This is really good drawing and the realism is starting to be excellent! Beautiful face (especially the eyes) and I really like the different grey tones on it's snout. Beautiful work! But the only thing that "bothers" me is the lack of stronger shadows. All the tones seem to be quite close to each other - using more black and white in different areas could add more depth to it. But this is great anyway! I hope you understand my chaotic explanation! XD

Hehe, don't u worry; We all live surround by the chaos.

If i am not mistaken... i used 6b for the nose dark areas/ears/eye borders/darker fur by the 'shoulder' and 2b for the main fur whole, and 2h i think, a hard graphite one. And a very soft eraser too. Yeah, you're right; i was worried about getting it beautiful, but when i saw the result, i didn't bother working the tones a little more, i wanted to show her! She liked it a lot; i felt like one of that boys, when they get praised by the teacher on the kindergarten! Oh, i was so so happy back there... Gosh It's good to be recognized by someone you admire so much... It, really is...

I can believe that! :D My favorite artist is Boris Vallejo and I really like his way to make the brush strokes disappear and make the paintings gloss. :D His paintings are amazing, but the main reason of admiring him is his painting style. ;) I'm trying to practise that myself and it's not easy!

Vallejo? ...I recalled César Vallejo, the greatest Peruan writer, that i once studied :0!
I googled Mr boris, and whoa... his art looks like Mario Freire's, one of the best Brasilian artists of the history, that only uses colored pencils! Ha, i love him! I have seen his art already, it's quite famous, but i suck at names, unless i have some bound or other stuff that makes me recall it.... so i wouldn't ever realize him; only if you showed me a pic; my pictographic memo is better than my rational one, ehehehe!!!

Painting like that, yeah it's a totally different level, huh? There's also Carl Brenders and Christolph Drocon, whether you wanna see more Amazing artists! They're both wild life painters, so it is really worthy! Ultrarealistiuc art... Ahh :D!!!

There is a Ultrarealistic artist! Her name is -Star-!!! The only prob; and mostly this same one for all the amazing artist in any art commu, is that they don't give s%$# to you, and might never answer yo back unless you want to buy something... That saddens me... There is so much, so f%$#@&* much we could learn from them! I can talk to you anytimes, and you will answer me back and teach or make me see things, that they might not! Hehehe... that's good! Ah, by the way... i giveth thee my apologies for my longLONG comments; i am so used to writeWRITE that i may not pay too much attention on the length of the wholeWHOLE thing, and how troublesome it could be, in possibility, for a clear understanding... perhaps when you're 'offline' for too long, you accumulate words to say. Sorry to discharge that all on yo! Yoyoyoyoyo...

Yup, it may be true that those "amazing artist" are not so eager to give tips and advices to other artist. But the reason may also be that they're either too busy or they don't want to be bothered with small things. Or then they don't want to give their painting secrects to other people! XD It would be very nice to meet an artist that really wants to help other beginners with problems they have, but I think I haven't seen anyone like that! That gives a certain aggressive and indifferent image of them. Hmm... Or then they're just sick of those "stupid questions!" XD

Heres Boris Vallejo's home site: http://www.imaginistix.com/about_us.cfm There's also his wife (Julie Bell) who is as amazing painter as he is! And no need to apologize your comments, because I also tend to make my comments long! XD If there's a lot of things to say, it's very easy to write a little novel! I'm a writer also and when you get to the 'flow' you can't help it but write like a maniac! XD

Yohoho, i do love writting! There a couple of texts i've written but i shan't submit them... it's too easy to 'steal' them ò-ó! u-U... It's cool to check you're an writer yourself as well! Hehehe!!! I write things... like what's written of my account page, u know?

Well, it is indeed difficult to say who suchs and who not, concerning these experient artists... If we get to talk to them even once; like i've done with Miss Larsson and Miss Goldy; then, you can really see how they are, based on what they said; what may, even though, be not ideally accurate... We can't really rely on this, but i kind of know when someone is just sparing a bug, or, when there is some worth trial of communication. And more Miss Manu; if you may let me call you so; doubts of people who struggle toward the higher levels of perception aren't anything stupid... I would lose it, if i heard such thing... ¬_¬... Sheesh... I really don't like this issue.

I have also been pursued for my devotion by Goldie's art, by some of defective vision... who called me stalker for that. Huh! But, hey, i've exchanged some e-mails with Dark Natasha and... wow, she is so sweet advising me and telling me so friendly things! Goldie has also be so warm to me back there, when we still had contact; i'd like to find someone like this, again... I would be lovely, huh? Awww... i look eagerly forward to it! Yeay

I know a great writter that resides in here too! But, he does write certain kinds of thing... that i shalt avoidth talking about... Ahh, yeah...

I think that I write as much as I draw, maybe a little bit less, but there's been couple tries on a novel. XD Usually my texts are very short (unfinished I mean!) but nowadays I'm really trying to write longer stories that have beginning, middle part and ending. I also like to write poems that have their own unique structure - they're like short story's and poem's mixture. XD I've also written many texts in english that's not my mother tounge (it's finnish!) just for practise.

Yes, you can call me Miss Manu! XD Actually Manu and Manuka are my nicknames (used by my family members) - it's funny because Manu is actually a man's name in Finland. :D Hehheh!

I think that other people's words of my drawings doesn't mean as much as I my own words because I'm a terrible perfectionist! :X About a year ago I couldn't draw a line to the paper because my expectations of my skills were way too high! Then I stopped thinking of all those demands and got back my inspiration. :D Yay! Nowadays I appreciate my skills a lot more. But I think that all the artists' have their own "demons" - if I can use that word - that they're fighting with. =P Either if it's other peoples' words or your own way of thinking.

By the way - I still like this drawing! XD So beautiful eyes!

Awww ^-^! I am writting a book too! But i must first register it, or it will be an easy target... i like to writte stories that deautomatize the thoughts; normally about things people avoid thinking, what may be unconfortable to read - and my stories usually doesn't have 'an end', it leaves it all opened for you to conclude 'and now...'. This may make it seems even more unatracting, but that how Miss Haddad taught me that Literature is; the artist's duty is around the truth! I don't like much of happy endings and hollywoodians plots - they are futile to me.

Yoyoyoyoyo... i hope i did not hit you, eh? Sorrie!

Au, you're finnish? Oh, Therese Larsson is Swedish, i think it's not that away from yo! That's so cool! My country lacks foxes, so it kind of sucks to be here on the city... the few ones are hidden on the countryside, that is far from where i'm situated. Btw, i'm from Brazil; nonetheless i match not my national identity - i'm from the World, not from a country. I like not soccer(Only Cruzeiro maybe, a team whose mascot is a blue fox! Yay!) and carnival at all... u-U! I like art, foxy and candies! Ha!

And u know, we have to give each step by it's time... otherwise we'll fall and crush the nose on the ground! Patience is needed, when we are honing something up to the maximun; these people who have reached unworldly levels of skill also have horizon to crackle theirselves, but we ain't even capable imagining it, so we maight as well not ask too much of ourselves looking up maniacly to them. It's bad for one's head; may turn to a maniac-depressive disturb if these expectations are not quickly matched, huh? That would be really dangerous, in a longer period outcoming... ...

Hahaha, i cannot avoid being gleeful for your praise onto my piece... Thank you so much, it means so much to me!

No you didn't hit me! :D I think that there's many ways to write books and it's good that they're not all the same. Sometimes reading this hollywood stuff feels nice when you don't have to use your brains that much. XD But I'm not the best person to talk about reading - I don't read fictional books at all! When I was younger I did. And yup: Sweden is right behind the sea. Brazil is not that close! XD

It's true that it's really unhealthy for you if you try to reach skills you don't have. And you really shouldn't compare yourself to other artists because everyone have their own style! I'm never going to paint like Boris Vallejo because our styles are so different. For me it's very important that I appreciate my own work and I often say to myself: "okay, this is enough, you're great with these skills!" Healthy self-praise and egotism is always needed! Then you can keep training yourself a better artist without stress. At least I can! XD

Uhhh... send a hello to Miss Larsson for me, if you see her!
U know... there is something i consider extremely important... It's fortress; unlike strength, that's like a sword that break through all, it is the opposite - it's like a wall, a deep wall; a mountain, that is so full of grandeur that it looks natural, invisible for those without the eyes to note it, amidst the valleys and wastelands! The strength 'breaks' the laws of imposition; fortress create new ones - and it begins by something very simple: Self valorization! That are the words which were, to me, taught! Yohohohoho! Don't feel weird, i'm no crazy reverend or anything; i just like phylosophy... there few thing i consider wiser than self valorization; so that it's difficult to state them... Yohoho!

The style... it's the artist identity! We can tell who painted a piece by discerning it's style; it's like a pattern such as digitals or even a facial feature - it is unique to each one of us.

Ouch, well that was really powerful way of telling your important thing. You're really good writer by the way! By self valorization do you mean valour inside yourself? That interesting word was new for me, and believe or not - neither my computer's dictionary or my book dictionary didn't know that word! XD You spoke in so convincing way that I don't want to lose the message - so could you explain that more? :D

It's very interesting thing that every artist draw in their own style and that style you can't get rid off yourself! Well, maybe after months and months of practise. It's the same like handwriting. :D

Owww... sheesh! I am terribly sorry that i keep away from here while you wanted me to answer that... blast and thunder! !!!

To be Fortress is to give yourself value as human being; Genesis of all creativity, all possibilities and composition. Human mind can create entire worlds; if you domain well all the skills of drawing, you can draw anyone or anything in any situation - a picture of something that inexists, even... see how amazing this can be? There is a level where perception is no longer discerning between image and reality - for the brain, a image you generate of something is very well as concrete as any touchable object, as says our science. World forms are given live by the light that is absorved by the matter and afterwards reflected as frequency - carrying thus a bit of it's inner structure. Perhaps this is related to that feeling of recognizing, when we look to someone's art. The particulaties of one's art reflects one's psyche, and even personal aspects, if you've got the eyes to see it! Never treat yourself with worthlessness, because you, as any other human being has an unpredictable capacity of development. Value yourself as human being, and thou shalt become the mountain!

Once i knew a woman, whose name isn't necessary of wording - I did not have any particular interest on her... but her presence... Do you know when you meet a person so great, that they make you want to become a better person? Everyone on that enviroment was dazed... the time seemed to stop. She did not say anything, but her inner strength spoke for her. This is the mountain i was talkign about... Someone of such grandeur, that would be easily mistaken with the great emptinesses of the nature, such as the skies, or the mountains, or the fields whose grass grows verdant, nourished by the golden heat of the sun. The fortress, begins with the acceptance of oneself as a human being to which anything is out of reach.
I consider a act of good make people question what is the world - Is really everything around us just what it seems? I wanted to believe that not; so interesting it is to revise my endless rountine- I think it is quite wierd to talk about this kind of phylosophy, eh? Yeah... I am not used to any religions, i just believe in what is beautiful - The nature is beautiful, so does the art; so does the True Humanity; and the infinite mysteries of to live...

Hey, if there something more you wanna know or maybe discuss about, just give it a shoot! I hope not being too much boring, but i kind of say that stuff if i find someone with enough ears to hear - and perhaps, too, patience ! Yohohohohohohohoho!!!!!!

No need to be in a hurry! :D Thank you for your explanation! It was really illustrative - and philosophical. ;) I'm not that much into philosophy, but I did understand your writing. I've never met a person that leaves me speechless and who's strenght I could have felt, but I think that I know what you feel. Maybe you could say that the woman was also really charismatic, you can really tell if someones having that. :) Having that much inner strenght is enviable and also you respect those kind of people very much.

I wouldn't use a word "boring" when it comes to your writings. The word would be profound! ;) I find myself also a bit profound speaker, but I explain my things in a more simple and more down-to-earth way if I can use that way of saying. XD Maybe I could say that I'm pretty much down-to-earth person! But it's reallyreally interesting to talk with you! I enjoy conversation that is "challenging!" And sometimes for a counterbalance I just like to laugh and talk trifles!

Yosh, i am very happy i was successful in my explanation!

These people are rare to find these days... and it is more than just charism; i didn't know her occupations, but i am sure she was of that kind - the ones who likes to make people do what is good. It was a serious face, but seemed like smiling. People started getting excited - so that anyone would say anything at anytime, even the shiest of the shy people; it was like she gave everyone courage. Ha, and know what? Respect is not ever imposed - but recognized. And everyone there did so! She is not the type we would envy, but the one we would look up to. I am still too much imature to understand truly what is to be "really good". Not at arts, or at writting, but as a person. Perhaps it is something only the years can give me.

Hey, i see it was my bad-wording! And, i can provide some 'challenging' conversation sometimes! We may have this kind of talk in the future! Yo, it should be fun !!!

Hmm, maybe being a good person doesn't take time but choises in life. I'm talking about helping other people, being nice and kind and strong from your mind. But this shouldn't be mixed to this "perfect human" term that is something ridicilous for me! :) Maybe this is going a bit off-topic, but I'm going to say it anyway - we all have bad sides in us even if we are good persons. ^^

Yup, it would be nice to talk challenging things with you, but right now I'm having a minor headache that keeps me away of thinking too much! But having an empty head feels extremely good - it's like vacation for the brains! :D At least for my brains, because I'm a chronical thinker and I rarely have empty head. But I'm little by little learning to empty my mind. ;) Yay for that!

Those people who can are called altruistic... for i'm yet small as person, i can't really understand how do they satisfy theirselves as such. ...Well, of course that your actions and choices do develop this but i'm talking about what is truly treasurable at the adults: The maturity! This can be hastened or slowed, but it can only come at full after surviving the years...

I do not think of people as having sides. There is always the dominant temper, that defines more or less how may people classify you as you cohabitate with them. We all may vary, attuned with the surrounding environment.

About this "perfect human" stuff... I see not bodies, i look people deep in their eyes, so might them oftenly dislike staying near me; so nothing they may hide beneath their "perfectness"... I have no biases, and too begrudge this kind of demeanor.

Knowing how to bring peace to one's mind is indeed very important, as i consider! I like to float in the silences i create when i need to stop thinking... Sometimes our heads need to get some rest, eh? Hahahaha, i hope you get your noodles well again! It is very good to find temperance, and balance all things of your life equaly.

Get better! Ta!

Yuuup, peace in my mind - hard to get! But "pieces in my mind" is a lot easier! XD Maybe I have a little bit of this "restless soul" in me. Oh dear, I feel so tired right now! =P Maybe that running trip an hour ago is reason for that! For change I'm going to take care of my fitness and leave drawing/painting away maybe for a week. Well, maybe I could also call this artblock.

Interesting thoughts you had! Maturity truly comes with time, experience and responsibility - if I could put that in a simple way. I'm reading very interesting book that tells about human's temper and ability to handle stress. I haven't finished the book yet, but it's been very informing this far! :) Now I'm going to continue my tasty cauliflower meal! Yum, yum!

Restless soul? Hummm... Some people just have a hard time when it gets to empty out mind. Sometimes, there is a kind of Meditative-block XD!!!

You did run a trip? Ugh, how come? Exercises? Yo-ho, that's something i would never-ever find time to do! It is good to maintain our health, but mine just keep in me, even if i be all day long at sleep...

Read those psychologic books is good if you're willing to understand something better about human behaviour. Thinking about any specific field of it would be far more tiring, if you just tried to do so all by yourself without any sources, isn't it? This things are too much complex, i think - so that's why a book always come in handy! I was reading, back there, a book about concentrational disturb; About unquiet minds and hyperactive people - not that i am hyperactive, but i am really hard to set focused sometimes...

Meditative-block? Never heard! :D When I can't empty my mind it means that there's way too much thoughts in my mind which I'm thinking. :X Few days ago I experienced this "empty head" feeling and it was sooo weird! There wasn't a thing in my mind and I was fully concentrated to the environment around me! Not a thought! Not even half of one. Then I started to feel a bit bad because I'm not used to an empty head! XD So I tried to find problems or other issues to think about. Yup...I'm a thinkingholist! XD

I really like running and that's my main way to do some exercise. =P If I'm really angry, I put my sneakers on and go to the track! Works almost everytime. ;) Yay! I haven't run for a year so I'm starting it again very slowly - I don't want to hurt my legs! XD Running is very good counterbalance for this perpetual sitting and drawing at my desk. My back hates me because of that!

Being focused is sometimes hard for me too for numerous reasons. :D Too much noise, not interesting task, too tired, too much energy etc. If I'm really energetic and excited I tend to start jumping like a hyperactive squirrel even in the middle of an interesting movie! But while I jump like a squirrel I sound like a jumping hippo! XD Krhm...there's a lot of strenght in my legs. ;)

And yup, books are very handy! I should finish my book that I told about.

Physical Exercises are great to cope with tense or bad mental states. Good thing for you! Keep doing that !

Yahahaha! Jumping like a squirrel? Yo-ho, that sure consumes a lot of energy! I tend not to jump, but i like to kick the air consecutively! That too spend some of my SP! But, if it hits someone, it would hurt badly XD!!! I am like a kid, i just kick away because of Kizaru... the anime guy who kicks at light speed!!! Yohohohoh!

que bonita gravura , adorei !