WIP Critique Upping my bust game

[WarhammerAdjacent]

Hi all, I'm working on this bust of a Dukes Soldier circa 1990-something. It looks a bit like of a colleague of mine so I'm broadly trying to match his complexion and colouring but my main goal is to up my game on skin painting. I'm aiming for a realistic skin tone for a chap in his late early 30s, outdoorsy and a bit tanned but also a little ruddy. In terms of my style inspiration I'm hoping to get something like the affects our own Mike Butler manages. I've been looking over some of the pictures in his WW1 book and on Patreon, particularly the 'step by steps' and reckon I've got to roughly his 'stage 1,' normally this is the point where I'd do a little more playing and then call it finished. So far it's all been painted with Scale75 artist colour acrylics.

I'm hoping for any feedback or tips on building up skin texture and colouring. My plan for here was to use a mixture of stippling and glazes to bring out the pink in the cheeks, maybe stipple some mid/darker tones along the brow to break up the highlights a little and to do some serious work on the ears, particularly going for reddish tones around the tops. I've blocked in the colours of the beret, hair and jumper for now so don't worry about those too much.

Pics for your viewing pleasure, I'll try to get some better ones later.

 

[NigelR]

That looks like a good start. That's about all the advice I can offer I am afraid.....

 

[Merryweather]

Yes, if I'd done that I would be happy calling it finished !

 

[Briggsy]

Looking good for a Dike of Boots soldier, in this scale I'm no more help than Nigel or Neil, I have only ever completed one bust in nearly 50 years.

Simon

 

[Panzer22]

looks promising ,I can't do this with acrylics .I'm more of an oil guy. the eyes are very good! I had seen somewhere that you have to
apply the paint very thin layer by layer to make them fit together better( that always doesn't go well for me that's why oli)

hans