When an illustration is not working out the way I had envisioned, I save it for a later date and move on to the next. And in case I have abandoned it too early, at a very rough stage (sketching or rough forms), I create an extra layer in Photoshop and add a few bullet points describing what I was trying to achieve. So if too much time passes between archiving it and opening the file again, the notes will remind me of what my goals were at the time.

Is your internet fast enough? I had the same problem, then changed from .03mbps to 60mbps! It's a dream and no problems since!

poebookcover.jpg Oh! It worked 🙂 Thanks!

Delightful - love the style and colors and compositions!

Hi guys.
I'm looking for advice from those of you who have approached and got yourself an agent. I write children's poetry and have a collection of dragon poems I would like to turn into a book. So I am wondering what you think is the best approach. Should I go ahead and create the book (poems and drawing in full) then send the book out to agents, or should I send a few sample images from the book while it is being created or???
And then of course... how do I know what agent would be a good one... where to find one, etc.
Thanks in advance for the advice 🙂

@shinjifujioka thanks. it was a really fun challenge. I can't wait to scan, edit, and plug them into the book.

I just added to my wish list - Creative illustration by Andrew Loomis. Just by flipping through it you can see that it gets so deep into composition like no other book I ever seen. Also, there is a free scan on the web, poor scan, but legal 🙂

Also do you have some favourite reference books? For example I just bought "Racinet: Complete Costume History" for references on historical clothing. Since it was really hard to google some good 12th century clothing references and be sure it is somewhat accurate.

Hahaha, no problem! 😛

Awesome, I just spent 15 minutes looking at him how he does happy little bushes 🙂

Thank you, @leontine!

@AWall said:

I liked your first drawing but I really dig your second. It might be taken farther if you can do something to distinguish Poe from the other characters. You might try a variation in size to isolate him since they are so tightly packed. Just an idea but play around with it a bit more, I think it can get even better.

I'll second that. You will either want to change the value of those characters (probably go lighter) or go with a different color for them.

The other main thing: you will want to really work at getting their organization just right. As it is, it more resembles a cut-n-paste/randomly placed crowd milling behind him. You want their placement to be very deliberate and designed. Don't be afraid to use different angles (you have most of the figures vertically aligned) and the figures can (should?) bleed into each other.
Related to that: you might want to vary their shapes/sizes more.

This is a really great image--one of the stronger ones I've seen so far for this contest. Really excited about it. I think you nailed the Poe figure and I like the composition of him and the text.

I'm not a TV/Movie guy but I've always loved the concept artwork for Big Hero 6. Very, very stunning.

@Aaron You guys rock!!

I agree with the previous comments... it would be nice to have some more stars in the sky, and perhaps work on them a little more so you have a pinprick of light plus a tiny glow... and maybe work on creating a greater sense of contrast between the cool starlight coming down on the tent and the warm lanternlight shining upwards.... it's a lovely concept for a piece 🙂

Welcome to the forum, hope you enjoy it here 🙂

You have a great style and rendering abilities. Very nice work. I would agree with some of the other comments that your piece needs some warmth in it. I really appreciate all the interesting items you included in the bedroom scene. Thanks for sharing your work!

I is a slightly weird, jacked up upload system lol. You get used to it haha.

Ace

Brilliantly said @Lee-White - I'm currently getting past a similar hump in which everything was in one style, but I went back to life drawing multiple times a week and looking at more art books and hunting down different people's approaches. Sometimes it just takes yourself to kick your own ass for a bit and mix things up.

Fantastic work though @jimsz and I can safely say I've not drawn every single day for nearly 2,000 days! Major props!

Ace

Nicely done 🙂

Inktober Day 22. You can always trust a man who loves his pets. Brushpen with digital color.

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