Technically, this was traced.
Actually, this was traced.

I wanted to learn / practice realistic style, shading, and painting with photoshop and a technique I learned was to take an actual photo (http://wondering-souls.deviantart.com/art/guardian-104516590) and color over it...which I did.

In the end, it took about 8 hours.

Yup. I totally f'ed up the face and hair. So sad.

(c)Sam