I got a project to work on "My own personal Jesus" for my portraiture course, and since I couldn't think of someone I regard as a godly figure, I decided to go with the internet's version. This is still slightly incomplete as I need to do some fine tuning and decide if I want to put a border on it as if it were an illuminated manuscript, but I wanted to post it to share and get people's opinions before I go to turn it in. In particular, I want to know if it feels like it's actually painted onto the paper texture, or just floating in front, and whether or not you guys think there's any other major tweaks I should make.

lba
I got a project to work on "My own personal Jesus" for my portraiture course, and since I couldn't think of someone I regard as a godly figure, I decided to go with the internet's version. This is still slightly incomplete as I need to do some fine tuning and decide if I want to put a border on it as if it were an illuminated manuscript, but I wanted to post it to share and get people's opinions before I go to turn it in. In particular, I want to know if it feels like it's actually painted onto the paper texture, or just floating in front, and whether or not you guys think there's any other major tweaks I should make.

It should look more scaly. I like what you did with the brow. Hands seem a bit small compared to the head, but what do I know about Lizard anatomy?

Send that to David Icke.

He believes that Christianity (and other religions) are all creations of the Reptilians because they want to enslave humanity.

Nicely done. Love the surface. Be sure to take lots of hi-res pics and maybe some slides because that will deteriorate I'd say.
I think it's fine without additional stuff.
Personally I'd add some more scales, like Alin says, but only really on the lighter skin areas. I'd also work to smooth out the gradations in tone, and highlight a secondary colour in the core of the shadow areas -instead of just a darker tone. You're doing that a little bit already.
And finally I'd straighten up the lines in a lot of the creases to an extent- especially the cuff opening. But that's just me, you might be going for a more rounded rougher look, I don't know :)

It looks good.
I'd make it slightly more transparent though, maybe add some cracks to the paper, that are seen through raptor Jezus?

Oh and:
Hehe... look it's jesus. He feeds on the lame.

Thanks for the input guys.

The hands may very well be a bit small. I'm well known for my habit of making hands and feet smaller than they should be. I tried to keep it to what I thought was proportionate to the body, but it's very possible that they're a bit small.

Scales are a definite addition I think. The shadows show their colour a bit more in the printout, but I'll take that into consideration. This is the first time I've tried using more colour in shadow and highlight, so I'm figuring out how to use it better.

There are some cracks and wrinkles showing through him if you look at areas like his sleeve, but there's just not a lot of them to show through him where I placed him on the paper. I'll have to look into enhancing them a bit.

I think the cracks and wrinkles in the paper should show through in a different way, rather than just more. The lowered opacity around the edge of the left sleeve screams "digital!" to me. Maybe try going for more of a peeled/scratched off look in those areas that reach towards the edges of the paper?