People have asked before how I do my portrait/bust pictures - the "secret" to making it look realistic really is nothing more than using the photos clients give me! Most of my most realistic work is referenced - frankly, I'm just not that good freehand yet, for the most part! To help facilitate accuracy, ironically I blur the photo to help give me a feel for the main shapes and colours. As I've explained to people before, I find it's best to work from "large to small" - roughing in main colours and large shapes and getting them looking right before fussing over the details of nostrils or eyelashes or teeth.

While this is more just a walkthrough of my process than a helpful tutorial, I hope at least a few people find it helpful in some way :b :)

Fullview: http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2.....a5-d36i1z7.jpg

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Lilyth © Atrus
photo of Nataliya Piro © its original photographer