Personal Piece- Self Portrait

[Ally]

well kind of a self portrait.

The idea was to utilize images that are representative of my culture/background.

I wanted to see what you guys thought of it, especially the lower left area. I feel there is something off but don't know what exactly.

I'm pretty happy with it overall, just want to see what you guys suggest.

thanks a bunch =)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a227/atijerina/self_portrait.jpg

[Liquid Layers]

I would move the name tag up, and crop off about 3 or 4 inches from the bottom. There is plenty of resting space to the left of your portrait, and it leads my eye into the rest of the composition.

Consider which element(s) you want to emphasize, and let them take up the bulk of the page.

The combination of the images themselves is very fluid, and I think its a pleasant combination of textures and colors.

[Alex Traska]

yea i really like this. right up my design-street! nice work. I particularly like the curling yellow wisp coming from behind your head to the figurine.

The only part I don't think sits fantastically are the two swooshes coming from the top of the picture to behind your head. They seem a bit flat compared to the rest of the image.

I recognise that decorate vector coming from the right of the flowers. I've used that one myself on some design. Works well in yours.

[CamarotaDesign]

pretty awesome Ally, great job on using textures to give it a painting feel. I agree with liquid layers, crop it a little, or add some more elements. I mean, it really looks great, but it just seems like theres too much empty space around your face in the left side and below it. none the less, fantastic work.

Do you mind if I ask where you got your technique to make the painting texture? I have an Advanced Photoshop magazine that has a tuorial on this. I'm planning on doing a piece with it soon, I'm wondering if it can get as good an effect as you achieved.

[Samakimoto Graphics]

That looks fantastic!

I particularly love the colours and tones you have. i agree with Alex that the swooshes seem out of place.

The texture looks like that on old maps on parchment, nice touch.

I think the emptiness of the bottom part will be solved by Liquids suggestion.

[balou]

I can't add much more than what's said above. You have such a talent Ally. I am in awe.

[Exodus]

I can't add much more than what's said above. You have such a talent Ally. I am in awe.

Ditto. Very nice work! :)

[cornfed]

Very nice, Ally! The only thing that bothers me is that your skin looks so smooth in the whole thing except for the tip of the nose. If you could smooth out the pores, then I think it will add to it. I agree about the swooshes being flat, but I love the color scheme of them. I don't think you should abandon them all together, just give them the detail you've given to the rest of the piece! Great job!

[Jriddim]

wow nice...not much i can say about it...pretty much ditto to everyone else. Though, I can say you are soooo pretty, im sure you have one very lucky b/f.

ps: I always enjoy your work, keep it up

[Ally]

It's good to see I got some good input today, I couldn't get the forum to load for me all day yesterday for some reason.

I think the way to go might me to crop it, so I'll try that. I'm just afraid that it will look strange as more of a landcape layout instead of a portrait layout...we'll see how it looks.

As far as how I achieved the painting look, it was all really just a test. I had never tried that before and I just experimented with many many textures, and a lot of manipulating of the colors with selective color/hue/saturation.

Thanks on all the compliments! And I will definetely try to smooth out my nose! ha

[Silence04]

very nice ally!
i love the use of those colors, well put together!

I also agree about cropping it some...

nice job!

[Botchup]

It's good to see I got some good input today, I couldn't get the forum to load for me all day yesterday for some reason.
Yeah same here. I then searched for GDF with google and clicked on a link inside the forum, and voila all started working... rather weird. Glad I wasn't alone.

I just wanted to say your self portrait is awesome.

[budafist]

Yeah same here. I then searched for GDF with google and clicked on a link inside the forum, and voila all started working... rather weird. Glad I wasn't alone.

I just wanted to say your self portrait is awesome.

I think that was coincidence Botchup. I did the same thing but it didn't work for me. I waited awhile checked back and it worked...

[Botchup]

I think that was coincidence Botchup. I did the same thing but it didn't work for me. I waited awhile checked back and it worked...
Maybe, but I couldn't access it for several hours (forgot to mention that).

It made my morning at work real boring. :P

[the_punisher]

Although I cant see the image, I saw your website and all I can say is wow.