C&c on portrait

[Reodor]

This is a portrait I am planning to use for a game. I know it could be a lot better, but I don't know how I can improve it. Any suggestions?

[space boy]

I would say the contrast is a tiny bit over the top. The highlights shoudn't be that white and the shaded areas should be bit more visible. Otherwise I like it, very atmospheric. How did you make it?

[Babar]

The beard part is too different from the rest of the picture. It's very sharp and pixelly compared to the rest of the smoothness of the picture. Also, considering the smoothness of the face, I'd think he'd be too young to have such a scraggly white beard.

[Reodor]

Thanks for the feedback. I agree that the contrast was a bit exaggerated, and the beard was very pixelated.

New picture:

[InCreator]

You went overboard with smoothing. Look at the beard and hair where it divides (top of the head)!

It doesn't look like hair/beard anymore, but more like dried toothpaste. Add some noise to the beard. Just don't make it as contrasty as it was on first picture.

Highlight color is very intense, and this is not very good on human skin: It gives plastic feel. But I still love how well face looks like and you shouldn't change anything much, so you wouldn't spoil it.

[Reodor]