I've done my first actual portrait after I began studying art, but it doesn't really match the reference well and several parts are off to me. Still, it was pretty fun to draw. What do you think?

I haven’t been able to do much drawing recently due to a couple of major life events happening concurrently. I have been doing a little bit here and there and I drew this portrait in blue pencil in my sketchbook. I don’t have a specific area of concern, but it doesn’t look finished to me. I know I could have placed it a bit lower on the page to give more space around the portrait (but that’s where it ended up on the page). I’m including the reference.I would really appreciate your advice. Thank you!

I am back to this. As these kinds of drawings always help improving me

Do you have any advice on drawing and shading with a pen? I feel like, in terms of mark-making, my drawings look flat and boring. What do you think?

@Natasza Zurek Fantastic painting. The drawing is very good. Some thoughts on how to make the color pop a bit more. (I tried to make a vid but the software kept crashing!). 1. Blue green gradient in the bg 2. Dark greyish green in the fabric shadows and dark accents 3. Same grey/green notes on the darks at the eye socket (see keystone area) 4. Subtle blues/greys in lower 1/3rds 5. Splash/hints of red in the face: cheeks, forehead, nose. For more color variety, texture (suggest freckles, skin blemished) and variation in mark making (dots vs strokes). 6. Subtle variation in brushwork on the cheeks core-shadow that go against the form