Criticize?

I've a few ideas myself, but I want to see what concurs, and what others say. I would seriously like to have heavy criticism, please, and I'm sorry if the presumptiousness expresssed in that statement offended anyone who was planning on holding nothing back.

They're both lovely, Alacer. I guess I'd want to know, before saying anything else - are these done entirely from your head, or did you use photographic references for some or all? And what materials did you use? The pencils look different from the first to the second?

Thanks very much, of course. ShadowPhoenix's assassin, Lilith Indracræs (the lower), was done without photographical reference, as I initiated the project and then chucked the drawing at her later. However, since ShadowWake collaborated much more with me on Aerain's portrait (the above), I did have a decent file of material to draw pictorial data from.

Also noteworthy is that there's a seven-month time difference between Aerain and Lilith, with Aerain being drawn after a period during which I practiced a tad more. These are the stock photos she provided:


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Aerain's Eyes:
1. http://images.cdn2.inmagine.com/168nwm/bananastock/bs275/bs275050.jpg
2. https://2img.net/h/i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/bee_steffers/3245244760_e25cd8b004.jpg

Aerain's Tattoos:
1. http://tattoodesignspictures.com/images/tribal-tattoo-1.jpg
2. https://2img.net/h/i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/bee_steffers/tattoos.jpg
3. https://2img.net/h/i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/bee_steffers/Crouch.jpg

Aerain's Hair:
1 (neat). https://2img.net/h/i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/bee_steffers/long6-curly-hair.jpg
2 (messy/normally). https://2img.net/h/i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/bee_steffers/Malefic.jpg

Face:
1 (all but lips). https://2img.net/h/i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/bee_steffers/Ritual1.jpg
2 (lips). https://2img.net/h/i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/bee_steffers/Malefic.jpg

Figure:
1. https://2img.net/h/i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/bee_steffers/lg_warrior_woman.jpg
2. http://go.roleplaygateway.com/?id=464X746&url=http%3A%2F%2Fi178.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw273%2Fbee_steffers%2Famazonian_lowres.jpg
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That said, a lot of my own mental image tends to bleed onto the paper when I'm drawing.

Hmm, heavy criticism you said? Okay I'll shoot but before that I'll have to say that I would be hard-pressed to imitate you
Uhm first of all the time-lapse is very clear to see. The main "mistake" in the lower drawing are the eyes. It's something I've seen before but you made them slightly too big. SOmething else that bugged me is the nose. Did you want her to have a greek nose? If not you should have put some shading on the root of the nose. Unless she has a greek nose, noses don't flow straight from the forehead but dip slightly, just enough for some shadow.
I have very little to say about the upper drawing except that the hair makes it a bit difficult to see that she is dipping her head which might come out a bit wonky.
Hmm that's all. I hope you didn't mind, and now I'm gonna practice until I can match you