Character Portraits (as I call them), are VERY different from what I call "Fantasy Portraits"... sort of.
Well the big difference is the style. Character Portraits are more stylized, either comic-booky, slightly cartoony or some
other specific style. Fantasy Portraits are pretty much realistic (in the face). The similarity is that they both can take
a real face and put it on a fantastical body or garb, such as gargoyles (like to the right), faeries, mermaids, knights, superheroes,
jedis, etc. In the case of Character Portraits, however, I sometimes work only from description instead of a photo.
Character Portraits are more often used by writers and role-players to get a visual reference of their character, or to use
in published works. Therefore a Character Portrait can be based on the client's face, a celebrity face, or just from the
imagination. Character Portaits are rendered in pencil sketch (rough), detailed pencil, pen & ink, or computer color. If
prismacolor pencil gets involved, even if the face is only from description, then the pricing qualifies it as a Fantasy Portrait
(such as the gargoyle to your right).
This is for two reasons. 1) Prismacolor pencil is more time-consuming, and 2) Prismacolor pencil demands more realism and
detail than a Character Portrait, by definition, should have.
Thumb through the samples with the menu links at the top left or by clicking the "Next" buttons. Several styles are shown.
You can also check out one of my many short art instruction videos (this one on drawing comic book characters) at the bottom!
Visit my YouTube Channel with dozens of these at: Jay French's YouTube How To!
