Clean Shadowing PLEASE HELP

[AstraelStar]

When ever I do a drawing of a person it usually comes out to look alright. However I never have been able to get the clean look that so many of the artists I have seen on here get. I don't know what I do that won't let me get the lines I want but someone could I get some examples or some pointers to help we get the nice look. PS. I wil ltry and find/draw a pic that illustrates what I am trying to say.

[Sendak]

There is a concept that is taught to most artists at some point in their development:
It takes a thousand BAD drawings before you start doing GOOD drawings.

This basically just means that it takes a LOT of practice to finally get to a point that you like the work that you are doing.

So, have you drawn more than a thousand drawings in your lifetime? If not, get to it! That's the best advice that anyone has ever given me, and the best advice I could give you.

[bastian]

but i think i know what he mean though, if he's the one that drew that little avatar portrait.

AstrealStar - this clean line work like you see alot of here is from guys who does alot of character expressions. stuff thats imaginative. You like doing portraits alot? Maybe you just like doing the details more. I can't say until you post something. But if its the clean stuff you want that dosen't mean your drawings aren't nice. Look at Travis Charest for example, Marc Silvestri or Jim Lee they can draw in details and thinks through the composition. They feel good about it, and made a carreer. Animator draws tons of details too but its clean because they put they're effort into this one line that express the body and one that express the hand etc..

My suggestion for you is that you can either just qeep trying to do what your inspired to do. Or ride the wave and draw whatever you want. Whichever it is, its a winner baby!

[AstraelStar]

Thanks guys that is encouraging and I finally got a pic and in a way sad to say it doesnt portray what i mean because mainly the clean shading problems come mostly with doing the different planes in the face. But anyway this one i kinda like, but please ignore the hand. The one outstretched was actually holding another hand, and bothe were wearing the same color gloves, flourescent red so, I had to make something up. Any comments on shading, depth, anything that would help make it better. Thanks. Examples would be awesome, I love to see everyones work. O and yes I did that icon of me.