I use a photograph when I create a portrait design. I do not look for likeness as I am concerned with representing the energy, emotion or that particular look.
After 2 years, I notice that I am moving more and more towards a corpse portrait and I notice that I sometimes feel uncomfortable with that. Even though I always ask permission to use a photo (and give credits), I still find it a tricky thing.
I like to experiment so I made an attempt to create a portrait with AI so I can use that image in my design. The portrait that AI creates is pretty okay. The base of the face is fine for a basic portrait. But what AI cannot do is get a soul in the eyes. The emotion is very limited.
But I found that challenging. So I started drawing out the eyes in detail. In this photo, you can't see it very well but I think there are about 15 colours in each eye. Very intensely detailed. And because this has so much detail, I divided the face itself into coarser planes and towards the neck I added some more colour again by working with smaller planes.
Because of the enormous detail in the eyes, I have set this work up very large. Her gaze is intense. She is allowed to be present.