

But I´m totally digging your color choices and palettes that you are using. I hope this might help you out

 

Wow. I think that you are very good at your own style and are just "getting into the groove" as far as where you want to go with it. Nothing wrong with that at all. As far as critique? Mmmm.... Your right about line work. You have to be careful with pencils, they come out grainy on resin if you don't blend them in. Two techniques that work depending on which one you like. One is using a damp brush over the lines or go over the lines with a kneadable eraser ( it pulls up some of the color and softens the lines). I might run some shading from the bottom of the nose to the top of the lip in that dip. It might tie in the face up better. The defined lines on the mouth make them look really made up and dry. Line work. That's what really stands out to me. Shading is incredible. You should put backstories on some of your exotic faceups so that others can see your vision. it would be cool to hear them.

 

Your style is beautiful and certainly unique, i love the freckles and the way you do the shading around the eyes, it gives the doll a very realistic feel which may honestly not be some peoples taste just because they like dolls to be of utter perfection. the only thing i may work on is the crispness of the lines you made with the watercolor pencils. I myself am trying to fix the way i draw on my lines (eyelashes, etc.) on my dolls, and so far the best thing i have found instead of resorting to the scary acrylic paint, is to take a fluffy brush (such as a fluffy makeup brush, or a watercolor brush with synthetic hair not bristles) and buff the lines lightly so that the lines blend just a little. Besides that, Keep up the good work! you are very talented!

 

Honestly your technique is outstanding in all the correct ways. the fact that you use that much color and still make it work is amazing. and even with your lines, the only thing you need to work on them is to make then not look grainy which is very simple to fix how DarkFhaleyn pointed out. But i believe that people are not commissioning you because of the beautiful unusual style that you have brought to life instead of 'something being wrong.'

 

Your face-ups are wonderful- my SO has gotten faceups from you quite a bit! I hope you don't mind receiving tips from a newbie; Although I'm not well-versed in faceups, I do a lot of illustration and painting, so maybe I can provide some input?

In my opinion, you shouldn't attempt to become 'mainstream', unless you truly want to. There is something special about your style that really should be cherished and improved upon, rather than changed.

Like with all art, one of the best ways to learn is through inspiration- finding other artists that perform in a similar style, take what you find will improve your style, and disregard what you think will compromise the integrity of your work. It's difficult to find other faceup artists who work in your style (which is why I think your style should be cherished!), but I think some of Rafael Vyana's faceups can be considered similar. Some of the faceups I have in mind are here, here, and here. Maybe this is a good place to start for inspiration.

Personally, my only suggestion would be to be careful to not overestimate the shape of the lips with either paint or blushing. Perhaps it might be worth to define the bow of the lips more obviously, by removing the blushing with a pointed eraser against the bow to define it further.

Keep on keepin' on! ​

 

I really love your style! It's natural and makes me think of what real skin looks like - not airbrushed to perfection, but raw and real and alive! Your work has character and individuality about it.

I really want to commission you...but the doll I have in mind has not arrived yet. ">.<

 

I love your style. It has character, and I wouldn't try and calm that down too much, if I were you. Yes, a slightly lighter touch on the pencil would be good, but keep that brave approach going.

The only thing I can suggest, if you want to develop even further, is to look at more real face references, particularly for things such as the eyebrows. Some of them are quite stylised and I would love to see you use your gritty, realistic paint style with some gritty realistic eyebrows and lip shading.

I look forward to seeing your next generation of work. Keep going!

 

Need to do more accurate eyelashes . Management should be supported against jitter. For example , place a pillow under the arm .

 

I know this is an old post but just to say I really like these. I agree with others, don't go mainstream unless you WANT more commissions, from an artistic perspective these have a nice quality, almost feels a bit expressionist, Van Gogh to me. I wouldn't personally commission it because it's not to my characters style but don't think a lack of commissions means it 'isn't good'!