Trying to get into vector

third version:

http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/1329/timon1yf.png
played with the lighting again, but this time it's more defined around the cheek area.......

never been a fan of grad shading, i'd prefer to see darker areas made with the pentool set to a low opacity.

just want to say that my brother is a good vector artist and he says the best way to learn is just keep tracing images, over and over and over and over again.. after a while it will just feel natural..

edit @ undertone: i agree with you thoug this lightning effect DOES look pretty cool..